There are several ways to straighten dents, based on the application various tools. At the same time, these works are carried out according to one principle, which consists in the fact that the body in the damaged area is subjected to physical impact. This article discusses the main methods of alignment
The use of this technology allows you to even out defects without painting. IN this case use vacuum hoods and levers. Alignment of dents on the car body in this way is based on the pressure difference. The work consists in the fact that a lever of suitable size, that is, reaching the defect, is placed in technological hole car body and press on it until the damaged area returns to its original state. The return of the material to its original state is usually accompanied by a click.
Pressure must be applied carefully to prevent the metal from bending in the opposite direction. If this happens, the area can be leveled with a fluoroplastic chipper.
If the dent is located close to the body opening, then pressure can be applied to it from the inside without using a lever. However, the car body is not always damaged near the technological holes, and it can be problematic to get close to the defect from the inside. In the absence of such an opportunity, the alignment of damage is carried out by one of the methods discussed below.
Fixing a dent with a magnet
It should be noted that this technology is suitable for straightening only small damage. During operation, the magnet is moved along the surface of the damaged area from the edges to the center of the dent, pulling it towards itself. Place a soft cloth under the magnet to prevent damage to the paintwork.
External alignment using adhesive technology
This method is also called vacuum, and the essence of this technology is to pull the dent with a piston fixed on the damaged area of the body with glue. However, it is also possible to use non-professional devices, represented by suction cups. The applicator is fixed with glue on damaged place body. Upon completion of its drying, the central point of the dent is pulled out with a mini-lifter. The suction cup is used in the same way.
This method can correct the defect, but not eliminate it completely. In addition, it is not recommended to use this technology to level parts with cracks, since metal peeling is possible.
In general, the adhesive method of straightening dents is considered one of the simplest and fastest.
Correction of defect by thermal influence
The considered method involves the use building hair dryer and a can of compressed air. You will also need protective equipment in the form of goggles and gloves, since the work is carried out at temperatures from 300 to 650 ° C.
This technology is based on the desire of the metal to return to its original state. First, the damaged section of the car body is heated with a building hair dryer, and then cooled with a spray can (the temperature of the air emitted by it is -78 ° C). Such a temperature difference leads to the return of the metal to its original state.
In some cases, if the body is damaged big size, this operation is carried out at several points. For a round dent, their choice is made along the radius, and for an oval dent, along the narrow side. If there are rigid elements in the defective area, the alignment begins with them. If the thermal effect does not completely eliminate the damage, this method combined with tapping with a mallet. At the same time, to protect the paintwork, the body at the site of the defect is covered with a soft rubberized material.
Percussion
This straightening method involves the use of rubber mallets of various sizes and hooks. The easiest way is to tap the damaged area with reverse side defect. At the same time, a wooden block is applied from the outside so that the metal can be prevented from bending in the opposite direction.
If there is no access to the dent from the inside, then use hooks or screws. These tools are inserted into pre-drilled holes in the center of the defect and pulled out. Upon completion of the work, the holes are puttied or welded, then rubbed and painted.
In the absence of skills, it is advisable to try this method on some unnecessary part.
Upon completion of the percussion, the restored part or its fragment is polished. This method is usually used if the body has large dents.
Pops a Dent
This name is a specialized set of tools designed to level dents. It includes nozzles, a plastic bracket, glue, and repairs are carried out as follows:
- The center of the dent is pre-degreased.
- Then the glue is heated. To do this, the glue stick is inserted into the gun and connected to the electrical network.
- Glue is applied to the rubber nozzle and glued in a circular motion clockwise to the center of the damage.
- After 2-3 minutes, a bracket is installed on it.
- Then, with the help of a lamb, it is wound onto the nozzle until the defect is straightened.
- Upon completion of work, the device is not removed for 5 minutes.
Is it possible to remove dents without painting yourself? Affirmative - yes! But you need to approach the issue thoroughly: to study theoretical basis paintless dent repair, buy a tool and spend a lot of time watching damage repair videos by PDR masters.
WHAT BODY DAMAGE CAN BE REMOVED?
The complexity of repairing dents without painting is primarily determined by the profile and location of defects. Damage classification:
TOOL
What equipment and tools are needed for professional paintless dent removal:
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL SET
What tools are used for do-it-yourself paintless dent removal:
The decisive factor for choosing this particular tool is the relative cheapness. The desire to repair the dent with your own hands, preventing local painting, is commendable, but the game is not worth the candle if you buy a quality tool for removal. For example, the high price of professional hooks is due to the fact that they have excellent elasticity with a small thickness. This is extremely important, since a considerable effort is required to remove a dent located at a distance. But often the amplitude of movement of the handle is extremely limited. Under similar conditions, a low-quality hook will simply bend, leaving the body defect in its original state. 
