Repairing A Dent?

[Byard]

Hi, I want to repair a dent about the size of a golf ball (paint isn't broken) on the tailgate of my VTS.

Iv'e never done any bodywork before so I was wondering about the best way to go about repairing it? Hitting it (gently) from the inside so it levels it up? Or using one of those sucker type things? Or just filling it in, sanding it over, primer and spray in silver?

Thanks

[Vette]

Or.... call a Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) specialist. What you have described is right up their street.It will be much cheaper than trying, then ruining your car! Look on line for a local technician - you'd be amazed at the results that can be achieved.

Cheers
David

[Byard]

I'm very interested in doing it myself anyway and learning. I'm aware the finish won't be anywhere as good as a professional.

Thanks for the reply

[Vette]

PDR is a VERY skilled process. There's no hitting the dent from behind I'm afraid. You could buy one of the glue pulling devices on ebay and see how you get on with that as normally to get access to dents from the rear requires special tools. As it's the tailgate, you can probably get to the dent provided there are no braces in the way. You could try warming it with a hair dryer, then push with your thumb from the back. If it's a soft, shallow dent, you may find this works. If you over do it, you will have to knock the high area down with a soft pointed tool of some description. It probably takes at least 2-3 years for a PDR tech to get to a good level - so good luck!

Filling & spraying and risking a poor finish is pointless in this case if there's no damage to the paint.

Cheers
David

[OctyVrs]

Don't hammer, push it out from the rear. The pdr guys use tools that will slip in through most trim etc then lever the dent out. You can do it on the cheap by removing the trim behind the dent and then you need to start pushing the dent out with something flat starting at the edge - don't push from the middle of the dent.

I was using 2 hand sized blocks of 2x4 180 degrees apart and working in towards the dent while going round it a bit further each time and pushing. Takes a bit of pushing so I braced the door against a fence.

Once it's fully pushed out, go over it with a gas torch from the outside, doesn't need much, keep the flame moving round the area and about 5 seconds maybe slightly more.

I'm no pdr but you just couldn't tell there was a ding on the door (an old Golf). impressive for DIY and not hard.

Look it up on YouTube, better explainations there.

[7even]

You could always use popcorn.

[Vette]

Or a bicycle pump....

Or dry ice....

[TallPaul]

I'd just fill it in, sand it over, primer and spray in silver. Cant be that hard, can it?

[Eddie 4 2]

PDR tallpaul lol well easy for u

[Eddie 4 2]

PDR tallpaul lol well easy for u

[JulesB]

PDR and painting are two very difficult skills which you cant just have a go at with out making a mess of it! Get a PDR guy on it, he will do a much better job for no more than £60 I would imagine. If you want to have a go at this kind of stuff find out if you can do a night course somewhere or go buy the proper equipment and start practice on scrap panels not your own car...

Theres a difference between practising something and making a complete hash of your car!

[Nedz]

Also recommend PDR.Ive used a local technician several times in the past and the results have been absolutely perfect every time.

[dentmanwarren]

Here ya go....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRJK7o6lz4g

[TallPaul]

dentmanwarren said:

Here ya go....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRJK7o6lz4g

Thanks for that, quality! Thats me out of work then.

[dentmanwarren]

You & me both....damn those magic magnets!