Dent removal
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New User
Joined: Mar 2007
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Dent removal
Well I got caught out in a hail storm recently. I've gotten several decent size dents and a lot of tiny ones. What have you found is the best way to remove them. My nice truck, booo! hooo!
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 473
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From: Flagstaff, AZ
Look in the phone book for paintless dent repair, there are a lot of companies that do it. For several dents it may be a few hundred dollars though. It's possible your insurance may cover it. You could probably call your dealer as well, I'm sure they have vehicles that have hail damage now as well, they probably work with a company that comes to the dealership on a weekly or monthly basis.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 495
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From: Somewhere in da corn,Iowa
In my experience, an insurance company would rather have you take it into a shop and then we just replace the panels unless they are tiny enough to use filler for, takes too much time and money(for the insurance company) for us to try to pop out every lil dent.
The only time I have not just been told to replace the panels was when they were like dime size and not even 1/16th deep, otherwise every insurance company doesn't want us to take the time to take the dents out because labor rate is charged at $50/hour, so it adds up fast.
The only time I have not just been told to replace the panels was when they were like dime size and not even 1/16th deep, otherwise every insurance company doesn't want us to take the time to take the dents out because labor rate is charged at $50/hour, so it adds up fast.
Junior User
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Douglasville, GA
A trick I learned at my uncles body shop was just to use a torch to heat em red hot and they will "pop" right out. Cant remember any specific techniques but if your looking at replacing the whole hood anyways its worth a try. We had alot of hail damaged cars out there in CO. Springs CO.
Nick
Nick
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 267
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From: Colorful Colorado
Insurance companies would rather use PDR than conventional repairs any day of the week.
Here's why:
1. It's way friggin cheaper as there is no painting, no cutting, no heating...if you are doing any of these than it's not true Paintless Dent Repair.
2. It's way faster than conventional repair and there are lots of companies that can do it in the field, so less rental car time.
3. By using PDR, there is no diminished value claim on the vehicle as the true intregrity of the OEM paint is still in tact. We all know that you can't cure the paint with an aftermarket application as you get from the factory.
Just my $.02, spend it or leave it.
Here's why:
1. It's way friggin cheaper as there is no painting, no cutting, no heating...if you are doing any of these than it's not true Paintless Dent Repair.
2. It's way faster than conventional repair and there are lots of companies that can do it in the field, so less rental car time.
3. By using PDR, there is no diminished value claim on the vehicle as the true intregrity of the OEM paint is still in tact. We all know that you can't cure the paint with an aftermarket application as you get from the factory.
Just my $.02, spend it or leave it.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 638
Likes: 7
From: Birmingham, AL
skymonkey,
That's what I was going to say but you beat me to it. Let me be clear about this. I have never done it or even seen it done so this isn't an endorsement of the technique. I'm only passing on what I have heard and you can try it if you like.
The procedure, as I heard it, is to hold a piece of dry ice, that is large enough to cover the dent by a small margin, tightly against the dented area until a frost ring develops about one inch out in all directions from the ice. Remove the ice and place the repair area in the hot sunshine and the dent will pop out as the metal expands back to it's normal size. Repeat if necessary.
The ice trick is said to work well on shallow, non creased dents of the type that hail or nuts falling from trees or some parking lot dings make.
Be sure to use acquit thermal protection for your hands if you decide to give it a try.
I have several projects that I plan to try this on when I find the time to pick up some dry ice.
Gene
That's what I was going to say but you beat me to it. Let me be clear about this. I have never done it or even seen it done so this isn't an endorsement of the technique. I'm only passing on what I have heard and you can try it if you like.
The procedure, as I heard it, is to hold a piece of dry ice, that is large enough to cover the dent by a small margin, tightly against the dented area until a frost ring develops about one inch out in all directions from the ice. Remove the ice and place the repair area in the hot sunshine and the dent will pop out as the metal expands back to it's normal size. Repeat if necessary.
The ice trick is said to work well on shallow, non creased dents of the type that hail or nuts falling from trees or some parking lot dings make.
Be sure to use acquit thermal protection for your hands if you decide to give it a try.
I have several projects that I plan to try this on when I find the time to pick up some dry ice.
Gene
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
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The dry ice trick does work, especially on newer cars where the metal is more pliable than the cars of old. Another way to get the results is to use the dry ice and then warm it up with a heat gun, just be careful not to blister the paint while you're at it. Make sure to use tongs when handling the dry ice though, it's not exactly the safest thing in the world to play with.
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