PDR BASICS
Tips to help remove a dent in a car body.
- Before starting work, clean the surface of the body from dirt and dust. Before using glue fungi, degrease the deformation area. If the car is in factory paint or has been repainted with high quality, a small amount of 646 thinner can be used. In other cases, it is better to use alcohol.
- If there are elevations near the place of deformation, the process of removing dents should begin by removing the residual stress of the metal in these places. This is done with a hammer and a punch or a trowel and a hammer.
- The metal tool used must be without nicks, cutting edges. If you, like one of the masters in the video, use an ordinary spatula as a trowel, apply it only flat (otherwise you risk scratching car paintwork edges).
- Squeezing out the damage from the inside, gradually move from the edges to the center of the recess. If you immediately put pressure on the deepest point, you risk pinching and even aggravating the damage.
- Heat the repair area during the dent removal process. Under the influence of temperature, the metal becomes softer, so it is easier to take a given shape.
The surface should be hot, but be careful not to overheat the paintwork and nearby plastic parts.
REPAIR WITH FUNGUS
Even before trying to remove the dent with your own hands, we recommend buying a few glue pins from different manufacturers. Not all compounds are well suited for removing dents from a car body.
The planting site of the fungus should correspond to the deepest point of damage. This does not mean that in the case of a bulky dent, you need to put a large fungus immediately in the center. We move from the edges to the center, but in each zone the landing site of the fungus should correspond to the deepest point.
It is necessary to pull out the dent with the help of a reverse hammer at the moment when the glue has already dried up, but has not yet completely polymerized. At a glue temperature of about 35-40º, straightening of body creases will be most effective.
Movements with a reverse hammer should be of small force. If you pull too hard, a bump may form at the site of the dent.
ERRORS IN LEARNING
Lack of haste is a rule that will allow, even for lack of experience, not to make pins, unnecessary sharp bends, scratches and bumps. Please note that behind the feeling of simplicity of the process that arises after watching a video of removing dents without painting by professional craftsmen, there is great patience and attention to detail. Heat up the repair site, tap the metal tension zones, do not exceed the effort when working with a punch, reverse hammer, and you are guaranteed to be able to remove dents on the car with your own hands.
Probably, many car owners sometimes had to look for ways to remove a dent on a car without painting it with their own hands at home. Of course, in the case of extensive deep damage, each of us will still turn to the service - no one wants to completely ruin a car (especially insured one). But if the dent is small, without kinks and chips in the paintwork, you can do without wasting time and money.
And there are a lot of options to get a mark on board. Here and hail caught on the road, and a pebble flying out from under the wheel, and an awkward pedestrian who pressed on the hood, and a negligent driver who did not learn how to park without incident and damage to others. Do not go to the car service with every small hole!
How to remove a dent on a car without painting with your own hands at home is a task that was solved both by our inventive people and by manufacturers of various automotive gadgets.
vacuum method
Based on the straightening of metal under low pressure. The only thing you need is a plunger. True, you will have to look not for the most primitive plumbing, but with a deep cup and good, dense rubber that will stick well around the entire circumference. The actions are simple and unpretentious:
- The plunger is superimposed so that the dent is entirely under it;
- Smoothly and gently, the handle is pressed in until the cup sags almost to the body;
- You sharply pull towards yourself - and together with the “bang” of the plunger, you hear the sound of metal being straightened.
Difficulties 2: in this way, only defects that fit under the cup can be straightened, and it is difficult to find a good plunger that can fix well on the body. In the last question, folk art and industry have united, and now you can buy a suitable one that has nothing to do with cleaning clogged pipes, but designed specifically for leveling a car side - for example, VZ-MINI.
Magnetic method
You will need a fairly powerful magnet, which, however, is not so difficult to find.
The wounded area is covered with a thin cotton rag. In order not to look for devices to hold it, you can fix the rags on the body with masking tape (it does not spoil the paint and leaves no marks) or simply chewed chewing gum. Rags are needed so as not to scratch the body.
The magnet is driven over the dent (without pressure and pressing) from the edge to the center over the entire surface until the hole disappears.
