Gunshots and dents on a car are always a problem. Some brands only give a “shiny” look to classic cars. On a regular vehicle, each dent equates to a loss of value. A complete exterior refinish at a professional garage can be very expensive, and just a repair might be worth it. Here are some tips on how to deal with dents and dings on a car.
What is possible and what is not
Dents and dings on a car are small metal indentations. Damage caused by an accident or a warped frame cannot be repaired on your own. Generally speaking, the smoother and more rounded the edges of the dent, the simpler the repair will be. If the outer border is strong and rigid, then a DIY repair can prove problematic.
The challenge of
A dent on the body does not automatically cause damage to the paint. The paint used on modern vehicles is elastic, and it is hoped that a dent can be treated without the use of new paint. The most important element of the repair is heat for the paint. Cold paint is brittle and chips easily. Therefore, a dent must always be properly heated to allow the paint to adapt to the curvature of the metal.
Car dents are straightened by pulling from the outside or pushing from the inside. Straightening a dent from the back gives you more options to apply force. However, this requires significant disassembly. When pulling, the challenge is to apply sufficient force without damaging the paint. For cases where pulling is necessary, a vacuum is used. In some cases, adhesives can be used, but residues must be removed with great care.
First attempt: hot water
Before using tools, try the following solutions: Wash the surface with hot or boiling water. With a bit of luck, the metal will bend back to its original shape. It also works with plastic bumpers. Hot water always provides enough heat to soften the paint and material.
If the size of the dent allows you to place a suction cup (new!) above, the repair attempt may be successful. After treating a dent with hot water, install the suction cup and pull hard. This is often enough to fix wide and shallow dents.
For small dents and dings, a smaller suction cup is needed. The suction cups from a smartphone holder are a good option. Luxury holders come with small powerful suction cups that can be applied forcefully to the metal. Commercially sold robust suction cups only cost a few cents.
Attack from behind
If these attempts are unsuccessful, the dent must be treated from the back. You can try pulling with heated stickers or Loctite, but you run the considerable risk of damaging the paint. If you want to avoid excessive polishing and repair of the area, try to repair from the back first. For this, you need:
First, remove the interior panel 1 hairdryer. 1 x interior panel removal tool. 1 rubber hammer. 1 dowel or plastic bar with a round cap about 5 cm in diameter. . It is highly recommended to use a professional removal tool for this operation. Small levers cost around 5 euros and allow you to lift the edges and buttons of the door panel without breaking.
Attention: The plastic film at the back of the door card must be completely reinstalled during assembly, at the risk of water entering the car during the first wash.
When the dent is exposed, it must first be heated. This can be done from the inside if there are no plastic components around. Alternatively, the metal must be heated from the outside. Always keep a distance of about 15 cm to avoid burning the paint.****7 Once the metal is sufficiently heated and the dent is exposed, gently tap the edge with the hammer, moving inward. If the edge is not accessible, use a newspaper. Place the rounded end of the dowel on the area to be treated, then press the other end of the stick with the rubber button.
To achieve the best possible result, always work with a circular motion. The dent will eventually yield and return to its original shape, or at least mostly. The most important thing to remember when removing dents from the car – the less you do, the better! Well-placed taps yield a quicker result and avoid unnecessary damage!
Partial success is also a success
If the impact cannot be repaired with the measures described above, it is necessary to use filling and painting. Every millimeter of smoothing means less filling putty. The repair is easier and more durable when the putty layer is thin. Thick layers tend to chip. They also absorb water and cause corrosion, which may not be detected for a long time.
Dents and dings on the car: Fill — sand — fix
Flattening a dent, even partially, helps keep the putty layer as thin as possible. The paint must be rough or ground before filling. Then, a primer layer is applied. Since spray paint will be done afterwards, it is highly recommended to protect the paint areas with tape. A paint repair is always ideal from “edge to edge”.
It is almost impossible to achieve a clean transition on a flat surface. The edges and borders are protected areas using tape. For smaller areas and on older cars, a new paint job may be attempted. It is important to use the right color, which can be obtained at an accessory store with a gray car card.
Alternative to painting
Tapping is part of the preparation of the car before painting. The level of precision of the painting work must be reflected in advance. You can save a lot of money by completely filling and sanding the body before placing the car in a garage for professional painting. Protection using tape and disassembly of critical elements (taillights, etc…) greatly simplifies the task for professional painters. However, a complete paint job on an old car is an investment of several euros, even several thousand.
If it is simply about removing one or the smallest dents, painting may prove to be the most elegant and economical solution. If the car needs a complete transformation, there is an alternative to a new paint job – wrapping, which gives a similar effect. The advantage is that with a little practice, any handyman can master the art of wrapping. The film, like paint, however, depends on the base. Careful flattening and wrapping will be easily amortized. Although wrapping is not an easy operation, it is easier to learn than using a paint gun.
Smart measure before sale
****12Fresh, dent-free paint increases the value of the car by several hundred euros. Investing a Saturday in removing car dents will be a quickly recouped investment. The value of the car is even higher, bringing the same energy to the interior preparation. A fresh and carefully cleaned car with a clean engine, carpets, and upholstery will make you want to settle in and start immediately. Use it if you want to sell your car.
