Bodywork, filling a hole?

[Richard41]

Hole is approx 2cm x 1cm In the rear bumper caused by the first rear shunt, decided against replacing the bumper due to cost, can live with the dents but this is very visible and really bugs me....

Don't want to spend much so needs to be relatively cheap easy fix.

Not done anything like this before was thinking maybe glue something behind it? then filler/black rattle can or some touch up paint (have that somewhere) just so it isn't so obvious but not sure if that would work or how long it would last?

[Carolyn]

Yes tape something behind it.  Then use some fibreglass bridging filler.  Sand smooth put a thin layer of ordinary body filler over that.  sand smooth, paint, clearcoat.

Might as well order some colour matched paint in a rattle can - it's always good to have some for the next ding or scrape!

I've done well with Nu-Agane, their colour matches are quite good.

[Joesson]

@Richard41
Long time since I used this on car bodywork, would have been around '72, but more recently I used (not the same pack) it again to repair the nappy on my 2.
This link has a " how to" that maybe useful

https://www.isopon.com/uk/en-uk/product/isopon/repair/multi-purpose/glass-fibre-kit
Should be available on line or from a local Halfords.

PS
A specific " how to for holes":
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e3zuKc1oHMg&feature=emb_rel_end

[Topdownman]

The best job would probably be to plastic weld in some suitable new plastic which you could then smooth down to level. Not used that myself though. This way you could have the bumper resprayed professionally if the repair held up with no need for a new bumper?

I have fibreglassed an old front bumper after a vicious badger attack one night. I then filled that and it has held up (although that is now just sitting in the shed so I am not asking much of it!).

Thats a small hole though so I would happily have a go at fibreglassing or epoxy gluing something on the back of the bumper to then fill.

The limiting factor of the repair will always be your paintwork though but should be better than a hole.

[Richard41]

Thanks all, when the weather improves will get it sorted, those fibre glass kits look good and cheap.

Not too worried about the finish, anything is better than the hole!

[Call the midlife!]

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[Ozzy]

Use body repair aluminium mesh to cover the hole. Normally costs a few quid or glue something hard behind it so the filler doesn't just fall through. Tape won't be strong enough to hold for when you flatten the body filler. I've copied one of my posts from an older thread which may help give you an idea how to approach it if you want a perfect factory finish using spray cans.






Orange section;
Mask off, except the panel you're working on.
Sand down to metal using 280grit and apply filler if needed
Sand filler to shape with 280grit
Do another layer and repeat if there's tiny holes in the surface
Wetsand filler again with 600grit
Wetsand with 2000grit this time but do a couple of inches from the repair area
Spray 2-3 layers of Primer and wetsand again with 600grit
Spray on your first layer of paint but only a light misting

Red section;
Spray your second layer of paint much heavier, going out abit further

Purple section;
Repeat again and spray another heavy layer going out further once again to the purple area in pic.

Blue section;
Light layer of laquer
Heavy layer of laquer going out abit further. More layers of laquer, the better as it gives you more room for sanding/flattening it all later.
Repeat previous step and let it cure for a few days.

Gray section;
Wetsand with 2000grit going up/down, then side to side until it's all dull, without any shiny spots.
Keep cleaning and repeating to see what sections need more sanding and make sure to use plenty of water, don't let the panel or sandpaper dry out.
Also sand over abit onto the original paint so it all smooths in together
Use a DA polisher/buffer to compound. I used Meguires compound and had to do 3-4 layers
Apply a layer or 2 of polish
Let it cure for a few weeks and then wax and apply sealants as much as you want.



Items used;
masking tape
bin liners/dust sheets (to cover panels)
Some cheapo bodyfiller I brought years ago from Wilkinsons
Matched paint, including primer and laquer from ebay seller paints4ucomltd for £25
Assorted sandpaper off ebay 180-3000grit (item number - 174001764495)
DA buffer/polisher
Meguires compound & polish

[Richard41]

thank you, mesh looks like a slightly cheaper option too.

