Whether it is caused by a shopping cart, the door of another car, or a baseball thrown by a neighbor’s child, timely removal of dents is essential to help maintain the overall resale value of the vehicle. So, how to fix a car dent?
There are various tools you can use, such as Plungers, Hair Dryers & Compressed Air, Dry Ice, Vacuum Cleaners & Pots, and Boiling Water…. Keep reading.
Can I Repair a Dent Myself?
Yes, but you’ll first need to make sure the damage isn’t too severe.
Make sure the dent is shallow and no deeper than three inches in diameter by measuring it. An attempt at DIY repair is probably not the best course of action if the mark is located on a curve or contour in the bodywork. You’ll also need to be confident about working on your car and accessing the back of panels.
Choose your approach at this point. Some of the top techniques are highlighted in the step-by-step instructions that follow.
How to Fix a Car Dent?
Here are the details:
Use a Plunger
Plungers are useful for unclogging more than just pipes and drains. You can also remove a small- to medium-sized dimple from the surface of your car by using your trusty plunger. The use of a regular toilet or “flange” plumber is not recommended for this dent removal technique in order for it to be effective. Instead, utilize a flat/cup plunger, which is normally used to unclog sinks.
Apply a small amount of water to the dent and the plunger’s end before using a cup plunger to remove the troublesome dent. Place the plunger’s tip next to the dent in your car. Draw the plunger towards you with all the force you can muster. Especially if the dent has a larger surface area, be sure to pull at different angles.
Use a Hair Dryer & Compressed Air
With the use of compressed air and a hairdryer, you can easily remove a dent from a plastic part of your car.
On the hottest setting of your hairdryer, heat up the car dent. Turn a compressed air can upside-down and spray it over the area once it is sufficiently hot and has expanded. The cold air will then trigger the plastic to contract, reversing the dent if all goes well.
Use Dry Ice
You must wear protective gloves while using this method because it involves rapid temperature changes.
You’ll need:
- aluminium foil
- dry ice
- a hair dryer
- insulated gloves
- masking tape
Start by re-performing steps one and two from the previous hair dryer method.
Step three – To protect your paintwork, apply aluminum foil over the dent using masking tape.
Step four – Pick up a block of dry ice and rub it across the foil while donning heavy-duty gloves. Within a minute or so, you ought to hear the panel reposition itself.
Step five – Admire your handy work as you remove the foil.
Use a Vacuum Cleaner & Pot
One method of removing a dent is by suction, but the challenge is locating a dent puller with sufficient power. So why not just design your own? All you need is a pot (or bucket), a vacuum cleaner and some tape and you can get that dent out of your car in no time.
Simply drill a tiny hole underneath the pot, tape the pot over the dent, drape the vacuum hose over the hole, and turn the vacuum on. The suction that is produced ought to pull out your dent if it isn’t too shallow.
Use Hot Glue, Wooden Dowels, & Screws
You always run the risk of doing more harm to your car when you try to remove dents yourself, whether you worsen the dent or chip the paint. Using several wooden dowels, a few screws, and a hot glue gun to try to remove large dents from your car is a safe option.
Simply place two nails into each side of the dowel and put the hot glue on the bottom. The dent can be removed by inserting the dowels glue-side down in the areas surrounding it, covering the area as needed, letting them dry, and then pulling one out at a time until it is completely removed.
To remove the majority of the dent, place and pull the same dowels across it several times. If you plan to use this technique, be sure to have enough glue and some patience. If the glue is stuck to the car, use heat or rubbing alcohol to remove it.
Use Boiling Water
Utilize boiling water for more than just cooking and cleaning. As long as you have a plastic bumper and are able to successfully access the dent from the backside, it can also be used to potentially remove unwanted depressions in your car.
All you need to do is prepare a pot of cold water, have a teapot of boiling water available, and wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from burns. Then, squirt the dent with hot water from the teapot. Pop the dent out from the inside before it cools down. Pour the cold water over the area quickly afterward to help it quickly set and maintain its shape.
