Fender Bender
...p until you get rid of most of the dent. The dent needs to be almost completely gone so that you use less body filler to fill in the rest of the dent. The second step is to remove the paint. You remove the old paint so that the filler has something to grasp on to. The paint's ingredients are made so that other pigments don't stick to them very well. This is where the power sander comes into effect. Make sure to get all of the paint off. You don't want to have spots where the filler doesn't stick. The third step is to fill the remainder of the dent with dent filler. It doesn't come ready to use. You need to mix hardener with the filler so that it will harden after applying it to the car. The filler won't harden unless the hardener is added. Make sure the filler is spread completely over the dented area and the area surrounding it. Once the filler is partially dry, it can be roughed into shape with the body file. The body file has extremely coarse teeth for removing large amounts of filler quickly and looks like a cheese grater. After the filler is completely dried, it should be sanded smooth by using a sanding block. The sanding should be done from the inside of the dent to the outside to make a smooth transition. Make sure to feel the area to check for imperfections. If none are found it is ready for primer. The last step is to prime and paint the area. You need to wipe the area clean with a rag right before applying the primer, to get rid of any dust particles. The primer can be sprayed on with a spray gun or a spray can, just make sure you cover it completely. After the primer is dry you should s...