[Mr2paul]

I agree with Carolyn. If I was repairing this then, clean up the area well and prep with wet n dry paper. Epoxy glue your mesh or backing in place, bridging filler Ie glass fibre the hole but not level. Body filler and sand to a nice finish. Then the hard job of blending in the paintwork. Good advise from Carolyn on trusted paint supplies tho.

[Richard41]

Got the hole sorted last week, mesh, filler, & ebay touch up kit with laquer all cost less than £25   

only thing left visible is where the masking tape was, will polish that off next clean.

Now looking at options for the dents in driver door.

[Joesson]

Pleased that worked out for you. Dents are another issue, at Ding Day there is a man that does magic with them. Don't know if he or you will be there this year.
I do believe that such a professional does prefer the dent to be unmolested by amateur attempts.
In principal the dent is generally attacked from the rear if a paintless repair is to be attempted. Otherwise they can be pulled out in part with sucker pads or by welding pulling points onto the panel. Of course that means paintwork will be needed.
Maybe a picture or two would encourage some suggestions.

[Carolyn]

There are also kits that use hot glue-on pads and a bridge to pull them out.  I've had some success with those - they don't work on all dings - but worth a try.

[Richard41]

Original quotes I got were £1000+

local place who are very good £640 but still can't justify it.

Definitely wont be tackling the dents myself, maybe just having them knocked out and leave the respray. Not ideal but the paint damage from the knock isn't actually too bad.

Ding day would be good but a long way to travel to get it sorted.

[Richard41]

There are also kits that use hot glue-on pads and a bridge to pull them out.  I've had some success with those - they don't work on all dings - but worth a try.

thank you, anything worth a try before I commit! I tried the plunger trick which I've used on another car but wouldn't shift it.

[Carolyn]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Dent-Puller-Paintless-Hail-Removal-Tool-Bridge-Pulling-Kit-Auto-Body-Set-UK/303750954924?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160727114228%26meid%3D6a528408abb745a98c26e76cd4ff7fcf%26pid%3D100290%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D303750954924%26itm%3D303750954924%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2060778%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2060778.c100290.m3507

[Topdownman]

Looks like a good job.

Have you thought of a 2nd hand door?

Ding day is worth the travel even if you dont have any dents! The ding day man is very good and it would probably only cost 20-25% of the normal paintless dent mobile guys due to the economies of scale.

I certainly wouldnt consider having the work done at the prices you have been quoted.

If you need paint as well though, the 2nd hand door looks like a good option if you can get a good one.

[Richard41]

Did think about another door but the cost & thought of changing it put me off 

Will try Carolyn's suggestion first, if I can get the worst of it out I would probably settle for that. A few bits left on the bumper to sort but with the dents done it'll be more or less back to pre write off/knocks condition, just finding it hard to live with the damage as it is.

Have asked local place to quote for just doing the dents, if it seems like too much I'll think about a run to ding day if it goes ahead..

[Carolyn]

Put up a couple of pics of the damage.. ?

[Richard41]

This was taken day after it happened, not easy to get an idea of the damage from the pic, there's also a small dent near the mirror, think the glue kit will at least work on that.

[Richard41]

All the white/scuff more or less polished out so looks worse than it is.

[Carolyn]

I might be tempted to take the door card off and see what can be accomplished with a few judicious pushes from the back.

[Richard41]

I might be tempted to take the door card off and see what can be accomplished with a few judicious pushes from the back.

Ordered the kit, will give that a go too, nothing to lose at this point.

[Newbie57]

Did think about another door but the cost & thought of changing it put me off 

Did a door on my daughters Fiesta. I was surprised how easy it was. Door fully dressed was £75. Hour to swoop only because the connector was a bit of a sod

[Richard41]

I've done wings and bumpers etc before, think it is things like connectors putting me off, that and I'm still trying to keep the costs down, just had to get starter motor sorted and had a new aux belt fitted (was cracking quite badly  ) at the same time so has already been creeping up!

wish I could ignore and just enjoy driving it but I've always looked after the car inside and out so kind of hard to not care about appearance, as I'm fixing things the other stuff then really bothers me.

getting the worst of the dents out would probably get it to a point I can live with