DIY car body repair tools

In detail: do-it-yourself accessories for car body repairs from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Work on the restoration of car bodies is carried out both in car services and at home and garage conditions with their own hands. This requires the tools for car body repair, which are discussed in the above article.

If single repair work can be done in the living conditions of an ordinary garage, then for the regular implementation of body repairs, it should be turned into a specialized room. First of all, you should equip the garage with a viewing hole or overpass, depending on the characteristics of the room. You can use lumber to create a flyover.

Also, to ensure the possibility of working in the garage throughout the year, it should be equipped with heating, in addition, insulation will be required.

It will only be necessary to heat the room for the duration of the bodywork, and not constantly, so a heat gun is the best option for heating equipment for such a garage.

This device provides the intense heat required for painting.

A network is required to connect the heat gun. In addition, in body repair, both pneumatic and power tools are used, which require a power source, therefore, it is necessary to lead the network to the garage. Finally, it is advisable to create holes in the form of large tools such as a compressor and a welding machine.

There are several classifications of body repair tools. So, according to their purpose, they are divided into the following systems:

welding;
compressors;
grinding;
straightening;
finishing tools;
measuring systems.

Video (click to play).

According to the stages of body work, which include straightening dents, removing corrosion, painting and preparing for it, tools are divided into corresponding categories. In addition, the considered classification includes a group of additional materials.

According to the principle of functioning of equipment for body repair, it is classified into manual and automatic tools. Models of the second subtype, according to the power source, are divided into pneumatic and power tools. The former include, for example, grinding machines, while a spray gun is a pneumatic tool.

Welding machines are also divided into several types, each of which has certain features of the functioning and implementation of work. At the same time, they provide a different quality of welded seams. Therefore, you need to choose a welding machine for doing bodywork with your own hands based on the requirements for their quality and the skills of the performer.

So, AC units are suitable for repairing major faults such as welding a frame, but such tools are not used to eliminate minor defects.

For do-it-yourself body repairs, they usually use a tungsten electrode or a carbon dioxide semiautomatic device.

These devices also vary in design. There are piston and diaphragm compressor models, and the volume of the receiver can be from 20 to 50 liters. It is advisable to equip the body repair tool in question with an oil separating filter. Compressors supply air to pneumatic tools. Also, for painting work, you will need to purchase the pneumatic tool itself, represented by a spray gun.

The considered tools for body repair are the largest, therefore, the aforementioned pits in the garage are equipped specifically for them.

Devices for repairing dents and body defects are diverse. Straightening tools are presented:

hammers;
spoons;
anvils;
notch blocks.

The most optimal options for straightening hammers are double-sided tools with sides of different shapes. Straightening hammers differ from other hammers in weight and materials. To be able to correct dents of various sizes and shapes, a set of straightening hammers should be purchased.

Do-it-yourself straightening hammers for body repairs are used in conjunction with an anvil or with various blocks designed to soften impacts.

Another tool for car body repair, related to straightening, is represented by a spoon. It is designed for straightening small flat tubercles by distributing the hammer impact over the area. Moreover, you can use a regular hammer with this tool, but sharp folds must be treated with a straightening hammer before using a spoon.

For repairing dents in hard-to-reach places, there is a body repair tool called a curved bar. It is a tool with a length of 30 cm to 1 m with a tip in the form of a chisel or punch. The principle of application is close to the technology of using these tools.

Anvils for bodywork differ in shape from conventional anvils. There are options in the form of a heel, a chicken egg, and a thumb. Various anvils are used for straightening, depending on the shape of the dents, therefore, to carry out bodywork with your own hands, it is desirable to have several options for these devices.

Notch blocks are auxiliary tools for bodywork. They serve to locate where the force is applied and to support the metal during straightening. For this, the considered devices are placed on the reverse side of the processed fragment of the body. After striking it, traces remain on the notch block.

Equipment designed for cleaning, which includes sanding paper, grinders and polishing machines, are called finishing tools.

As for emery paper, in bodywork for straightening and cleaning working surfaces, options with grit P120 - P500 are most often used.

For cleaning sheet metal and processing putty, body files are used, which are distinguished by the presence of a curved holder with variable geometry, which makes it possible to edit hard-to-reach places.

