How To Fix Small Dents On Fiberglass
Posted on: 25 May 2016
If you need to make autobody repairs on the fiberglass sections of your car, you should definitely invest in a fiberglass patch kit. These are convenient and affordable, especially if you don't already own any of the supplies. Fiberglass is used on car bodies partly because it is so easy to repair. If you have small scratches and dings on your fiberglass surface, you will probably want to fix them yourself instead of taking them to a professional. Of course, if there is large-scale structural damage, you will need to hire a professional like Aldrich Auto Body & Repair, Inc. This article explains how to fix small dents and dings on fiberglass surfaces of your car.
What Comes in the Patch Kit
Most fiberglass patch kits have most of the supplies you need, but not all of them. They will typically include the fiberglass resin, liquid hardener, cloth, fixing tray, mixing stick, and a plastic spreader (like a putty knife). In addition to these supplies, you will also need to have a pair of scissors, painter's tape, latex gloves and autobody sandpaper.
Prepping the Ding
First, you need to prepare the ding to be patched. Start off by using the autobody sandpaper to buff out the area. You just want to sand a small perimeter around the area and knock down any loose paint. By sanding the surface, you are actually making it a little rougher which allows the fiberglass and cloth to stick to it better. So, you want to cut your cloth to about the same size as the area that you sanded. Use a wet rag to wipe down the area after sanding to make sure there are no fibers stuck to the surface. Now, use a little bit of painter's tape to place the cloth over the ding. Just put enough tape to hold it in place because you will later need to remove it before applying the resin.
Applying the Resin
You need to mix the liquid hardener in with the resin to activate it. Once the two are mixed together, the resin will dry very quickly, so you need to be prepared. Use the plastic spreader to apply the resin onto the cloth. You can remove the tape once enough of resin is on the cloth. You want to try and spread the resin as smoothly as possible, but you won't be able to get it perfect. After the resin is completely dry, you will need to buff it out with the sandpaper to make it blend in with the car body.
Even small fiberglass dings can get bigger if they're left unattended. This is why it is so important to fix them as soon as possible.
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