Carrying out body repairs yourself, and even in a garage, is quite a difficult task, however, like any other do-it-yourself car repair work, especially for a novice auto repairman.
In this section, you will learn little tricks, devices and techniques for restoring the body from damage received in an accident or simply as a result of corrosion.

If you are a fan of your business and do not miss the opportunity to learn something new, then this section will help you decide on the choice of the correct body part, its installation, and of course the basic techniques for welding with a semiautomatic device. And of course, interesting tips and important recommendations from the body repair specialists.

How to unscrew a rusted bolt with a torn off head?

Rusted threads and, as a result, a torn off the head of a bolt or a nut with a piece of bolt, is this not a nightmare of a repairer? Who has not encountered this?
There are several ways to unscrew such a bolt without a head, of course, it happens that not all of them are suitable for one reason or another. Let's take a look at one of these methods.

Modification of the carbon dioxide valve. Welding for beginners in video 7

If the carbon dioxide supply valve on your old semiautomatic welding machine is floundering and you already need to somehow solve this painful issue, then this video tutorial will help you.
The best, however, like the simplest way of repair, is to replace a broken valve, but for what?
Read on ...

Consumables for repair with welding. Welding for beginners in video 6

How to slightly modify a transformer semi-automatic welding machine, how to set it up for work, what consumables to buy for body repair and the best way to clean the metal, I will tell you in this video.

How to properly drill out spot welding

Using the example of replacing the threshold in this article, you will learn how you can quickly and easily drill out factory spot welding. And what is important, you will find out what tools and devices are needed for such work.

Carbon dioxide for body welding. Welding for beginners in video 5

How to handle carbon dioxide, what to look for when buying hoses, a reducer for a cylinder.
And also, what should be taken into account when changing a cylinder at a gas station and what pressure should be set on the reducer when welding on the body.

Arc welding with additive. Welding for beginners in video 4

It's no secret that the welding process is at the heart of body repair. At first glance - nothing complicated, but everywhere there are little subtleties and tricks.
In this article, you will find a video on welding with tips on how you can weld two pieces of metal with a pair of electrodes and arc welding.

Kromkogib, welding of a complex profile. Welding for beginners in video 3.

In this video, you will get acquainted with an interesting and very useful tool called the edge bending machine.
The use of an edge breaker in conjunction with a hole punch allows excellent results when welding two thin sheets of body iron together.

How to weld the insert? Welding with a "backing". Welding for beginners in video 2

What needs to be done so that the iron is on the same level, steps do not form, which then have to be masked with a thick layer of putty? In this video, see a simple and very reliable way to connect using a "backing".

We connect two parts. Welding for beginners in video 1

In this first video for beginners, you will learn about the simplest and most basic techniques used in metal welding.
What you need to perform welding operations in car body repair, and you will also learn about several types of metal joining together.

How to prepare the body for painting?

Surface preparation of the body plays a very important role in its further painting, since no paint system can give good results on poorly prepared surfaces.
Preparatory work consists in cleaning the surface of the body, removing attachments, removing old paintwork (if necessary) and rust, as well as degreasing.

We remove through corrosion of the car body

When preparing for painting car parts, we often encounter fairly strong foci of corrosion. I am asked many times, both on the forum and in personal letters, how to deal with severe corrosion, which has already significantly eaten metal, sometimes even through and through. Indeed, during body repair, such places are found on the elements of the car as the bottom of the doors, wheel arches and others that are inherent only to a certain brand, and this is not uncommon, especially if the car has already traveled a lot in our damp climate.

PDR technology - repair of dents without painting

According to statistics, about 30 percent of vehicles have visible damage to the body, while the paintwork of the car is not violated. This can be as all sorts of small dents, and quite serious damage to the body.
In this case, instead of a full-fledged body repair, PDR technology comes to the rescue - repair of dents without painting. Reading the details ...

In the overall design of a car, the most expensive and at the same time vulnerable is the body. In case of road accidents, even minor ones, its individual parts and details most often suffer. The simplest damage to the paint of external surfaces can occur when driving through the forest or due to poor quality work at the manufacturer. At the same time, the technology of body repair is so developed that it can be done not only with the help of specialists in the service station, but also in a private garage.

The design of such a part of a modern passenger car as a body, on cars of different classes, is similar in its main elements, however, there are some differences that primarily affect the rigidity of the car body. Most SUVs have a frame body, crossovers and some cars are equipped with subframes, most cars have a rigid monocoque body.

