stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Feb 14, 2012 18:21:32 GMT
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Primarily prompted to write this because my work car has been dented, Looks like some one leaned on the rear quarter or something. There is no paint damage and its quite a large but shallow dent. Also my retro (The Toyota) has some similar issues to keep it more relevant to this forum. I'll get some pictures up (missed the daylight today) as I know this will help with advise. But have people had success with dent pullers like these (I could get one in the morning)... www.toolstation.com/shop/Automotive/Suction%20Pads/d60/sd3264Or have am I likely to make it worse. Ie best get a pro to do it (PDR specialist?). I have a largish excess on the work car to pay so it will prob be out of my pocket. Also any tips, Is heating/cooling the panel beneficial. Will check back later, but got dinner at a restaurant to attend to first or I really will be dead, better shift. |
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Feb 14, 2012 19:36:10 GMT
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I've heard of people using toilet plungers to pull dents out ;D
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Feb 14, 2012 19:53:56 GMT
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When you post up the pics I will let you know the best way to do it.... I'm a body repairer based in Sheffield.......
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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smurf
Part of things
Posts: 829 
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Feb 15, 2012 12:25:20 GMT
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Heat it with a hair drier until quite warm
Use a can of air duster and turn upside down and spray while inverted
It's worked for me in the past
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Laser cutting and cnc punching (up to 3mm stainless and ali, up to 6mm mild steel)
Mail me a dxf file and i'll get you a price
Metal folding and custom fabrication service also available
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smurf
Part of things
Posts: 829
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Feb 15, 2012 12:28:15 GMT
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Laser cutting and cnc punching (up to 3mm stainless and ali, up to 6mm mild steel)
Mail me a dxf file and i'll get you a price
Metal folding and custom fabrication service also available
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stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Feb 15, 2012 18:44:05 GMT
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Feb 15, 2012 18:54:10 GMT
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Depending on how long its been done you may well be really lucky and be able to carefully push it out from behind with the palm of your hand.
Failing that you should have a local paintless dent removers could easily make that disappear normally about fifty quid a panel.
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Feb 15, 2012 21:35:44 GMT
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It's quite a large dent, across a contour line. Metal has a memory, and will sometimes spring back into shape. However, as this one has been done a few days, even pushing it from behind with your hand will leave a crease line across the contour. As already suggested, Dentmaster or similar will be able to get behind it with specialist tools and remove all traces of the dent.........
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'96 Volvo 850T5 x2, '97 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf '96 Alfa 155, '91 XR2i 2.0 Zetec (sold), '88 BMW 520i slug (sold), '81 Escort Mk3 Project, '68 Mk1 Escort Estate, Berlingo Parts Chaser.
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Feb 15, 2012 23:09:09 GMT
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I have been in the body trade over 30 yrs and cant AGREE more wiht what retroandproud is saying Dentmaster are the boys to fix it even if it cost you a £100 it is WELL worth the expense,if you went thru your ins your nc would go up you would have to pay excess and the way cars are being wrtiien of these days it is NOT worth the risk etc etc
don't PLAY WITH IT YOURSLEF PLEASE
Dave
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Feb 15, 2012 23:10:20 GMT
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It's definitely a job for a PDR specialist, should be doable, but try pushing it out yourself and you'll still have a crease on the swage and a high spot at the top of the dent, and it'll be more difficult for a professional to repair.
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1989 Mini MG 1275 ~ 1987 VW Polo ~ 1989 Citroen 2CV ~ 1998 VW T4 ~ 2006 Volvo XC70
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stevek
Yorkshire and The Humber
Posts: 728
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Feb 15, 2012 23:55:11 GMT
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Thanks both for replying. Both of you are saying it 'may' spring back if carefully pushed but that a PDR specialist would most likely be able to do a decent job on it. The dent was probably done a week ago though I was away so couldn't deal with it straight away. I can see that the two most problematic bits are going to be the gentle crease line through the middle of the dented bit and the tightest curve of the dent near the top.
This leads me to a question. Will trying to do it myself by pushing from behind (access from in behind the wheel arch liner?) be a good first option as it may work OK. Or will trying myself make it worse so that a PDR guy couldn't do it because I have made it worse by doing it wrong?
If the advise is to gently try myself and see how it goes, how can I maximize the chance of success? I got 2 of those suction things this morning but resisted trying them out before advise. There is no access from in the boot or the light cluster recess so maybe through the arch would be an option. I would put the effort in to doing this if its a safer way to do it. Also would heating the panel before applying any pressure be best or is a cold panel best?
If the advise is to leave it alone and get a pro then who would be recommended? I'm skeptical that some garages wont just 'have a go' like I could rather than actually be skilled in this work. I think this is after paying for poor quality of welding and then realizing how bad it was later when I was learning to weld (I was doing better as a novice).
Cheers, Steve.
EDIT - thanks for the 2 more replies while I was writing (I got distracted by a phone call 1/2 way through) you have both answered the questions I was asking. I may have to swallow my pride at sorting things out my self and go to those who know.
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Last Edit: Feb 15, 2012 23:59:00 GMT by stevek
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If you want to have a shot yourself, you'll need to go in through the inner quarter (inside the boot) and warm it up a little if the weather is cold, or just wait until the sun is on it. The paint almost certainly wouldn't crack anyway, but Fords of that age have very bad paint adhering qualities so a bit of heat would minimise the possibility. But like I say, I'd leave it to the pro. My guy charges £20 a panel and is sh!t hot.
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1989 Mini MG 1275 ~ 1987 VW Polo ~ 1989 Citroen 2CV ~ 1998 VW T4 ~ 2006 Volvo XC70
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smurf
Part of things
Posts: 829
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What about the big glue stick things that halfords do?
Heat the panel and push the stick on the paint and use a puller on the gluestick to pop thr dent out
This came up in conversation last night and my mate used one on his audi with great results, it was one about that size as well
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Laser cutting and cnc punching (up to 3mm stainless and ali, up to 6mm mild steel)
Mail me a dxf file and i'll get you a price
Metal folding and custom fabrication service also available
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