Power tools provided by grinders are used to straighten large irregularities, as well as to remove paint and varnish and primer.

Measuring instruments are presented in both mechanical and electronic versions.
Bodywork consumables include sandpaper, primer and filler. They are used at the painting stage.
To apply paint and varnish material, pneumatic tools are used, presented by spray guns.
The group of materials for removing corrosion includes: rust converters, brushes, anti-corrosion mastics, sandpaper, solvents, rags, primer
Materials for preparation for painting include: solvents, abrasive materials, grinders, rags, putty solutions, primer.
Materials for painting: base enamels, varnishes, pneumatic tools in the form of paint sprayers.
Additional materials: connectors for installation work, spatulas, adhesive sealant, masking tapes.

Body repair - this is one of the most difficult and responsible types of work to eliminate vehicle malfunctions.Accuracy and accuracy are important here, so you will need not only special knowledge in this area, but also certain skills in owning a tool and in processing materials. In fact, this is a technological process of car body straightening. It is of two types:

complete;
local.

Body straightening tool set in folding case

A complete overhaul is necessary if the car is involved in an accident, and a serious correction of the body geometry is required with the replacement of some of its parts.

Local repair involves fixing smaller faults. These can be the following operations:

correction of dents;
restoration of damage to paintwork;
repair of bumpers and plastic parts.

Obviously, for work of such a plan, you will need special equipment. Specialists use in such cases a body repair tool and special devices.that make operations possible and simplify machine operations. Let's take a look at what a body tool is, and what exactly it serves.

In the event of a collision or collision with an obstacle, the car may experience various violations of the geometry of the body. They require correct editing. - a machine with an incorrect geometry does not respond well to control, and there is a high risk of a new emergency.

To correct the geometry of the body, a body tool is used, which is called a slipway. With the help of the fixation system of some parts and the load on other parts of the machine, defects are straightened out. The slipway is equipped with special hydraulic loading devices and power grips for fixing.

Floor slipway Blackhawk Korek

There are the following types of slipways:

outdoor - the cheapest type. It consists of floor-mounted rails, anchors and uprights. Allows you to use the occupied space for other tasks when it is not needed;
platform - this is an overpass with a gangway for entry and rails. It can be used for the most difficult types of edits, but it requires a large area in the room;
frame - very convenient for editing simple defects. It does not take up much space and is very efficient.

Hydraulics is a body repair tool that assists in straightening work. The set consists of a hydraulic pump, various attachments and extensions... These sets differ in tonnage.

Video (click to play).

The essence of straightening work is that the parts return to their original appearance. In other words, these are various methods of editing car elements. To perform this kind of work, you must have the following tools in your arsenal:

Straightening hammer set:
- with round and square convex strikers;
- with flat round and convex square strikers;
- with flat strikers (also round and square);
- with convex round and flat square strikers;
- with large convex flat and round strikers.
Body repair straightening hammer set

Spinning hammer

Rubber hammer.

Vacuum hammer with suction cups.

The straightener is a curved tool with a sharp working edge.

Mallet with a cylindrical striker made of:

wood;
rubber.
Spoons:
- straightening;
- universal;
- for pulling;
- convex;
- elastic shock type.
  Straightening spoons and impact blades
- Curly rods.
- Impact webs.
- Anvil. May be small. It is a necessary tool for repairing dents.
- Grinding machine. It is used to eliminate scratches and chips, get rid of foci of corrosion and other operations of this type.
- Welding machine. It is likely that you will need to weld metal elements.The use of welding machines requires a certain amount of experience and knowledge - keep this in mind.
- Jack. This device can be found in the kit of every car enthusiast. It will be needed to raise and support the vehicle both in the field and in the workshop. There are different types of jacks:
  - rack and pinion;
  - rolling;
  - lever-screw.
    Hydraulic sliding jack
  The list of tools can be longer or shorter - it all depends on how serious types of car restoration work you are planning.
  
  The list of body repair works includes painting operations. Obviously, they will also need special equipment. Here is a quick list of what you may need in the process of refinishing your car:
  - Sprinkler for:
    - paints;
    - priming.
    - Spray gun.
    - Airbrush.
    A set of spray guns for painting cars
    You don't need all 3 categories - just one will do. Just decide on the best option. You should be aware that the airbrush is designed for painting small surfaces and is not suitable for large volumes.
    
