Thread: My first time doing body work

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OK, so maybe it is not my "first time doing body work" per say, but it is my first time doing CAR body work

WATCH OUT - turns out I have a nack for this?? I had a huge dent in my left headlight so off came the guide light and I carefully hammered it back into shape. How I managed to end up with a headlight that looked pretty much all back to normal, I do not know. Especially since I had never done this before, had never seen anyone do it and had none to help me (Sean had left). So I improvised. But my instincts were right on the money I guess cause there it was. Looking just like it is supposed to, perfect.

I am hooked.

Meanwhile spent ALL DAY yesterday working on hiboy. He is getting prepped for painting. Sean guided me through the process and after scrubbing down all oil, grime etc from the body, we went over every single pin hole, scratch, etc we could possibly find (with a microscope) and filled every single last one of them. Then it was sanding party.

I really love feeling the work with the tip of my fingers and if you close your eyes you can easily tell if you are done sanding or not. Cause you can then feel (or, ideallly - no longer feel) any of the filler...

So now Hiboy is 3 colors and has green patches all over him LOL - he looks diseased!

But he is smoooooooooth as a baby's butt. My quarter panels had a rough finish to them - either an old coat of paint gone bad or just plain fiberglass finish - or lack thereof- but I used 600 sandpaper and now it feels like glass (pun intended LOL)

My hands are still swollen from all the scrubbing

My little guy has never received so much attention and pampering in his whole 30 year life. What really escapes me is why none of the previous owners ever bother to do this.

I went and spent the money to buy real car black primer, automotive top satin clear coat and all the supplies I needed to do this paint job right. So maybe it costs about $500 in supplies and all but that's still alot cheaper than I would have spent if I had a shop do it for me.

So today is the big day.. We actually shoot the paint... I am worried about this process but Sean did his car and it came out good so hopefully so will Hiboy. Wish me luck!

No longer shall I have a hiboy with 3 different black colors (all of which came from $4 home depot spray cans and carelessly applied over the years by different people/owners).

This is the dawn of a new era for my hotrod.

I'll let you know how everything turns out,

Welcome to the "No Fingerprint Club." Pretty soon you will join the "Coughing up Black stuff Club." Oh yeah, this bodywork stuff is LOTS of fun.

Don

A friend of mine showed me a little trick once. When you think you have all the sanding done take a light cotton cloth and put it around your finger and feel the repaired area. Your finger alone says OK but with the cloth you can feel things left behind and sand somemore.

yup i do the same i use a paper towel and it works like a dream .

I was taught to do the same thing with a the leg from a pair of panty hose. Any way you do it, it makes you aware of highs and lows.

hey no kinky talk ....hiboy gal may just do that ...but we have to get pics ..lol