DIY-Scratch & Dent
 

Note to all you professional paint and body guys I know there is probably some easier/better way. I took this on due to the $48hr labor and 100% mark up on supplies.


Riding to work one morning and a muffler clamp flew from under the car in front of me, skiddered across the concrete and flew up. The clamp mangled my right front fender. Body shop quotes $460-$602 to repair. I decided to tackle it myself.
http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/w...528_172852.jpg
1. Sand, Fill, Prime the three nasty dents and scratches. I used 240 grit to get the scratches. Used self etching primer on the one due to it being to the metal. Used glazing putty to fill the voids.
http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/w...602_174028.jpg
2. Shot the entire area with filler/primer combo. Sanded with 400 then wet sanded with 1000.
http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/w...602_175955.jpg
3. Shot three coats of base coat. I used touch up direct matched to the car. I tried scratch wizards and it didn't match. Wasn't even close. Yes this was shot with a rattle can.
http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/w...602_212341.jpg
4. Removed the vent garnish and used a gray scotchbrite pad to scuff the entire fender. I know you can blend clear but you can't with rattle cans and it's easier this way. I did use the crease at the bottom as a stop point.
http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/w...3_175405-1.jpg
5. Important part. I used SprayMax 2k rattle can clearcoat. Don't use the cheap stuff. The clear is $28 a can but it's two part epoxy clear and will go on better and stand up better.
http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/w...604_145458.jpg
6. Wet sanded with 1200, then 1500, then 3k to remove the orange peel and got it as smooth as I could. Match was perfect and red is supposed to be difficult to blend. Maybe I got lucky.
http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/w...604_153518.jpg
7. Used Meguires ultimate compound and hexlogic orange pad with DA polisher to take out the sand marks. Then polished with Mequires ultimate polish and hexlogic green pad to polish.


Could a body shop do it better. Absolutely. Could I have done better. Sure. I learned a lot in the process and saved a lot of money doing it myself. Total cost $125 with paint, clear, primer, sandpaper, and chemicals.

Looks good. Someday, I'll grow some balls and tackle paint myself.

We prob need better daylight after pics to prove "perfect" match.

Daylight or not, I applaud your massive balls. Well done sir!

well done! I definitely wouldn't have the guts to do this stuff, but props to you .

will sanding remove dents?

Great job!

no you need to fill them or pop them out. sand the dent so the filler bonds better

dude....nice work.