Regardless of how cautious you might be or the place you park to keep away from harm, dents and dings are a truth of life. And in case you’re like us, you may’t stand to stroll out and see small imperfections in your automobile’s physique. The paintless dent restore (PDR) enterprise has catered to this vainness for greater than 30 years and is now a typical possibility for lots of minor harm. However with the standard price {of professional} dent restore starting from round $100 to $300 or extra, it’s pure to search for DIY options.
One such possibility for minor dents is a paintless dent restore package, like this one from Eastwood. The package consists of reusable glue-on restore button tabs in quite a lot of sizes, scorching soften glue and glue gun, a tab puller, a small slide hammer, and a mushy scraper. For lower than the price of having a single dent pulled by a professional, the package could be reused numerous occasions, permitting you to make a number of repairs.
The method is easy and easy, and requires solely a clear paint floor and a well-lit area for working. Temperature may even play a minor issue, as you’ll see greatest outcomes when engaged on panels above 60 levels Fahrenheit.
Glue on a pull buttonOnce you’ve recognized the dent you need to restore, step one is to selected the appropriately sized pull button to totally cowl the dent. With the glue gun at full working temperature, apply a beneficiant bead of scorching glue to the button and instantly press it onto the dent. Let this settle down for a pair minutes so the glue can absolutely solidify.
Raise on the pull buttonFor small and shallow dents, the lever-type dent puller would be the proper instrument for the job. This permits you gently apply upward stress in simply the correct amount to make the dent launch. The sheet steel panel ought to have a ‘reminiscence’ for its pressed form and return to its former place naturally. The glue ought to launch with a assured ‘pop’ when panel has returned to form. This course of might should be repeated greater than as soon as if the dent is deeper or you might be overly cautious about pulling too aggressively. Higher to be protected than sorry.
Deeper dents or heavier-gauge panels might require a extra assertive strategy. That is the place the included slide hammer turns out to be useful. If the lever puller doesn’t get the job accomplished, merely swap it out for slide hammer. Pull firmly however gently to get a really feel for the trouble wanted to make the pull, being cautious to not overdo it too early. Apply extra pressure progressively as wanted.
Scrape the buttonWith the dent seems to be to be pulled, use the nylon scraper instrument to separate the pull button from the paint floor. A little bit denatured alcohol sprayed on the glue will assist soften it. Scrape and wipe any remaining glue from the paint and look at the restore from a number of angles, ensuring to place your self in a manner which you could watch mild mirror over the restore space. A line board turns out to be useful for aiding visibility of reflections.
If the dent is gone, you’re accomplished. However it’s not unusual to seek out a bit little bit of dent remaining after an preliminary pull. You possibly can merely repeat the method to make subsequent pulls as required to deliver the floor again to its unique form.