    You will definitely need a compressor - it is included in the scheme of equipment for applying paint.
    
    It's a good idea to have a sandblaster to clean and degrease surfaces as you prepare them for painting. You will also need a compressor to operate this unit.
    
    Car body repair can also mean a set of works with plastic body elements. This is mainly welding, since plastic is a low-melting material, or operations to remove defects.
    
    Soldering iron for repairing plastic machine parts
    The following equipment is mainly used for thermal operations:
    - Soldering irons. Quite often there is a need to restore the bumper - while soldering irons are widely used. There are two types of soldering irons:
      - electro;
      - air (compared to electric, its cost is much higher).
      - Heat gun. Necessary when removing small dents. The heated plastic becomes more flexible, which allows you to give it any configuration. Previously, a gas burner was used for such purposes, but it did not make it possible to regulate the heating temperature.
      - Building hair dryer. Its principle of operation is completely similar to that of a heat gun.
      Body repair consumables cannot be literally classified as tools. However, they are needed in the same way as special tools and accessories.... Therefore, let's take a look at what you need to have in the workshop:
      - Cleaning and detergents.
      - Degreasing chemistry.
      - Antistatic agents (prevent dust from sticking to freshly painted parts).
      - Polishing agents:
        abrasive;
        
        protective;
        
        universal.
        
        Materials to prevent corrosion.
        
        Anti-gravel materials.
        
        Sandpaper, abrasive wheels, etc.
        
        Dry clean rags, rags.
        
        Paints and varnishes, primers, adhesives, etc.
        
        Personal protective equipment: gloves, goggles, welding mask, etc.
        
        Homemade device for removing dents without painting on the car body: photo of the device, manufacturing description, as well as a video showing how to pull out dents with your own hands.
        
        If the car body is damaged by small dents, you have to contact the tinsmith, but if you do this simple device, then you can pull out dents without painting yourself.
        
        The design of the tool is the simplest:
        
        Frame - made of plywood, fastening with screws and corners.
        
        Fungus adapter - bayonet air fitting.
        
        Quick-release 6mm herringbone, a repair carburetor cover stud (on one side m5 on the other m6) m5 is inserted into the quick-release and an m5 nut with not many sawn edges is screwed into it.
        
        The stem is made of an M6 stud, it is connected to the adapter with an M6 connector (I did not find it in my village, I had to weld the nuts) from the top there should be an M6 lamb.
        
        Soft base - cut from an old construction float (grinding), but can be any rubber or 8 mm isolon
        Fungi - foam fixing fungi (preferably as few holes and harder as possible) are cut to the desired shape, screw 5m * 40 washers, nuts.
        
        You will also need to work:
        
        The device really works and removes dents, tried big and small dents, ribs can be lifted! I tried it on painted and not painted, but on the wing painted from a spray can, the glue tore off the paint!
        
        The photo shows the process of pulling out dents on the body of a car.
        
        A fungus is glued to the degreased surface of the dent with hot melt glue.
        
        Rotating the lamb, we pull the glued fungus together with the metal.
        
        We are watching a video where the author shows in detail how to use a homemade device for removing dents on the car body.
        
        garage with equipment
        Special equipment for car repairs must be purchased, since it is impossible to perform everything efficiently, using only available materials. It is necessary to carry out body repairs not only after an accident, but in case of corrosive damage to the metal.
        
        You can do all the work with your own hands, but it is better to entrust the repair of larger and deeper damage to a specialist so as not to aggravate the situation.
        
        The choice of tools and method of repairing damage will depend on how large the defect is and how deep it is. Minor defects can be removed in just a few hours and no special equipment is needed to complete the work.
        
        If the body of the vehicle is seriously deformed, it will be necessary to perform the whole range of work: restoration of geometry, putty and priming of the surface (preparation for painting), sanding and applying a new paint and varnish coating.
        
        Professional equipment for auto repair is available at the service station, where they will not only carry out repair work, but also assess the degree of damage and conduct a full diagnosis of the condition of the car.
        
