what do i need for a diy bodywork repair and repaint?

[danlightbulb]

Hi guys.

Never done this work before so im starting with nothing.

I need to sand back, fill and repaint an area of rear arch where i have bubbling paint and likely rust holes.

I have no idea what i need. There are lots of different types of body filler, fibreglass, hardener, resin etc. What tools do i need? A grinder? A dremel?

Can someone help with a shopping list?

Thanks.

[danlightbulb]

Thanks. Its not worth spending that money on it though, so I will just be sanding back and making the best job I can of it, with the aim of it lasting 3 to 4 years ish.

Once Ive sanded it back, if there are holes, then I intend to spray copious amounts of rust prevention fluid inside before filling/fibreglassing over and repainting the area. Ive seen some you tube videos of fibreglassing rust holes and it comes up pretty good.

So if someone can tell me what I would need to go shopping for it would be much appreciated.

Edited by danlightbulb on Monday 7th December 23:51

[danlightbulb]

I posted a question asking about bodyshop recommendations in general gassing but no-one responded. I do intend to get some quotes. I would not mind £250 a side. But if the job was coming in at more than this its not worth it.

Here are pics. Its a honda accord rear arches which are double skinned and welded on i believe.

better side:


worse side:

[danlightbulb]

swisstoni said:

It could be that it is time to learn a bit of DIY and just keep it tidy for the time you have the car.

Its only a section 4" long by 1" wide. Thats why i posted the thread because thats exactly what i want to do, but please refer back to OP. need help with what to buy.

[danlightbulb]

swisstoni said:

I'd just visit the world of YouTube - I'm sure there's tons of stuff.

There is, but it doesnt tell you what type of filler or hardener to use. On halfords there are several types.

[danlightbulb]

I'm struggling to visualise what I will find underneath.

Here is what is in my head.

I sand it back, I'm left with some holes where I can see the inner skin through the holes. I spray rust preventer through the holes and underneath the arch (inside the arch lining). I chip away at the rusted edges until they are not falling apart. I mix up fibreglass with resin and pack it between the inner and outer skin until its flush with the arch surface. Then I use body filler over the top.

I'm struggling to see how this can continue to rust. Fibreglass can't rust.

It's only the bit on the lip of the arch where it undertucks the wheel well, isn't it? It won't have spread up the whole rear quarter - how can it?

Ive looked under the wheel well and can't see any rust on the wheel arch inside (i.e above the tyre).


I'm expecting to see something like this:


and do this to it:




It won't be like this will it? It can't be that bad:





Can you see why I'm not getting it, all we are looking at are a few paint blisters??

Edited by danlightbulb on Tuesday 8th December 19:54

[danlightbulb]

Squiggs said:

Honestly mate - don't try repairing it - you'll just be wasting your time and more importantly your money!

This whole thing is really putting a downer on my new car purchase. I feel like I've made the wrong decision and now I will be lumbered with a car where the whole rear panel starts to disintegrate on me.

What do I do? If I leave it to rot then what happens? Does it mean I'll never sell the car on now?

[danlightbulb]

I want to have a go at it but im worried ill make it worse. Its unsightly now, so provided i dont make it worse then any chance of improving it or making it last a bit longer would be positive.

If i start sanding it, will i make it worse? Will i make the thing disintegrate and fall apart on me? After sanding back, will i have significantly more problem than i do now?

What happens if i do nothing? How long before buts start falling off?

[danlightbulb]

Ive done lots of research but cant find specific enough examples.

What i really want to know if if i start sanding it, will the existing edge disappear, or will i still have something left to bond fibreglass onto and to make the shape.

I had an average age of 5 in the 80's.

[danlightbulb]

Oh it will be outside so will be waiting till spring. I was going to spray some rust protection stuff on it, or grease it, to try and prevent any further deterioration over the winter but people said there was no point.

[danlightbulb]

HustleRussell said:

It does depend a lot on your expectations. Are you attempting to make a functional repair to extend the life of the car or are you expecting it to also look pretty?

You can forget achieving a decent match / finish in metallic blue when it's 10 celsius.

I'd probably clean the area and waxoyl the st out of it and attempt a repair in the spring or book it in.

Also may I direct you back to my comments in the other thread about buying cars based on datasheets rather than keeping your options open and buying a car which gives you the right messages (and isn't rusty, because let's face it, ultimately rust is the killer and your car is closer to the grave than alternatives in your budget).

It does sound like it should be an easy job if I had the right tools. I don't see why it costs hundreds or thousands to do these repairs at a bodyshop.

If I could weld, why couldn't I get some 2mm thick sheet steel, cut it to shape and weld it in? With the right tools that wouldn't really take long. Then grind it off flat, fill, prime and paint. It doesn't sound like it should be complicated. Unfortunately I can't weld and I don't have any metal cutting tools or any sheet steel.

I don't expect it to look brand new, but I don't want to see any rust, or for sections of the arch to fall off in 6 months.

For my budget there wasn't a great deal of choice in the first place, and mechanically the Honda should be a sound car. Any £1400 car is going to have some faults, but I didn't consider that a 3 square inch area of rust would be so difficult to solve.

I would like to keep the car for 3 to 5 years. The rest of the bodywork is almost perfect.

[danlightbulb]

hman said:

I have covered this already, a wheel arch repair panel is the way forward - stop pissing in the wind and bite the bullet

I've tried searching for one, I don't think one exists for this model? perhaps you have a link to who sells them?