These features are important when it becomes necessary to repair the car body. The main bodywork elements are:

• roof;
• the base, which is the floor of the machine;
• front, middle and rear pillars;
• front shield separating the engine compartment from the passenger compartment;
• mudguard;
• trunk panel;
• central tunnel;
• wings - front and rear;
• doors.

The power structure of the body includes:

• front and rear side members;
• non-removable thresholds;
• front cross members and radiator;
• crossbeam for internal combustion engine supports;
• cross members under the front and rear seats;
• window sill;
• front and rear roof rails.

Some features of body repair

Do-it-yourself car body repair can be done if the damage to stamped surfaces or load-bearing structures is not severe and special technological equipment is not required to troubleshoot.

These works can be attributed to minor repairs if only local body repair is needed. That is, it requires the elimination of scratches or paint chips. You can also do complex repairs with your own hands when there are dents with paint damage, deformation of the body or subframe.

For any degree of damage, the first step is to diagnose the object of the upcoming work to determine the required amount of materials, the required tool and the estimated amount of labor. This should always be done - when scratches and corrosion are found, if you need to repair chips on the body or you need a serious straightening, as well as painting parts or the entire body.

Dents

Deformation of stamped bodywork elements can be repaired independently by the driver or the owner of the car. For these works, you need a workbench or a special table, a set of straightening tools, anvils and hoods. Before proceeding with the straightening of the damaged area, it is necessary to determine whether this can be done without further painting, or additional costs will be required for this. Read about the technology in a separate article.

Complicated car body repairs, when the geometry of the structure is violated or a serious deformation of the structural element of the frame, such as a spar, has occurred, it is better to entrust specialists.

If the straightening cannot be done without painting, then after straightening the metal, it is necessary to level the straightened surface with a putty. Apply the filler with a soft spatula. A primer is applied over the leveled part. This is a prerequisite for preventing corrosion and eliminating scratches when applying the filler inaccurately. The last step is painting the repaired part or the entire body.

Corrosion

Local body repair includes, among other things, the elimination of corrosion on individual elements. The thresholds are most susceptible to this due to scratches that form when stones hit while the car is moving and the lower parts of the fenders, where water and dirt constantly get.

Before removing areas of metal affected by corrosion, the entire part must be thoroughly cleaned from dirt. Determine the degree of rust damage to the metal and decide how to eliminate the corrosion. In case of slight rust, it is sufficient to treat it with an anti-corrosion compound that contains phosphoric acid. Then rinse the surface, degrease and apply primer.

Painting the part completes the process, but if the damage from rust is significant, then you need to cut out the damaged area and put a patch of quality metal.

Chips and scratches

During the operation of the car, especially on Russian roads, scratches of different depths and other damage to the paintwork cannot be avoided. - these are the simplest types of bodywork. In order to remove these minor damage, it is often enough to polish the damaged area.

To eliminate deeper scratches, you must thoroughly rinse the desired area, then wipe it with white spirit and treat it with a special automotive putty.

The final stage will be priming and painting the desired surface.In cases where the number and depth of scratches in a particular area are large enough, it is required to polish this surface using a special machine.

Further processing of this area also begins with putty and primer.

All that is required is the desire of the motorist, the availability of tools and a certain skill, as well as an equipped garage.

Do-it-yourself car body repair: necessary materials, devices, tools

As noted above, the driver, starting to repair the car with his own hands, must have a garage space. Adequate lighting is required: stationary and portable.

If the car owner plans to engage in major repairs, a slipway will become a useful device, through which the geometry of the body is restored, but such factory-made equipment is not cheap. A hydraulic tool will not be superfluous. Equipment for welding is required. It is good if the funds allow you to purchase an apparatus that performs ultrasonic flaw detection. A high level of work will be ensured by the installation, equipped with a laser, which serves to test the body geometry.

Since it is not difficult to find the necessary materials on the modern market, it is better not to store them, but to keep only consumables.

DIY car body repair: the main types of work

Without the help of professionals, you can do a fairly wide range of repair procedures, namely: paint the body, pre-cleaning, priming, filling, installing patches, aligning the geometry, covering with protective compounds.

1. Painting work

1.1. Get rid of corrosion

Before you start painting, you need to remove the corrosive foci. In this case, different methods are applicable: mechanical, using skins, drills, chemical. The first group of methods is technically more difficult. In parallel with the corrosion treatment, it is recommended to apply an anti-gravel protection.

It is important to note that it is unacceptable to use water, you need to purchase special formulations. The body is pre-cleaned of dirt, paint stains, etc. How do-it-yourself car repairs should be carried out video clips posted on the Internet are displayed in an accessible manner. So, they show that the stickers are easily removed after the action of a hot air stream of a building hair dryer on them, followed by the application of a solvent.

Surface rust is removed with a drill equipped with a vinyl wheel, and layer rust is removed with a special knife of the bodyworkers. Hard-to-reach foci can be removed with sandpaper.

1.2. Priming, filling

The most popular primer is acrylic white primer. At the end of priming, they proceed to puttying.

A 2-component putty is used, to which a hardener is applied; the finished mixture is used to cover up the damage. Plastic parts require the use of a filler containing fiberglass. It is distributed in several layers and sanded. At the end of the filler work, a thin finishing layer is applied. There is also a finishing putty that helps to eliminate defects in previously applied layers, colorful streaks.

Holes, dents are removed by extrusion, knocking out the defect. In this case, an autogen is necessary, you can also use pulling hooks. In the event of a through hole, a soldered metal patch can help. The easiest way to do this is to make a continuous weld seam. If necessary, putty is applied, then the surface is matted and covered with an adhesive line. After sanding, a special treatment solution is applied, followed by a 2-layer primer: phosphate and acrylic.

But repairing a car with your own hands in the presence of a through body defect is often impossible without replacing the part. When choosing an original one, there will be no installation problems, but non-original spare parts will require an exact fit for the car.

Only after completing these activities can the car be painted.

3. How the geometry is aligned

3.1. Vacuum method

Suction cups are fixed in place of the dents, and the metal is pulled out without the need for painting.

3.2. Toe pull

Applicable in areas of major damage. A self-tapping screw is screwed into the central part of the dent, and the bend is pulled out with an inertial hammer. The holes from the screws then need to be filled and painted over.

It is carried out with the disassembly of the body. The border of the dented area is marked on the part. Having placed a support under the outer surface, you need to carefully tap out the damage from the inside.

How do-it-yourself car repair is carried out, a video filmed by craftsmen shows clearly. Moreover, this can be not only body repair, but also the repair of any part of the car.

Kolodiychuk Andrey, specially for ByCars.ru

In the garage, you can carry out all types of work, you only need to have the equipment, the skills of bodywork and repair work can be gradually acquired by studying materials on the network, since motorists are very willing to share knowledge.

I agree that work can be done, but neither the equipment nor the skills from social networks will help to restore it perfectly. All this requires a certain skill, even stupidly puttying will not work correctly, no matter how correctly and point by point. It is imperative that you turn to a master of your craft rather than experimenting with a machine.

If a person does not have a garage, but puts the car in the parking lot all the time, then self-repair will cost a pretty penny, try to buy all the necessary tools. It's easier to turn to specialists. I still do not recommend repairing a car yourself, if there is a guarantee - only at the service, so as not to fly off the guarantee.

It's not bad enough when the body is repaired by people themselves and without any problem, but to tell the truth, this is not an easy task.

The author of the article exaggerates too much the capabilities and abilities of the average car enthusiast. At the same time, not taking into account that the overwhelming majority of us not only does not have a specially equipped garage, but does not even have a parking space at all, but parks in the yard.

The best way out is to insure your pet against all misfortunes and for all occasions. Then the specialists will be able to provide him with qualified assistance. For experience and practice is a great thing. And it's better to experiment not with your own car, but with a children's designer.

Wow - DIY repair. Description - almost like the stages of work at a specialized service station. By the way, with poor-quality body repair, the car becomes simply dangerous, not to mention the uneven wear of rubber and spare parts, an increase in the braking distance, and a decrease in controllability. And what kind of diagnostic measurements of body parameters in the garage, they pissed off, and okay.

Do-it-yourself car repair is a very common phenomenon in our country. A significant criterion by which our motorists choose a car is that it is easy to repair, there are enough spare parts, it is broken, in which case, you can figure it out yourself with a familiar self-taught auto mechanic. And all and sundry have learned to paint! Personally, I am for a high-quality car service, which, unfortunately, is extremely rare.

A lot of conditions are initially required, which hardly many will be able to fulfill, they forgot to mention the time, it is also missing forever.

