Amateur body repair recommendations

[ThosL]

I picked up a can of Bondo a while ago; I haven't gotten up the gumption to try using it to fix some holes in my car's body.  Can anyone recommended youtube tutorials on this?  I heard panel replacement has become standard now by professionals.  Too expensive IMO.

[jp98]

If the holes were cause by rust then you really need to do the whole panel or cut it back to good metal and weld in a new piece. 

 

If you don't get rid of all the rust you are just hiding the problem.

[DaveT]

And you have to seal the inside also, no matter which method, or it will rust through again, in a short time.

[Stevo F]

I cut out the rust with my Dremel tool, then pop rivet in a piece of galvanized duct metal (just did this today on my Impreza). I also spray undercoating on the back side of the patch panel. In the past, such repairs have lasted 5 years or more before rusting though again

[mikec03]

Stevo F has the right idea.  You must cut out and inch beyond the perforation.  If the hole is 2 inches, cut a 4 inch hole, at least.  I use some naval jelly to convert any rust beyond the hole on the backside, rinse off the jelly & dry,  and then spray the backside with undercoating.  The hole can then be fiberglassed and bondo it.