What is a high spot?

• A. A raised area on a panel after repair
• B. A recessed indentation in the panel
• C. A missing paint patch
• D. A bump on the underside of panel

Answer: (A)

A high spot is a raised area on a panel after repair. In bodywork, the goal is a flat, even surface, so any peak that stands higher than the surrounding area is a high spot. It happens when too much filler is used, hammering creates a raised contour, or sanding leaves a ridge. You’ll often detect it by feel—running your hand over the panel or noticing a bright line under lighting—or by sight with a straightedge, which won’t sit flat over the peak. The fix is to recontour or reapply filler carefully and then block sand with a flat sanding block to bring the surface to the same plane as the surrounding area. A high spot can trap primer and paint, causing an uneven finish, so correcting it is essential before priming and painting. A recessed indentation is a low spot, a missing paint patch is a bare area, and a bump on the underside describes a high area on the reverse side and isn’t the standard way we define a high spot on the surface being finished.