DIY car body repair: technology

Car body repair includes several directions for eliminating defects on one of the main structural elements of a car. To begin with, body repair is subdivided into full body repair and local body repair, when you tidy up individual body parts.

Body repair with subsequent painting of the body or parts

If we are more or less clear with a complete body repair, then the local repair of the body or its individual parts should be considered in more detail. For those car owners who are friends with welding and painting equipment, it will not be difficult to carry out a full body repair with their own hands.

For those who doubt their abilities, in principle, it will not be difficult to carry out local body repair, especially taking into account the numerous materials and instructions that exist on the network today.

Before you start repairing the body with your own hands, you need to understand for yourself what you ultimately want to get at the exit. Rather, start by assessing the condition of the car body and its individual elements. So, what is included in the concept of body repair, and what is the technology of do-it-yourself body repair.

Car body repair technology with painting:

1. Elimination of centers of corrosion. This type of repair is carried out with the help of welding equipment, when a metal "patch" is welded into the rotten parts of the body. A similar type of repair can be done without welding. Surface restoration is carried out using compositions based on epoxy resins and fiberglass. The effect is no lower. This method is used in the presence of small foci (holes) in the body.
2. Repair of plastic body parts. This type of repair is done with fiberglass and epoxy resins. Previously, if, for example, a plastic bumper is cracked, the repair technology allows you to solder the crack, but then, nevertheless, for reliability, it is required to glue the welded edges of the crack from the inside.
3. Replacement or repair of aluminum body parts. In this case, you are unlikely to be able to repair the car body with your own hands, because repairing aluminum parts will require argon welding. Although, the skill of car owners and the availability of equipment are not limited today.
4. Do-it-yourself elimination of minor chips and scratches of the body. It is produced with the help of "auto-pencil" or polish. Fortunately, there is no deficit in these funds today. In any auto chemistry store, you will be offered a lot of options to choose from. Deeper damage to the paintwork can be repaired with a primer, filler and spray paint. With this type of repair, the technology of painting the car body must already be observed.

Body repair without painting

• This type of repair implies no significant damage to body parts. Auto repair without painting is most often used to remove scratches and chips that have damaged only the top layer of varnish.
• Also, today's non-professional equipment allows you to repair dents without painting the car. You understand that we are talking about small dents in area, when the use of a professional stand for the hood is not required. The dent remover is commercially available and includes: suction cups, extraction mechanism and glue. The suction cup is glued to the dent and after a certain time specified in the manufacturer's instructions, the dent is drawn out. The technology is simple and does not require any special qualifications.
• Do-it-yourself body polishing can be safely attributed to body repair without painting. It is not difficult, but it requires patience and time. Self-polishing of the body or its elements will save you some money.

Thus, you yourself are able to carry out local repair of the car body with your own hands with minor damage, both technological and aesthetic.

Why is there an emphasis on DIY body repair? The reason is simple. At services, without detracting from their merits and the professionalism of workers, you will most likely be offered to carry out body repairs with painting or replace the entire body part. It is not profitable for them to repair one or two scratches.

And for you, in turn, it is cheaper to buy a "pencil" or polish and eliminate the noticed defect.

Good luck to you lovers of your car.

DIY car body repair.

The main blow to all kinds of aggressive environmental influences is taken by the car body. Thus, its restoration is practically a defining task in extending the life of a vehicle. A problem that has not been eliminated in due time will cause a decrease in the effectiveness of the main mechanisms that ensure movement.

Putting the body in order, and with it the paintwork, is the most difficult task, combined with significant costs. But this is only if all the work will be carried out by third-party specialists. By doing DIY car body repair, the cost savings are greatly enhanced.

When is the repair carried out?

Below are the main reasons for sending a car for repair:

Rust formation as a result of natural processes;

Violation of the integrity of the body as a result of a road accident;

Poor quality of the road surface;

Damage caused by stones flying out from under the wheels;

Structural disruption due to low vehicle ownership;

Natural factors such as hail.

Repair can be:

Full. Restoration of the entire car body. This method is relevant in the case of large-scale destruction caused by the strongest impact, for example, a severe accident. Its price is naturally higher due to high costs;

Local. Elimination of local damage. It is used to repair minor damage caused by hail or tree branches. It is worth noting that minor damage can cause large damage, therefore, it is impossible to delay the repair.

DIY car body repair a rather lengthy and complex process. Despite this, information about self-employment is becoming more popular. Why is this happening?

