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Isn't it aggravating when you come out of a store to find someone has put a dent in your car? You know that it is going to be a costly repair, and you
are going to be without the car for at least a day. But, don't distress. With a little patience and the right tools, you can fix the dent in your own driveway.
First of all, you need to go to the local automotive store and pick up a dent repair kit. These kits typically include everything you will need to fix the dent. The best kits come with a suction cup device. You will also need a ball-peen hammer and dolly. There are other ways to fix a dent. However, the alternative requires you to drill a hole in the center of the dent, fill the hole in, and paint it. If the paintjob is faded or an odd color, then the process may become meticulous.
Once you have the kit, simply follow the instructions in the kit. The steps are rather easy. Each kit will vary a little on the exact procedure but here are the basic steps.
Step one- glue the plastic adapter into the center of the dent. This is what the suction device holds on to, so that it can pull the dent out. So, make sure it is glued securely.
Step two- Attach the dent pulling device to the plastic circle. The device will have a handle for you to pull the dent out with.
Step three- Locate a way to get to the back of the dent. You may have to lay on the ground, open the door panel, etc... to reach the back of the dent. Secure the dolly against the back of dent. Now, carefully hammer the dent with the ball-peen hammer. Gently tap the dent until it is flattened back into place.
Tips:
Make sure the surface of the dent is clean to allow the glue to stick to the area.
If it is extremely hot or cold outside, you may want to put the car in the garage to help the glue set well.
Make sure the kit that you buy has comprehensive instructions and specifies "PAINTLESS" dent repair.
Kits work best on small to medium sized dents.
If you are unsure if you are strong enough to pull the dent out with the suction, look for a kit that has suction that screws out; as it screws out, it pulls the dent out.
Fixing a small/medium sized vehicle dent at home can save you money and time. But, you should be realistic about the size of the dent you are prepared to fix. In other words, this isn't going to work if the entire door is dented in.
