Repair and restoration of the car body: step by step instruction and device

Even in case of getting into a small accident, the cost of restoration work can be quite high. It seems that the complexity of the work is small and in their conduct there is nothing complicated. If there is a great desire, a little time, the necessary resources and tools, then restoring the body yourself - this is quite feasible process. Let's look at the restoration technologies in stages.

Geometric characteristics

It is necessary to make sure that after the accident or any other negative factors, the spatial geometry of the car body has remained without significant changes. This can be done by measuring the distances between the so-called control points. If there is no information on these points, then they are guided by a clearly visible power part. So, between the elements of mounting the suspension and the engine must be symmetrical distances. If the body geometry is broken, then the car body repair is possible, but this operation will require a huge investment of resources and forces. This is a very laborious process. The thing is that for a high-quality performance of this level of work, you need to have a whole set of equipment. This is a slipway, on which the body is stretched in the necessary order.

Naturally, the cost of such a complex is quite high. Specialists in small garages use improvised tools and tools. It can be different stretches or jacks. With the help of such simple devices it is possible to carry out restoration work, but it is difficult to speak about quality. If there is no possibility to use a special stand for work, then it does not make any sense to buy it, this equipment is very expensive. Repair in the workshop, where engaged in bodywork, will cost much less. So, in Moscow for the restoration of the body price starts from 4 thousand rubles (stretching on the stock of minor distortions).

How to restore geometry

If you still want to solve the problem with your own hands, the process is the so-called stretching of the point of the damaged section. But first you need to calculate this point, calculate it, and then foresee how the body behaves in the process of impact.

First, they replace the damaged parts of the body kit, which are cheaper to buy new, rather than restore. It can be doors, a bumper, a cover of a cowl, a luggage carrier. After this, they move on to stretching.

Fighting Corrosion

Very closely follows the focus of corrosion. Also, past the master should not pass through holes. If there is only a small rust spot on the paintwork, this does not mean that the metal has not rotted right through. Metal under the paint may be completely absent. If there is a piece of body in which through holes were formed, then it is completely cut out before the appearance of solid metal. Then a patch is welded onto the place of the cut piece. If the rust is not so serious, then the restoration of the body will be a sweep of the affected areas to solid metal.

Small dents

Most often, repairs begin because of the large number of small damages. If there are really small deformations, where there is no stretching of the metal, ruptures and other consequences, these defects can be corrected without repainting. The form is restored mechanically with full or partial preservation of a paint and varnish covering. But you need to understand that the process will take a huge amount of time. Although such defects are easier to fix. Professionals call them "flaps" because of characteristic claps. It is only necessary to heat the place a little or to act on it mechanically on the reverse side. The dent will return to its normal position with a characteristic sound. If you need welding or there is a need to replace the part, then without paintwork simply can not do. But there are advantages in this - you can use more simple restorative methods without using putty.

Serious defects

Restoring the body of the car, if it has serious dents, will require a complete removal of the paint. For this purpose, a grinding machine and a suitable nozzle are suitable. The most important thing in this process is to work so as not to overheat the metal. When the metal parts of the body heat up, the properties of the metal will begin to change. In case if the metal is strongly stretched around the perimeter of the damage (for example, the dent is very deep), then it is returned to its original form. Here it is necessary to exert force and act around the perimeter, while smoothly withdrawing the body section to its original form. For such works, a small kiyanka and an anvil are excellent. A metal hammer for these purposes will not work, as it will deform the metal. An anvil is applied to the outer part of the dent, and from the inside they make light punches with a mallet. Metal will return to its rightful place.

Restoring strong deformations

When the areas are very elongated, restoring the body according to the above method will not help. The process will be very difficult and time-consuming. It will be necessary to completely remove the LCP. Also repair of damage requires the presence of an industrial powerful hair dryer and an apparatus for spot welding. The welding apparatus needs graphite electrodes. On the technology, the restoration of the body damage is completely analogous to the previous method - you need to straighten the dent, starting from one point of the perimeter, and then gradually approaching the center. But they are no longer using an anvil with an anvil, but they heat the metal point-by-point and afterwards act mechanically. Heated tin becomes more plastic and pliable. How much heat, depends on the metal. The temperature is selected experimentally. With an industrial dryer there are no complications. But if a spot welding machine is used , there is a risk to burn the body almost completely. The electrodes have different shapes and are selected depending on the type of damage and the shape of the dent. Round deformations are corrected by a thin electrode, long ones are wider.

Using spot welding

Repairing, rebuilding the body of a car, when you need to return the original form, can be very time-consuming. It is not always possible to get to the damaged area from the back side. In this case, you can try to fix the defect from the outside entirely. In order to do this, grab the welding electrode with metal in the area to be pulled out. Then, with the help of special tools or the reverse hammer, the metal stretches. Then the graphite electrode is broken off. The place of welding to the metal is ground.

Metal soldering on a dent

In this case, the defect is not stretched. Restoring the body do a little differently. This is not meant to stretch the deformation. In the dent formed, a special solder is soldered. This method allows you to almost perfectly remove any defect. The result will be astounding. Thickness gauge will not be able to reveal traces of repair. This procedure requires solder, flux and acid, as well as a sufficiently powerful soldering iron. The work surface should be carefully cleaned and then tin-plated. Next, the remaining volume is melted. The most important thing is that the solder is sufficient. When the process is finished, the surface is thoroughly washed. Flux is a reactive substance. A completely perfect surface, thus restored, will not. It is necessary to grind and remove excess solder additionally. Also form the right shape. Then the place is polished, and only then you can get a good result.

Conclusion

As can be seen, the restoration, repair of the body can be performed in various ways. Naturally, a serious task in the garage conditions will not work. But it is quite possible to cope with small deformations.