Below are the main reasons:

Improving your own knowledge, therefore, increasing self-esteem;

In most cases, motorists are not satisfied with the quality of the work performed in the car service. This includes both the speed of execution and the price;

The modern automotive business industry is widespread enough that all the necessary elements of car systems and tools can be purchased.

But besides a great desire, you need to have at least basic knowledge and a little experience. It is advisable to master the skills of a welder, painter and other manual labor specialties. Also, for resuscitation work, you will need a spacious garage, where there is lighting and heating.

Do-it-yourself car body repair and h What will be required to carry out a full-fledged activity?

In order not to be distracted during work by searching for the necessary parts or tools, the following sets should be purchased in advance:

Hydraulic set for straightening damaged areas of the car body;

Platform slipway. With the help of this equipment, it becomes possible to restore the frame and body geometry. Thus, the presented equipment makes it possible to bring the shape of the body up to standard indicators by means of multidirectional efforts;

To remove dents, you will need a quick extraction system;

Reverse, straightening and gentle hammers are required as additional tools;

Welding machine. By welding, patches are created, cracks are removed and metal elements are connected. A better quality apparatus is able to create less thick seams, while without loss in strength;

A device that allows you to eliminate defective areas of plastic parts. A good example is the bumper, which will cost a lot to replace compared to repairs. In addition, one of the most common problems with a bumper is cracks, which can be easily repaired with this device;

Set for straightening the damaged area. The principle of operation is to glue the device to a concave surface. Further, with the help of a lever, the process itself is carried out.

After the necessary manipulations, the device is peeled off using a specialized hair dryer.

The car should be painted only with the prescribed car paints. Their functionality is much higher than that of conventional paints, they are less susceptible to the destructive effects of acids, alkalis and other strong substances. It also provides protection against rust, keeping the original appearance for a long time.

Do-it-yourself car body restoration and repair.

Surface preparation procedure:

Thorough washing of the body surface. Thus, the possibility of a more detailed inspection for damage and determination of the scale of work is provided;

Dismantle small elements of the car;

Carry out cleaning of the body, removing rust, using a grinder or sandpaper. For better removal of traces of corrosion, special nozzles are used that do not damage the metal. The method using chemicals in body stripping has low popularity.

In the case of perforating corrosion, metal recovery is possible. If the hole is not very large, then it can be closed with a metal patch. You will need a piece of metal slightly larger than the diameter of the hole. Using a rust converter, this piece must be soldered.

Next, it is necessary to irradiate the outer side of the patch along the perimeter. The connecting weld must be continuous. Having achieved the desired result, you may face a new problem. The soldered piece may protrude above the base surface. To neutralize it, you must use a hammer.

After this, a small fossa is formed. It is easiest to remove with a regular putty. Before applying the putty, the metal area is cleaned, slightly going beyond the patch. Then degrease the surface. To prolong the life of the metal structure, a primer is applied before the paint is applied. This will allow you to avoid premature destructive processes in the form of corrosion, you can read about the measures of protection and prevention here.

The following types of primer are required:

Acidic. This type of primer is quite liquid, therefore, drying is carried out in a very short time period. It should be applied in a thin layer. After waiting a quarter of an hour, the next layer is applied;

Acrylic. This type of primer is distributed as an aerosol. Its application is carried out in stages, in two layers. After applying the first layer, you must wait 10 minutes for the composition to dry. Then the second is applied.

It takes about 3 hours for the final result to dry completely. After that, you can putty the surface. To obtain the final result, you must use a fine grain sandpaper.

Having done all the manipulations, the question of excess metal remains unresolved. Experienced businessmen solve this issue very simply. For this they need a special apparatus. The area of ​​the metal that has been stretched is heated and cooled. As a result, the bubbles disappear. In general, the event is not particularly difficult, but it requires equipment that is quite expensive.

Neutralization of damage without subsequent painting.

Sometimes damage is not accompanied by the destruction of the paint layer. Small dents appear as a result of hail, icicles and other factors of influence. In this case, a new coat of paint is not required. This technique is quite common because it has been around for a long time.

By means of special mechanisms, a concentric effect is carried out on the damaged area, from the reverse side. But even if there is no way to manipulate from the inside, the work can be done from the outside. To do this, a lever is glued to the dent. The metal is straightened. Further, the lever is peeled off without causing damage to the paintwork. The technology is distinguished by a high speed of work, while the financial costs are quite low.

