Dents can be an eyesore even on a new car, but having them repaired at a body shop can be expensive. There are several ways you can repair dents yourself using a few tools found around your home or in a local auto supply store. Repair your car's dents and have it looking like new without spending a lot of money in the process.
Small Dents
Some dents can be repaired using a simple household plunger, water and dish detergent. This is the simplest way to remove a dent because no painting is involved. Wet the dent using a small amount of dish liquid and some water. Place the plunger in the center of the dent and apply pressure until the plunger is suctioned against the car's surface. Pull the plunger back to pop the dent out. It may take several attempts before the dent pops out completely. You can also slide the plunger in the water to move it around to different areas of the dent. If the dent pops out completely and there are no chips or cracks in the paint, the job is complete. If there are small chips or scratches in the paint, use a small amount of touch-up paint to cover them.
Large Dents
Large dents call for more work and several more tools. You can use a plunger to remove the dents, but it may not work well. Instead, use a drill and dent puller to repair the dent. These tools can be found at any auto parts store. Drill several holes in various places in the dent. Place the tip of the dent puller in one hole at a time, screwing the dent puller into the hole. Pull the weighted handle back towards your body to pull the dent out. Use the dent puller in several holes so the metal is pulled out as smoothly as possible.
Once the metal is as flat as you can get it, use a grinder and 80-grit sandpaper to grind away all of the old paint and primer. Grind the dent and surrounding area down so that only bare metal is showing. Apply a thick layer of body filler over the repaired dent and allow it to dry. Use a dual-action sander and 120-grit sandpaper to smooth the dried body filler so that it is even with the surface of the car. Sand the area again using 300-grit sandpaper so that the deep scratches from the 120-grit paper area removed.
Refinishing Dent Repairs
Once the dent has been repaired with filler and has been sanded smooth, spray two coats of primer over the entire area that has bare metal showing. Wait 30 minutes for the primer to dry. Spray four to six coats of paint, allowing 30 minutes for each coat to dry before applying the next coat. Once the paint has dried, spray three to five thin coats of clear coat paint on the car. Hold the sprayer eight to 12 inches from the surface of the paint and move it horizontally. Overlap each stroke slightly for the best coverage. Let the car dry for 24 hours before touching or driving it.
Tags: dent puller, bare metal, bare metal showing, body filler, dent dent, dent pops