Preparation for work (working conditions, tools, parts etc) Here's some steps on how to make a good preparation for body repairs:
Find a clean environment to work in. The best place would be a garage or a shed of some sort. The most important issue is to be indoor, where there is no access to dirt, dust, draft, wind or anything else that can cause problems during work. This is because of the paint job that comes after the primary body work. Its also important that you have room around the car so that you can work freely.
The primary body work (like sanding or body filling) can be done outdoors if the weather is OK. It's a pretty messy job so if you do the dirty part outside, there will be less cleaning later. It would be preferable that the day is sunny and warm without any moisture or mist. This is because of the body fillers and other adhesives that you will use. In cold weather or with the presence of moist, the job could be spoiled. -if you've chosen your garage, make sure to put some old sheets or newspaper on any part that you don't want to get paint or dust on. -wear some old clothing or a working suit that will protect you from dust, paint or other. Protective goggles are also a must-have.
For minor body work, depending on what part of the car you'll be working on, the next tools and material will be needed:
set of hammers, various sizes and shapes, depending on the job
a multi-purpose screw driver or a set, to take of the parts that could get in the way of your work (upholstery, side strips etc)
a set of basic wrenches that match the task
a set of metal spreaders, in order to work with the body filler
a set of pliers, ones with which you can hold, bend or cut metal
sandpaper of different granulation
a paint gun, you can use the cheaper ones since the professional guns are very expensive
grinder
power sander
a chuck for the sandpaper
body filler, used for filling the dents
primer, for better adhesion of the paint
paint (you can buy it in a can or spray, spray is much easier to use if you can find the matching color)
cleaning agent, ask for it in the body shop, every shop should be equipped. This is used for cleaning the surfaces of dust, dirt or other that can make problems during filling or painting
tape, not the one for packaging. Ask for the one that's used for protection of parts that are not supposed to be painted.
As you can see, the list is pretty long. But don't be afraid, most of these can be bought at the local store for a fair amount of money. Also, much of this material and tools can be found around the house. Some good tips can be find in this video: