In 2021 there were around 284 million vehicles on US roads. Whether you enjoy auto body work as a hobby or do it out of necessity, there’s no doubt it’s beneficial to be prepared to roll up your sleeves and do some repairs.
We’ll give you tips on DIY bodywork, talk about how to repair damage to your car, what to use, and which auto body tools for sale you should be looking at.
Safety First
Safety is incredibly important, and you must take this issue seriously regarding auto repairs, as even minor projects can be potentially life-threatening. For example, a simple paint job can be a serious health hazard if you don’t have the proper safety equipment.
Typically, when working on your vehicle, you want to have:
- Goggles;
- Gas mask;
- Protective clothing;
- Rubber gloves.
On top of these preventative measures, you want to stay alert and careful throughout the process. Make sure you’re familiar with the tools and can properly handle them to avoid injury.
Lighting
Another crucial factor is working in a well-lit area. Again, this is important to your safety and the overall quality of your repairs. You can’t be expected to do a good job if you can’t properly see what you’re working on.
Just because you’re doing the work yourself doesn’t mean you shouldn’t approach it with a certain degree of professionalism and earnestness. Your surroundings, equipment, and tools should all be well-suited for the job.
Essential Tools For Your Garage
Cars will often need maintenance and repair, and it’d do you good to invest in some essential tools. The type of equipment you’ll need will include:
- Body Filler, spreaders, and putty knives;
- Slide hammer;
- Body Hammer and Dolly Set;
- Dual-action air sander;
- Air compressor and spray gun.
You may need to invest a bit more in the right tools, but purchases from reputable manufacturers can make your money worth it.
Let’s Talk about Fixing Up Dents
Fixing superficial collision damages is not difficult. You can be successful at basic auto repair with time, practice and care.
Scratch
A superficial scratch can be fixed with the use of fine sandpaper. You want to sand until the damage is no longer noticeable and the surface feels smooth. Ideally, the scratch will be less noticeable, and there won’t be a need for further repairs like paint jobs.
You can also try a scratch remover when dealing with such minor work. Although they vary in quality, a scratch remover works well on small surface areas with minor scratches.
However, if you’re dealing with a deeper scratch, you’ll need to sand down further and will likely have to repaint the area.
Minor Dent
Minor dents are a little more complicated to fix but are still a simple task. You’ll need to evenly apply a small amount of body filler and wait. Once the product dries out, you sand the surface, this time with a coarser abrasive. Start off with 80 grit sandpaper, and follow it up with 180 grit. Finally, all that will remain is to repaint – make sure to get the right color of paint and necessary equipment.
Larger Dent
Bigger dents are a bit more complex and will likely need to be reshaped before you follow the steps we mentioned before.
You can do the reshaping with a hammer and dolly technique. You have to make sure you’re working softly, gently, and carefully to prevent any further damage.
Get Started With The Best Equipment
Both professionals and car enthusiasts can benefit from the right equipment, and JMC Automotive is here to meet their demands.
We offer a wide range of auto body tools for sale that is perfectly suited for both an auto shop and your garage. Visit our page and find out how to breathe an air of professionalism into your projects
