Basically, a whole slew of quarter sized dents due to hail damage incurred approximately a week ago. Dry ice, plungers, torches... ? Anyone know some surefire methods of "do it yourself" body work, in the dent area?

Thanks
-FMC

 

You don`t live in the VA area do you? My father got about 75 dents the same size in Clarksville VA when the freak storm passed through there last Thurs night a week ago. Body shops are backed up for months and the paintless dent removal people are swamped.

Sorry I cant help you out on the removal of them though. I had read awhile back here about someone doing it though. I believe it was by the ice-method you had mentioned.

 

Nope, but you're referring to the same storm.

-FMC

P.S. "Paintless dent removal people...", where, and who are they?

 

Take the lady to the shop and have LIPO done....lol j/k

 

PDR.
Paintless dent repair.
use long pics tools and glue stick pullers..
read about pdr on the net in your interested,
Study before you try it.......
good luck

 

Thanks for the response. Awesome truck, I think I'm going to order the hood you have. : P

-FMC

 

I've done this with excellent results twice. You need the dry ice pellets and store them in a cooler when not doing it, don't get too early or they'll evaporate. Wash the vehicle and put it in the sun to get the body as hot as possible. Note - use good warm gloves or you'll freeze your fingers. Start at the outside of the dent, use an end of the pellet and work towards the center of the dent in a cirular pattern (like a record player). As you work in the cold shrinks the metal and will pull the dent out. There are a couple of conditions here: 1) if there's a crease in the bottom of the hail dent, it won't take that out and 2) I have had not much luck with chrome metal trim - possibly too thin or something.

If the dent doesn't come out the first time, move on to other ones and retry it once the sheetmetal gets hot again.

I've done it on flat surfaces, so I don't know if it will work on a curved surface as well. Only issue I had was a couple had creases in the bottom of the dent, those it pulled most out but not the crease. After almost 10 years you could start seeing some bullseye's developing in the paint around where some of the dents were.

Good luck

 

Regarding the self fix - I have heard of using a black rubber mat layed over the affected area while it is direct sunlight working with some results ??? Maybe worth a try. In regards to the PDR folks, if your in Clarksville head towards Halifax - theres a ton of them there, but expect a wait.


Painter - Sweet Truck!!!! Pleased with your hood? Been looking at that same one to take care of some hail damage of my own.

 

You might try this product

http://www.eastwoodcompany.com/cgi-bin/sgsh0101.exe

Havn't tried it. Just noticed it in my new catalog.

 

in regard to the self fix, a deer hit my passenger door and caused three quarter size dents at the bottom of the door frame, where do i get these dry ice pellets because i think the might work cause the dents are really small.....

 

Around here, I've seen dry ice at Wal-Mart.