If pouring boiling water doesn’t work, you might be more successful holding a saucepan full of hot water over the dent’s surface, popping the dent out, and then pouring cold water over the area.
Use a Long Metal Rod & Knockdown
A dent on your car causes the metal to move upward around the dent’s edges as well as inward, resembling a small volcano. So, it is not a good idea to try to pop the dent out from underneath.
George Gjokaj, a master Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) technician, works on both sides of the dent to remove it. He can completely remove the dent from the car by using a combination of a long metal rod underneath it and a knockdown or tap down tool (made of wood or rubber) on the top side. And boy, does it work.
Hammer It Back in Place
Using a mallet to hammer the indentation on your car outward will work, despite the tacky sound that might come with it. For medium to large dents, this method works well. Or, if your dent is smaller, you can use this technique to fix it with a hammer. However, keep in mind that hammering the dent only functions if the dent can be conveniently accessed from behind.
Put a cloth over the dent before using a hammer or mallet to remove it from the inside, protecting the inside of your framework from damage. This will help you remove that unsightly dent. In the same way, avoid hammering too quickly or hard. When the dent eventually pops back out, tap gently from the dent’s center.
Purchase a Dent-remover Tool
Many people, especially those with little experience in dent repair, may be hesitant to try the aforementioned techniques out of concern that they will further damage their car’s body. In that case, investing in a specialized tool made primarily for removing dents from your car can be a great idea.
On the market, there are many dent-remover tools from various brands. Think about asking a staff member for a recommendation before choosing a tool. It’s also crucial to read online tool reviews to make sure it actually works, is simple to use, and will be successful in removing the specific type of dent your car has.
What merits buying a dent-removal tool? It certainly costs less than what a mechanic would charge you, but only if the tool proves useful in your situation.
Are There Common Dent Locations?
Although dents can happen anywhere on your bodywork, some places are more vulnerable than others.
If you want to check your car for any irregularities, pay close attention to:
- doors – When you’re not paying attention, it’s simple to swing doors open into closely parked cars or other obstructions. Make sure to inspect the entire door, from top to bottom, for any marks that high kerbs may have left behind.
- bumpers– Bumpers, which are intended to lessen the force of collisions, are frequently damaged in car accidents. Check the front and rear of your car for any dents that may need to be repaired.
FAQs
How Do You Pop a Big Dent Out of a Car?
Making your bumper more malleable will help you get rid of dents. This can be accomplished by dousing the dent with hot water. Pour boiling water over the dent using a large tea kettle or pot. Wearing gloves to protect your hands, quickly reach behind the bumper and push out the dent.
Does Boiling Water Remove Dents in Cars?
With boiling water, you can remove many minor dents and dings from your car’s bumper. You can take your car to an auto repair shop if you are unable to remove them yourself. They will possess specialized tools that can fix more severe damage.
Do Dent Pullers Work?
Dent pullers only work on shallow dents that are positioned on a flat, flexible surface. They won’t probably produce a flawless finish, but they can make car dents look better. Unfortunately, deep, angular dents or damage along the edges of bodywork won’t be removed by DIY dent pullers.
Will Hot Water Remove a Dent?
This method can potentially work, but only on certain-sized dents. With this approach, there is also a very high likelihood of escalating the harm. A dent could potentially be popped too far out with excessive pressure because hot water softens the car’s material.
Summary: How to Fix a Car Dent?
Even a tiny scratch or spot of chipped paint doesn’t always make car enthusiasts react, dents do more often than not. A dent is not visually appealing. It doesn’t scream, “Antique” or “Old aesthetic” like some paint scratches or chips. Instead, dents communicate that your car has gone through trauma and not in your usual “aging vehicle” type of way.
The good news is that your dent may be removed, despite being significant and large. There are several do-it-yourself techniques for removing dents from your car, such as using a plunger or even a vacuum. However, consulting a professional is your best option if the latter approaches prove unsuccessful.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment. KV Auto tries to give you the best car industry information. Thank you for reading.
