When it comes to bodywork repair, rust holes are the most reoccurring repairs with just about every old car project. Taking your car to a professional mechanic to get your car’s bodywork smoothed out can be a very hefty investment. But, you are your own savior in this. With the proper tools and pieces of equipment, you can make this project much easier to accomplish. In order to accomplish the big ropes of bodywork, it is important to try your hand on the practicing panels that are not so visible. Small rust hole is a great way for the amateurs to perfect their hand on rust repair.
How? Well, the experts of the renowned Tata Indigo Parts dealer are here to help you get going with the process.
Tools you’ll need
- Cutting Wheel (24-grit disc)
- 100-grit sanding block
- Ball-peen hammer
- Pencil
- Release film
- Body repair gel
- Fiberglass (Matte)
- Body Filler
Steps to repair rust hole in a car
Step 1: First you need to cut any protruding ends that might have sharp ends from the area around the rust hole, but don’t budge the shape of the body.
Step 2: Smooth out 4-inch area back of the edge of the rust hole of rust, primer or paint, plugging a 24-grit disc into a grinder.
Step 3: Now with the help of 100-grit sanding block clear out the surface to give it a nice, shiny texture. Smooth out the edges of the rust hole by tapping those inwards with the help of a ball – peen hammer.
Step 4: Cut a small piece of release paper, which should be 3-inch wider than the areas you’ve sanded. Put it over the rust hole and mark that particular area with a pencil and then move it aside.
Step 5: Now, cut two pieces of fiberglass matte of different sizes to cover the sanded area. The first one should be 1-inch smaller than the sanded area and the second, 1-inch smaller than the first piece of fiberglass.
Step 6: Now evenly spread a layer of body repair jelly over the release film and place the smaller piece of the fiberglass cutout on top of the film and the larger piece on top of the smaller one.
Step 7: With the release film facing outwards, place the entire patch over the rust hole. Smoothen out the edges by blending it outwards with the help of a spreader.
Step 8: Let the repair material settle and then remove the release film.
Step 9: Now sand the entire repaired area with the electric drill, sanding disc, and block sander.
Step 10: Fill up the deep spots with car body filler and smooth it out with 80-grit sandpaper once it dries.