Temperature contrast method
To use it, you need a little more equipment. First of all, we borrow a household hair dryer from our wife. Next, we head to computer store and buy a can of liquefied air (or to the pharmacy - for dry ice). After we look for protective gloves among our tools, and food foil in the kitchen cabinet. You can start treating your iron horse.
- The foil is fixed on the damaged place;
- Rubber gloves are put on;
- The hair dryer turns on and from a distance of 15 centimeters (so as not to warp paintwork) the dent warms up. At medium temperature and in the average operating mode of the hair dryer, this will take a minute or two. It is not necessary to heat the board: when touched, it should be well warm;
- The hair dryer is turned off, dry ice is immediately placed on the foil or a jet of compressed air is directed;
- Light characteristic cotton will notify that the dent is straightened. It remains to remove the foil and return the hair dryer to your half;
- Warning: those who have a building hair dryer should forget for a while that they once bought this useful tool.
Application method
Allows you to eliminate even fairly large dents. True, this time you will have to buy some tools. The set contains applicators in several sizes, a special adhesive and a small lifter. To facilitate the work, it is also desirable to have a glue gun (it is included in some sets; in this case, special tubes are filled with glue, which are supposed to load the gun), but this is by no means necessary.
- An applicator is selected that is most suitable in size for the resulting recess;
- Glue is generously applied to the dent in the place where the applicator will be applied. If a glue gun is attached, one tube of glue is allotted for one correction of a dent;
- The applicator is pressed down on the desired area and left for a couple of minutes to set;
- A lifter is put on the handle of the applicator. It is similar to a glass carrier, but instead of Velcro, it has soft pads at the ends to prevent scratches on the body;
- A lamb is screwed onto the thread of the applicator until it comes off the glue layer, straightening the dent;
- The last step is to clean the glue. It is removed quite easily with the help of a plastic sticker included in the kit. You just need to wait until the stain is completely dry.
Any damage to the body is very unpleasant for the owner of the car. They not only significantly spoil appearance, but also provoke corrosion processes. As a result, the owner has to completely paint his car. And if everything is a little better with scratches, then removing dents is quite difficult. However, if you know how it is done, you can save a lot and return the car to its former aesthetic appearance.
There are several technologies for dealing with dents. You can pull them out with the help of coins, vacuum equipment, using Pops-A-Dent technology, by heating and cooling. Let's consider each of these methods.
Types of dents
The first step is to determine the type of deformation. These damages vary in size. So, damage is considered deep, the depth of which is from 10 millimeters or more. Often these dents do not have a clear oval shape.
Such defects cannot be repaired on their own. Shallow damages are defects where the deflection of the metal is no more than 5 millimeters, and there is no damage on the surface of the paintwork. This defect can already be removed with your own hands at home or garage conditions.
Leveling with vacuum technology
This is a special technology for pulling out dents without the need for staining. With this method, even serious dents can be removed in a few minutes. The technology involves the use of special vacuum suction cups, which can level the surface of the body. This method allows you to remove large and gentle dents.
It is worth remembering that using this method you can only fix the dent itself, but not the consequences - completely eliminate traces of an accident impossible. When choosing a vacuum technology, you need to take into account that additional work will have to be carried out.
This technology is suitable only for straightening without painting (but provided that there are no cracks on the surface). If such defects are present, the surface of the rolled-out metal may flake off. This part is unusable.
For this technology, you need to purchase special suction cups for pulling dents on a car. Straightening does not require direct and open access to the wrong side of the defect. This is an easy and fast method. The suction cup is applied to the defect site, and a vacuum is created using a compressor. Then, with a sharp movement, the dent is pulled out. Small defects are easily eliminated in this way.
Stretching with a CO2 canister and hair dryer
This technology implies the presence of a cartridge with compressed carbon dioxide and an ordinary household hair dryer.
First, the dent is heated with a hair dryer. And then gas is sprayed onto the surface from a canister. At this point, the metal will instantly level out and regain its original appearance. When the spraying process is completed, you must wait for a while, and then wipe the damaged area.
coin defects
Naturally, ordinary coins are not needed here. Pulling dents on a car in this way is similar to the principle of an impact puller or pulling rod. The advantage of the technique is that it is not necessary to drill holes in the body. This method is very convenient in places where the metal is especially thin, and it is simply impossible to drill a hole. Work is easily done with your own hands in a garage environment.
