Fix That Dent!
Got a new dent on your car? It happens to all of us but now you can fix it yourself with some of the new kit products now on the market. Although there are no hard and fast statistics on the issue, everyone’s car will get one. How much you pay to get it removed depends on where and how you get it fixed. The size also comes into play. There is a big difference between a crash and a dent. A crash involves severe force and the impact can torque and/or bend the vehicle’s frame. A dent involves very little force. If there is creasing in the metal or the underlying supporting structures are affected then seek a professional body shop. Or, if you do have the necessary knowledge you can undertake the endeavor using a wide assortment of body repair tools. The body shop can now come to you. Paint less and non-invasive methods are now available for the do it yourselfer. Ranging in size from a few centimeters to 3 or 4 inches can be removed is a span of about 15 minutes. If done correctly, there is usually little to no evidence of repair left behind. Paint less removal is not the total cure all. There are a number of different factors that restrict this particular technique. One concern is how much of the car’s metal was stretched on impact. Pulling on already stretched metal can make matters worse by furthering distortion which in turn leads to paint problems. Then there is the condition of the paint which has to be considered. This type of repair should only be performed on vehicles with OEM paint. If your car has been repainted then seek an alternative form of repair. Aftermarket paint will tear right away from the car. Repair kits are designed to provide an effective and easy means of doing this type of repair. There are different kits designed for different sized dents and degrees. Here are the basic steps: Its best the temperature of the metal be between 55 and 90 degree Fahrenheit. Use the yellow glue sticks for cool weather 55-75 and red for warm 55-75. The adhesive can become extremely hot in excess of 300 degrees. Severe burns may occur if the glue comes in contact with your skin. The use of protective gloves is highly recommended. Give your car a thorough washing and remove any surface dirt and wax in the immediate area with a polishing agent. Clean the area with the supplied release agent using a lint free cloth. Then clean the surface of the tab with the supplied release agent as well. (Caution: the release agent is flammable – do not smoke). Next apply the hot adhesive to the tab and be careful not to apply too much as any drips may cause severe burns. Either visually judge or measure the center of the dent. Use a dry eraser marker to mark the center. Place the tab softly on the center and hold in place for 10 seconds. Allow to cure 2 to 3 minutes. (DO NOT push the tab firmly against the dent! The more adhesive kept between the tab and the dent the more strength it will have.) Next, attach the slide hammer to the tab and gently drag the weight to the end of the shaft. Slowly increase the force of each blow until the desired result is achieved. To remove the adhesive and the tab, simply apply 1-2 drops of the release agent to the adhesive and peel it off. Occasionally a high spot will occur. To level the spot use a small hammer and the supplied finishing tool and lightly tap the high spot until it is level with the surrounding surface. Repeat steps 3-8 until the desired results have been achieved. Another tried and true method is using a common household commode plunger. Simply clean the dented area and then wet the plunger and dent and press it on the dent to remove the air inside and pull it sharply out from the metal. That’s how it’s done!
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