        Overhaul may be needed not only after an accident, but also if the car has been damaged by a disaster. It is almost impossible to carry out repairs on your own, so it is better to ask for help at a service station. Equipment for car body repair:
        
        Building berths - repairs with their help are carried out only if the operation is controlled by the most accurate electronic measurement system.
        
        Lift - for the convenience of performing repairs.
        
        Spotter - used for straightening work.
        
        Spot welding machine.
        
        Jack.
        
        Other locksmith tools.
        
        Pneumatic tools.
        
        Chains and clamps - to make straightening work much more convenient.
        
        With its help, you can repair the vehicle body and return it to its original appearance. It is better to call a slipway not a tool, but a special device with which you can correct the geometry of the body. You can buy it, or you can try to make it yourself from unnecessary metal structures.
        
        The principle of work of the slipways is that a force of several tons is used for compression and expansion.The end result in this case depends on how rigidly and firmly the part to be repaired was fixed. Types of slipways:
        
        In order to perform the work as efficiently as possible, in addition to slipways and other equipment, it is also necessary to purchase measuring equipment that will monitor the parameters of the geometry of the car body, and will also monitor changes in the configuration of the vehicle.
        
        Hydraulics is a set of tools with which you can perform body repairs. The only difference between these instruments is their tonnage. A set usually includes: a variety of attachments and special seals, as well as a hydraulic pump.
        
        The price category is very wide, you can purchase both the whole set and all the tools separately and assemble your own set from them. To perform straightening (to return the car body to its original appearance), an experienced craftsman uses the following list of tools:
        
        Straightening hammers (can be of a wide variety of shapes).
        
        Rubber hammer.
        
        The hammer is inertialess and vacuum (usually equipped with special suction cups, with which it is very convenient to pull out dents). Such a tool is not widely used, since it requires some practical skills to be mastered.
        
        Straightening is a special curved tool with a sharp edge. It can be double-sided, angular, etc.
        
        Mallet (can be rubber or wooden).
        
        Straightening spoon (this is a universal tool with which you can tap out dents on the body or just pull them out).
        
        Despite the impressive length of this list, all named tools will take up very little space in the garage, while their usefulness will be invaluable. With experience, you can use some tools instead of others without compromising the quality of the repair.
        
        All basic straightening tools
        For this reason, it is necessary to promptly eliminate defects in the car body and, if necessary, correct its geometry. Straightening and painting a car can be done independently in your own garage - this will require preparation and a certain set of tools. What should be used for straightening? Find out now!
        
        A slipway is a tool for straightening a car body that allows you to correct the geometry of the body, even in the most difficult cases. The principle of operation of the equipment is simple - the car is firmly fixed in the construction of the slipway, after which powerful efforts of the exhaust devices are applied, stretching the deformed body in the right directions. As a result, the part is straightened.Professional models of slipways have several exhaust devices at once.
        
        Slipways are classified into three types, which differ from each other in design and work characteristics:
        
        Platform-based. It is a platform on which the clamps are located - special mounts for the car body. Due to the design features, the platform slip is able to pull any parts in any direction, using for this purpose different pulling forces. Such a slipway can work as a lift for the car and provide access to the bottom of the car.
        
        Frame. A straightening tool that you can make yourself. With the help of a frame slip, small body repairs are carried out by pulling individual parts or a body, and the average frame lifting capacity is 4-6 tons.
        
        Floor. A universal straightening tool that provides maximum lifting capacity limited only by the floor's capabilities. The construction of the floor slip consists of rails embedded in the concrete floor. Traction devices are located on the rails, which are attached to the body parts. It is this type of slipway that allows the most serious and voluminous bodywork to be carried out.
        
        Building berth - equipment for straightening the car body, which is available in every professional car service offering the service of restoring the body geometry. For this reason, he should be in the garage, in which an independent straightening of the body of any complexity is planned. You can buy it or make it yourself.
        
        Spotter is a spot welding machine. This tool for flattening cars without painting makes it possible to repair parts that cannot be accessed from the outside. Spotter straightening has the following advantages:
        
        No need to completely disassemble the car.
        
        High-quality result upon completion of work.
        
        Efficiency of implementation.
        
        The ability to repair any mechanical damage to the body.
        