So, what is its essence? The technology consists in soldering copper or bronze circles to the usual welding electrode. The circle is the size of a coin. Then it is soldered to the surface of the body - it must be pre-cleaned. The coin circle is positioned so that it is close to the dent. Next, with the help of powerful pliers, the electrode is compressed, and thus the dents are pulled out. When the place is leveled, the "coin" is heated locally and easily removed. It remains only to clean and paint the place of repair.
Straightening with a magnet
This simple technology allows you to easily remove the dent from the surface of the body. It is worth paying attention that before starting repairs, it is necessary to put under the magnet soft materials. This will protect the surface of the paintwork from scratches. The magnet is directed from the edge of the defect to the center and pulled towards itself. In the case of shallow defects, the device will easily eliminate them. There is no need to paint the body.
Pops a Dent
These are special plastic devices, shaped like an ordinary bracket with two “nickles” at each end. They are intended for local repair dents in home or garage conditions. At the same time, it is not necessary to paint the place of repair. The accessories are made of high quality plastic. It's not fragile, but it's not flexible either. For greater reliability, there are also stiffeners. They give the structure elasticity. The cost of this kit is 450-500 rubles. You can buy it in any car shop. Reviews of Pops-A-Dent are generally positive. Among the shortcomings, motorists note a small number of nozzles.
The dent removal kit itself includes three nozzles with different diameters, which have a threaded screw at the ends. A lamb is wound along this thread, with the help of which dents are pulled out.
A special glue is applied to rubber nozzles. It comes with accessories. The glue has a special formula - it is reliable, durable, but at the same time it is easy to remove it without paintwork damage. The nozzle must be glued on the sides, as well as in the center of the defect. There are technological holes along the edges of rubber nozzles - they are made for a reason. At the time of gluing the dent puller, excess adhesive may escape through these holes. Then, after hardening, it will be able to give additional force for fixation.
How to eliminate the “bubble” after an unsuccessful pull with the Pops-a-Dent method
It happens that the owner of the car twists the lamb, and the result is a bubble. In this situation, the kit manufacturer has provided special pegs. They are made of unique materials using nanotechnology. The plastic of the peg is very elastic - it is designed to absorb the shock load.
This peg is needed when the dent is tightened (for example, on the roof). A bubble forms. If you keep it in the center and do not hit it hard with a hammer, then the defect will bend. The peg does not leave any defects on the surface. You can knock on it as much as you like, but it will not bend or split. As noted above, pulling dents with this method is performed using glue. To apply it, the manufacturer added a thermal gun to the kit.
So, the glue rod is installed in the gun and then wait a bit until the composition heats up. Then, with the help of a trigger, it is squeezed out. The glue will come out well. The gun is made of high quality, and its design is extremely simple.
How to work with a set
To remove a shallow dent without the need for painting with this kit, you need to follow a few steps:
- The center of the defect is pre-degreased. Next, manually drive the glue into the gun and heat it. When the composition is heated, it is squeezed out with a trigger. While the glue is hot, it is smeared on a rubber nozzle. The latter is glued to the center of the dent. It is important to remember that the glue hardens quickly. At the time of gluing the nozzle, it is screwed clockwise and also counterclockwise. The composition must come out through the special holes that we talked about earlier. Next, the nozzle is kept for a few more minutes at the site of the defect until the composition is completely hardened.
- To verify the quality of the clutch, the nozzle is rotated from side to side. If all is well, then a plastic bridge is inserted through the hole in the center. Then the lamb is wound along the thread. Along with rotation, the defect will be pulled up. With each turn, the dent rises higher and higher. You need to twist carefully so as not to end up with a bubble.
- When the defect has leveled off, the fixture is held on the surface for a few more minutes (so that the metal cannot go back). After 5 minutes, remove the nozzle. And if she does not act in film, then they help her with a hairdryer. In this case, all the paint will remain in place.
Lever pull technology
This method is used more often than all the others. But it should be noted that the technology is a little more complicated than all the previous ones. Before pulling out dents on a car, it is better to pre-train on any other surfaces.
First you need to purchase a set of tools. There are about 40 different levers and hooks in the set. Before the beginning repair work easy and free access to the defect site should be provided. Any third-party elements are carefully removed.
Work with a tool for pulling dents is carried out only with inside. To do this, select a hook with optimal length and gently press on the recess, thereby leveling the metal. This technology can be applied even after classical straightening. Do not work with hooks if the car has been puttied. There is a risk that the putty will simply fall off.
