Paintless dent repair
- Thread starter Munch
- Start date
Ive done it loads of times. so far has worked on every dent Ive tried that didnt have a crease in it. I have only tried it the doors and bumpers of a 98 corolla so i dont know if it would work on hoods or sheet metal doors. Regardless, its worth a shot and I would assume you have all the required materials already as they are common household items.
I've tried it and it works OK. I've had mixed results. Honestly, the larger the dent the more luck you're likely to have with this method, so minor hail damage may not fit the bill.
FWIW, dry ice works better than the upside-down air can since you can really chill the panel all the way through instead of just the surface. You'll need to put the dry ice inside a micro-fiber cloth to protect the paint though.
FWIW, dry ice works better than the upside-down air can since you can really chill the panel all the way through instead of just the surface. You'll need to put the dry ice inside a micro-fiber cloth to protect the paint though.
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Yea, definitely let us know how it goes. After you heat up the metal, you really need to let the dry-ice sit on there for several minutes...I've popped a few out after 15-20 minutes or so. The only complaint I have is that it only popped some of them out about halfway...like the dent is much less noticeable, but it's still there. Better than nothing though and dry ice is cheap enough to give it a go before taking it to a body shop 
I have tried the dry ice and it didn't work. I also tried it on an older dent that may have had some memory in the metal. From what I have read online (taken with a grain of salt) is that the metal will reform easier if the dent is fresh. The older it gets the less likely to return to its original form. I have rolled the fenders on my cars to fit aggressive tire sizes and heat usually was the trick. Heat will also make the paint more pliable and less likely to chip or crack when manipulating sheet metal.
Yea, I probably should've mentioned that I did heat the panel with a hair dryer first...the rapid cooling of the hot surface is what makes it "pop" since you do need to make the metal pliable. Like I said though...mixed results...I've had it not do a thing and have had it work like a charm. "Butt marks" in the hood were no problem but a golf ball sized ding didn't budge. The hood indentation on my old Honda popped after heating then letting the dry ice just sit there for 15 minutes.
Here's a vid of it working with compressed air...which never worked for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILVWPzO_swY
Here's a vid of it working with compressed air...which never worked for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILVWPzO_swY