        Spotter is a tool for car straightening, coping with the elimination of defects in doors, fenders, hood, sills and other body parts. It saves time and money on auto repairs.
        
        An automatic straightening tool for a car is not the only option for high-quality body restoration. Hand straightening of a car is also widespread, for which tools such as a straightening hammer, inertial and flange hammers, a straightening file and many other names of tools are used.
        
        The main difference between hammers for restoring the body from their construction counterparts is the structure of the striker. Its surface is rounded and carefully polished, and the opposite impact side is equipped with a beak-shaped tip for picking up parts from the inside. Another feature is the low weight required for a more accurate recovery.
        
        The preferred impact tool for straightening the vehicle with strikers made of hard plastic. Such hammers weigh little and do not cause mechanical damage to the surface to be straightened. To preserve the paintwork of the machine (straightening without painting), you need to use hammers with rubber strips - they will take longer to carry around, but they will not scratch the paint.
        
        It is the main tool for knocking out and subsequent straightening of the car surface. It differs in a small in thickness handle and a versatile striker - one side has a square surface, the other is rounded. For this reason, the straightening hammer is versatile and can be used to repair any damage.
        
        Such a do-it-yourself body straightening tool is used to fine-tune the results obtained with a straightening hammer.One end of the striker is flat, the other has the shape of a cone with a truncated top, which adds versatility to the tool.
        
        A unique tool for stretching the car body, which, due to the use of the kinetic principle of operation, allows you to level the surface of the car body from the inside. Thanks to this tool, you can straighten hard-to-reach places of the car. Together with an inertial hammer, it is recommended to purchase a set of attachments for various cases.
        
        When a flange straightening of a car body is required, a tool with working heads located at an angle of 90 degrees from the usual position is used - a flange hammer. With this tool, you can easily detach and connect any flange connections.
        
        Mallet is a hammer made of hardwood. Modern models can be made of rubber and other synthetic materials, leather. Some mallets are equipped with a removable striker - during the straightening process, you can attach the most suitable one. With the help of a mallet, a neat straightening of metal is carried out without further painting.
        
        The hammer and file are not the only hand tools that are essential for machine straightening. Aids are often required to make the job easier:
        
        Support. Large bars of metal that have the shape of a recoverable part. The support is installed on the opposite side of the part, after which it is processed and aligned. To work, you need a whole set of different supports.
        
        Anvil. Straightening and straightening metal with a hammer is not complete without an anvil. It acts as a universal support that can be used for impact straightening of any car body part.
        
        Hammer hammer for straightening and leveling
        The set for straightening and pulling the car should contain several different types of hammers, a set of supports and an anvil. With the presence of these tools, body restoration will be successful even at home.
        
        Sometimes a body part is so damaged or in a special place that it cannot be straightened from the surface. To solve the problem, spoons with various shapes are used, with the help of which the punching, bending and pulling of the coatings are carried out. It is advisable to have on hand a set of such spoons, each of which is designed to pull out certain body parts.
        
        Impact blades are necessary for the same purposes - thanks to their use, it is possible to stretch the spar or level another surface, eliminate grooves and dents, leveling wavy body coatings. It is recommended to use impact blades only for minor body repairs, as they are poor substitutes for spoons and dies.
        
        Hooks are indispensable tools for removing unnecessary elements hidden under the bodywork. The hook can remove ribs and stiffening strips, under-stamping and other details that prevent self-restoration of the body. The hook is placed between the casing and the part and then slowly and gently pulled outward. If you cannot get to the location of the interfering elements with the hook, levers are used. In a garage, these are usually homemade car repair tools, but they can also be purchased at a car store.
        
        After the self-made tools and devices for restoring the body have completed the task, you should proceed to sanding the repaired surface. For these purposes, the following equipment can be used:
        
        Grinder with a set of discs of various grain sizes.
        
        Electric drill with abrasive attachments.
        
        Sandpaper attached to a block.
        
        A sander is the preferred option and only if not on hand should a drill or mechanical sander be used.
        
        Timely elimination of body defects will allow you to quickly restore the performance of the vehicle, improve its appearance and prevent further damage to the body due to corrosion, which forms primarily in damaged areas. Keep track of the condition of your car and do not postpone its repair until later, because this can lead to the need for more complex and expensive body repairs.
        
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