Do-it-yourself partial body car repair

It is not difficult to do this on your own, and the stages of repairing the parts are described in order with a photo review:

1) Take newspapers, and using masking tape, and cover the part of the part that is not planned to be repaired. This is done in order to protect the car body from rusting during stripping.

2) Using a metal brush, abrasive paper (grain 120), remove rust on the parts, and also clean the paint in the area adjacent to the through hole by 1.5-2 cm.

3) Prepare a piece of sheet metal, and cut with metal scissors to size. If you manage to pick up a piece of metal with a corrugated surface on one side, this will be a big plus.

4) Secure the cut-out piece of metal to the inside of the piece. There are several ways to do this:

- If there is access to the inside of the part, it can be welded using spot welding.

- If there is no access, you can use foam and special glue. To do this, by singing a hole inside the part and applying a suitable glue to the embedded piece of metal.

(The last way is not entirely correct since polyurethane foam can cause corrosion of the part from the inside, and it is somehow wrong to glue a piece of metal onto the glue, so we use this option in exceptional cases, if the car is not a pity).

5) Prepare automotive putty with hardener and dilute according to the manufacturer's recommendations. After dilution with hardener, the putty is suitable for work within 2-3 minutes.

6) Apply the first layer of putty to the area to be repaired. Let the putty dry.

7) Dilute the filler with hardener again and apply a second layer of filler to the area to be repaired. Let the putty dry.

8) Dilute the filler with hardener again and apply a final layer of filler to the area to be repaired. When applying a finishing layer. try not to leave streaks or streaks.

9) Using sanding paper (grit 800 or 100) soaked in water - sand the area to be repaired. If defects are found on the filler: scratches, dimples, etc., apply a layer of filler again, on the part to be repaired and, after drying, repeat sanding.

10) Again we take newspapers and masking tape, and we protect the part of the car that is not being repaired. Apply a primer.

11) After the primer has dried, proceed to paint. The paint is applied in 2 layers with drying between stages in 30 minutes.

12) After painting, remove masking tape and newspapers from the part being repaired.

About DIY body repair

Untimely body repair of a car can lead in the future to even greater formation and spread of "bugs", foci of corrosion, rust and chips of the car's paintwork.

Body repairs may be necessary in a number of cases. These include those when damage occurred due to unsuccessful parking or an unsuccessful drive into the garage, as well as in an accident. Also, the causes of damage can be poor quality of roads, impacts of crushed stone, small stones or hail, as well as careless driving, which often causes scratches and dents during car operation.

In some cases, a major body repair may be required. :

• in case of serious damage during an accident;
• during long-term operation of the car, as a result of which the body is subjected to severe corrosion, rust forms everywhere and the tightness of the body is broken.

In other cases, it is more expedient to apply local body repair, in which only partial restoration of the car body surface is performed.

When doing a DIY body repair, you may need numerous tools and hand equipment.

The straightening tool includes:

• Straightening hammer. Due to the wide variety of their types (with one or two working heads), as well as the convenience and ease of use, it helps to correct the bulk of the dents.
• A hammer with a sharp point. Unlike straightening, it is used without an anvil and is designed to remove minor damage to the body. A distinctive feature of such a hammer is the presence of a flat striker on one side, and on the other an elongated and thin working part, the length of which is 5: 15 cm. It is with the pointed part of the hammer that the dented surface of the body is processed, starting from its deepest point until it is completely restored.
• Anvils. They are special stands of various shapes. With the help of an anvil, holding it in one hand, and a straightening hammer, it is easy to give the metal its original shape.
• Notching block. It is used as a basic guideline for hitting accuracy when hammering the surface.
• Spoons. They are used to flatten small bumps and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The spoon is located in the center of the body defect. The surface is machined from the center to the edges, while the impact of the hammer is distributed over a large volume of the surface.
• Curly rods. Thanks to the different tip shapes (foot, taper, chisel, punch, etc.) and the long stem, they are used to straighten narrower and more difficult-to-reach areas of the body, such as the rear of the fender, the lower part of the doors, etc.
• A set of levers, of different thickness, shape and length, used in the framework of PDR technology, make it possible, by pressing, to remove damage without further painting the body.
• Body files. Designed for grinding and leveling the surface of metal and putty areas of the body.
• Grinding machines. They are used both for removing paintwork and for unevenness of metal in order to identify grooves. Abrasive discs in grinders, depending on the nature of the repair work, are installed under different marking numbers.
• Welding spotter. It is used as a universal device for butt welding and other straightening work.

