Basic Dent Removal and Refinishing - Part One

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Next, while the filler is still setting, obtain a sanding block and two different grits of sandpaper. Don’t buy garnet paper from a local hardware store. Garnet paper is for wood. Obtain the real thing from a professional refinish supply house. The type of sandpaper used in auto body repair is called “free cut” paper. Buy both 40 grit and 80 grit paper. Setup the sanding block by tearing a sheet of 40 grit sandpaper in half. Fold one of the half sheets in half once again and wrap this around the sanding block. Use the 40 grit on the soft body filler and gently smooth out the cheese grater marks. Don’t over sand because you will need to feather-edge the filler into the bare metal.

Tip:
Tip: You can extend the life of the sandpaper and remove clogs by taking an ordinary coat hanger and stretching it out. This makes a long, slender loop of coat hanger wire. You slap the sanding block with the coat hanger and this will unclog the paper.

Final Sanding With 80 Grit Sandpaper

Now let the filler set until it is fully hardened. The panel should be straight and smooth. When the filler is fully hardened prepare the sanding block (or air file) with a sheet of 80 grit paper. Use this grit to smooth out all the remaining sandpaper marks from the 40 grit paper. At this point, all the marks left from the 80 grit paper can be filled with primer-surfacer.

If necessary, repeat these “Shape and Sand” steps and reapply more body filler to fill in low spots. Repeat as often as necessary to obtain a straight panel.