How to Use Bondo for Car Repair Projects

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For small touch-up paint jobs, you can often just use primer, paint, and clear coat, but if you have deep scratches, dings, or even a small hole in your vehicle, you'll need body filler to create a solid, sturdy, and flat surface for your repair. If you try to paint over issues like these without using body filler, the paint will just make the damage more obvious. But using Bondo body filler can give you the smoothest possible surface for your automotive paint, and learning how to apply Bondo to a car is easier than you might think.

Step-by-Step Bondo Instructions

Follow these steps for a smooth, durable body repair:

Clean the Surface: Thoroughly clean the area to be repaired with soap and water, then dry it. Use a degreaser to remove any grease, wax, or oil.
Sand the Area: Sand the damaged area to remove any paint and roughen the surface. This is an important part of the Bondo body filler directions, as it helps the Bondo adhere to the body of the vehicle.
Mix the Bondo: Following the Bondo instructions on the can, mix the body filler and hardener. Mix a small amount on a clean surface, blending it until it has a consistent color.
Apply the Bondo: Using a plastic spreader, apply a thin layer of the Bondo mixture over the dent or scratch. Spread it evenly, slightly overfilling the area to allow for sanding. Try to get it as smooth as possible to minimize the amount of sanding you'll need to do.
Let it Cure: Allow the Bondo to harden. This usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes.
Sand the Bondo: Once it's fully cured, sand the area with progressively finer sandpaper until it is smooth and level with the surrounding surface.
Apply Spot Putty if Needed: If you see any small pinholes or scratches in the Bondo, fill them in with a layer of spot putty. Let the putty dry, then sand again to get the surface perfectly smooth.
Clean the Area: Use prep solvent to make sure that the surface is completely clean and dust-free.
Mask off the Area: Use masking tape and plastic sheeting to protect surrounding areas from overspray.
Apply Primer: Spray on your automotive primer. This helps the paint adhere and seals the repaired area.
Paint the Area: Once the primer dries, apply the automotive touch-up paint to match the original finish.
Finish With Clear Coat: After the paint dries, apply clear coat to protect the paint and give it a glossy finish.