To carry out painting work when carrying out body repairs with your own hands, use:

• various spray guns and spray guns;
• consumables are clear or tinted varnishes, car enamels, polishing systems and specialized or universal car putties.
• sanding pads, sponges, anti-corrosion coatings, degreasers, covering protective materials and other accessories.

It should be noted that do-it-yourself body repair will not always help solve problems with the car body. In some cases, complex bench equipment is indispensable.

Therefore, if you find the destruction of the paintwork of the car, the emerging foci of corrosion and "bugs", or mechanical damage in the form of dents, chips and scratches, then their timely elimination will help prevent further corrosion of the metal, and, therefore, will help save money.

So to remove small corrosion foci of the body and replace corroded metal parts with a welding machine and metal patches. You can also use other techniques, such as gluing holes with fiberglass and epoxy resins.

You can also make straightening work on your own. They consist in straightening dents and other defects and damage to the body. And with patience and good skills, having the time and having straightening hammers, anvils and other necessary tools available, you can straighten the car body on your own. All these activities in the future will require local or complete body painting and its subsequent polishing.

In the event of a minor scratch, where only the paintwork is touched, use an abrasive or protective polish. To remove a shallow scratch, apply decorative polish in several steps and rub it with a cloth. For a deeper finish, use an abrasive polish, as well as a machining paste, which is applied with a polishing machine with special wheels.

If you have a defect of a larger area and depth for do-it-yourself body repair, you cannot do without a primer, putty, solvent and paint. Often, you cannot do without welding.

The damaged surface should be prepared: thoroughly clean from paint and varnish, remove dirt and rust. Then the cleaned surface should be degreased with a solvent and primed with a rubber spatula.

After complete drying, the surface should be sanded with fine emery paper. If necessary, the process should be repeated. Next, you should start painting, covering the body around the area to be painted in advance. Once completely dry, buff the painted surface by hand.

In case of complex local repairs, when the car body needs to comply with the geometry, you need equipment that is unlikely to be found in your garage. In such cases, it is best to contact a service station, where there will certainly be a straightening stand (slipway), lifts and other specialized equipment.

Car body repair includes several directions for eliminating defects on one of the main structural elements of a car. To begin with, body repair is subdivided into full body repair and local body repair, when you tidy up individual body parts.

Body repair with subsequent painting of the body or parts

If we are more or less clear with a complete body repair, then the local repair of the body or its individual parts should be considered in more detail. For those car owners who are friends with the welding machine and carry out a complete body repair with their own hands, it will not be difficult.

For those who doubt their abilities, in principle, it will not be difficult to carry out local body repair, especially taking into account the numerous materials and instructions that exist on the network today.

Before you start repairing the body with your own hands, you need to understand for yourself what you ultimately want to get at the exit. Rather, start by assessing the condition of the car body and its individual elements. So, what is included in the concept of body repair, and what is the technology of do-it-yourself body repair.

Thus, you yourself are able to carry out local repair of the car body with your own hands with minor damage, both technological and aesthetic.

Even in the event of a minor accident, the cost of restoration work can be quite high. It seems that the complexity of the work is small and there is nothing difficult in their implementation. If there is a great desire, a little time, the necessary resources and tools, then restoring the body on your own is quite a feasible process. Let's look at the recovery technologies in stages.

Geometric characteristics

It is necessary to make sure that after an accident or any other negative factors, the spatial geometry of the car body has remained without significant changes. This can be done by measuring the distances between so-called control points. If there is no information on these points, then they are guided by the clearly visible power section. So, between the mounting elements of the suspension and the engine, there must be symmetrical distances.

If the geometry of the body is broken, then the restoration of the car body is possible, but this operation will require a huge investment of money and effort. This is a very time consuming process. The thing is that for the high-quality performance of work of this level, it is necessary to have a whole range of equipment. This is the slipway on which the body is pulled out in the required order.

Naturally, the cost of such a complex is quite high. Specialists in small garages use improvised means and tools. These can be different stretchers or jacks. With the help of such simple devices, restoration work can be performed, but it is difficult to talk about quality. If it is not possible to use a special stand for work, then there is no point in buying it, this equipment is very expensive. Repair in a service station, where they are engaged in bodywork, will be much cheaper. So, in Moscow for the restoration of the body, the price starts from 4 thousand rubles (pulling out minor distortions on the slipway).