Conclusion
As you can see, pulling out dents with your own hands is quite possible. This repair can be done in a garage without the need for an expensive service and painting.
With the course of operation of the car, defects of various nature gradually appear on its body. The most common type of damage is small dents. Due to their relatively high prevalence, the question of their elimination is relevant. This article discusses do-it-yourself dent removal technologies without painting.
Peculiarities
To remove a dent yourself without painting, you can use both simple tools and highly specialized kits.
Alignment of dents in the first way is carried out with your own hands in living conditions, while their straightening with the use of special tools is considered as more professional repair, since in a similar way, dent removal is carried out in car services and software workshops.
Of course, you can go there, but do-it-yourself elimination without painting will help save money and time. In addition, it is one of the simplest operations. body repair, especially given the many photo and video examples on the Internet. The repair methods are discussed below.
Mechanical elimination from the inside
This technology is designed to straighten without painting do-it-yourself dents that are difficult to straighten from the outside. simple tools. In this case, the repair is carried out using levers, vacuum hoods (to remove small defects), as well as fluoroplastic bumpers. The basic principle on which the mechanical alignment of dents from the inside is based is pressure difference.
The repair consists in placing a lever in the technological hole of the body, the size of which allows one of its ends to be located as close as possible to the defect. Then, by applying force to the lever in the form of light pressing movements, the part is brought to its original state, returning the crumpled section of metal to its original place. In other words, dent removal consists of pressing on the defective area. Straightening is accompanied by a slight click.
Alignment must be done carefully, without applying excessive pressure and controlling the formation of edges and peaks, which may well appear when the applied force is exceeded. Their removal is carried out using a fluoroplastic chipper.
External leveling with special equipment
This technology is used in the absence of access to the damaged area of the body from the inside. To carry out the removal of a dent in this way, materials such as adhesive applicators and glue will be required. The applicators are fixed with glue on the damaged area of the body and wait for complete drying. Then you need to pull out the center point of the dent with a mini-lifter. The adhesive composition upon completion of work is simply removed from the body.
There is an alternative technology to the use of glue applicators called glue technique. In this case, a special piston is used. It is glued to the defective area to pull out the dent.
Based on the same principle, it is possible to fix a paintless dent using non-professional tools such as a suction cup and hot melt adhesive. The suction cup must be selected in accordance with the size of the dent. It is fixed with hot glue on the damaged area of the body and the dent is straightened when it dries.
Magnet fix
As you know, for such work you will need a magnet, as well as rags. The essence of straightening without painting with your own hands is to move the magnet from the edges of the dent to the center, combined with pulling it towards you. Thus, the dent is gradually leveled.
A soft rag is used to avoid scratches during the process of straightening the dent, while it is placed under the magnet.
Removal with a hair dryer
This method involves the use of a building hair dryer and a can of compressed air as tools. It is also advisable to purchase protective equipment in the form of glasses and gloves. The use of such security measures is due to the fact that this method is based on high-temperature exposure.
The damaged area of the body is blown with a hairdryer. It should be borne in mind that it heats the air up to 300-650 ° C. The heated dent is then immediately cooled with a can of compressed air containing fluorocarbon propellants at -78°C. Due to such a sharp temperature change, the dent is leveled. If the dent is large enough, repairs are carried out at 2-3 points within it. They are chosen depending on the shape of the defect: for round - along the radius, for oval - along the narrow side.
If it was not possible to straighten the dent completely, the remaining sections are tapped with a rubberized mallet, although this is used as a separate method in some cases.
Percussion
This technology is applicable to eliminate large dents. To make a quality correction, you will need several rubberized mallets and hooks. various forms and sizes.
Usually, repair consists of tapping the damaged area from the back. If this is not possible, hooks are used. The final step is polishing.
Using Pops-a-Dent
To remove a dent in this way, use a specialized repair kit. It includes a plastic clip with two nickels at the ends, glue, a glue stick, an electric gun, nozzles and a lamb.
The center of the dent and the rubber nozzle are degreased, glue is applied to the latter using a thermal gun. Then the nozzle is glued in a circular motion clockwise to the center of the dent. After 2-3 minutes, a plastic bracket is installed on the nozzle. Correction of the dent is carried out by winding the bracket onto the nozzle with the lamb. After the repair is completed, the device is left for another 5 minutes.
Tip: any chosen repair technology should be tested on an unnecessary part. To successfully complete the work, you need to study the instructions with the given photos or videos.