How to restore geometry

If you still want to solve the issue with your own hands, then the process consists in the so-called stretching of the point of the damaged area. But first you need to calculate this point, calculate it, and then predict how the body will behave in the process of exposure.

First, they replace the damaged parts of the body kit, which are cheaper to buy with new ones than to restore them. It can be doors, bumper, hood lid, trunk lid. After that, they move on to stretching.

Corrosion control

You should be very careful about the centers of corrosion. Also, through holes should not pass by the master. If there is only a small stain of rust on the paintwork, this does not mean at all that the metal has not rotted through and through. There may be no metal under the paint at all.

If there is a piece of bodywork in which through holes have formed, then it is completely cut out until solid metal appears. After that, a patch is welded in place of the cut out piece. If the rust is not so severe, then rebuilding the body will involve scraping the affected area down to solid metal.

Small dents

Most often, repair work is started due to a large number of minor damage. If there are really small deformations, where there is no stretching of the metal, tears and other consequences, then these defects can be corrected without repainting. The form is restored mechanically with full or partial preservation of the paintwork. But you need to understand that the process will take a huge amount of time. Although such defects are the easiest to fix. Professionals call them “poppers” because of the characteristic popping. You just need to warm up the place a little or act on it mechanically from the back side. The dent will return to its normal position with a distinctive sound. If you need welding or there is a need to replace a part, then you simply cannot do without painting work. But there are pluses in this - you can use simpler restorative methods without using putty.

Serious defects

Restoring the car body, if it has serious dents, will require the complete removal of the paintwork. A sander and a matching attachment are suitable for this. The most important thing in this process is to work so as not to overheat the metal. When the metal parts of the body become very hot, the properties of the metal will begin to change.

If the metal is strongly elongated along the perimeter of the damage (for example, the dent is very deep), then it is returned to its original form. Here it is necessary to make an effort and act around the perimeter, while smoothly bringing the body section back to its original appearance. For such work, a small mallet and anvil are excellent. A metal hammer will not work for these purposes, as it will deform the metal. The anvil is applied to the outer part of the dent, and light blows are made from the inside with a mallet. The metal will return to its rightful place.

Recovering strong deformations

When the sections are very elongated, restoring the body according to the above method will not help. The process will be very difficult and time consuming. You will need to completely remove the paintwork. Also, repairing damage requires an industrial powerful hair dryer and

K needs graphite electrodes. According to the technology, the restoration of damage to the body is completely similar to the previous method - you need to straighten out the dent, starting from one point of the perimeter, and then gradually approach the center. But they no longer use a mallet with an anvil, but heat the metal pointwise and then act mechanically. The heated sheet becomes more plastic and pliable.

How much to heat depends on the metal. The temperature is selected empirically. There are no difficulties with an industrial hair dryer. But if it is used, there is a risk of burning through the body almost through. The electrodes have different shapes and are selected depending on the type of damage and the shape of the dent. Round deformities are corrected with a thin electrode, long ones with a wider one.

Using spot welding

The bodywork of a car, when it is necessary to return to its original shape, can be very labor intensive. It is far from always possible to get to the damaged area from the back side. In this case, you can try to correct the entire defect from the outside. In order to do this, grab the metal with a welding electrode in the area that needs to be pulled out. Then, with the help of special devices, or the metal is pulled out. Then the graphite electrode is broken off. The weld to the metal is ground.

Soldering metal to a dent

In this case, the defect is not pulled out. Restoring the body is done a little differently. It does not mean stretching the warp. A special solder is soldered into the formed dent. This method allows almost perfect removal of any defect.

The result will be amazing. A thickness gauge will not be able to reveal traces of repair. This procedure requires solder, flux and acid, as well as a sufficiently powerful soldering iron. The working surface should be thoroughly cleaned and then tinned. Next, the rest of the volume is fused. The most important thing is that there is enough solder. When the process is over, the surface is thoroughly washed. Flux is a chemically active substance. A completely perfect surface, restored in this way, will not be. It is necessary to additionally grind and remove excess solder. Also form the correct shape. Then the place is polished, and only then you can get a good result.

Conclusion

As you can see, restoration, body repair can be done in different ways. Naturally, it will not be possible to solve a serious problem in a garage. But it is quite possible to cope with small deformations.