Paintless dent removal at home. We remove dents on the car in various ways

14.04.2019

There are several ways to straighten dents, based on the use of 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 the technological hole of the car body and pressed 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 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. To avoid damage paintwork Place a soft cloth under the magnet.

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 of a 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 allow to completely get rid of the damage, this method is 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 any unnecessary detail.

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.

Minor dents on a car spoil the surroundings of the car and repairs cost a lot. But you can try to remove such dents on your own.

How to fix dents in a car?

1. If the dent is almost imperceptible (on the doors or the hood of the car), then they act like this: the affected area is heated with a hair dryer, after which the dent is fixed with compressed air. The surface must first be cleaned, soundproofing removed and the lining inside must be removed, the glass must be fully raised.

With a deep dent on the car door, disassemble the door trim, if necessary, remove the door. Prepare a block of wood measuring 10 by 20 cm, a rubber and a regular hammer. You will also need a clean rag. Level the dent from the inside with a bar wrapped in rags, on which lightly tap alternately with a rubber and ordinary hammer. After the defect has been eliminated, the surface should be degreased, plastered, puttied, primed and polished.

2. If the concave dent on the car does not have sharp edges, it does not touch the stiffeners of the body, then a deflated basketball or soccer ball, as well as a bicycle pump, will come in handy. Place the ball between the frame and the dent, pump it up. After straightening the metal, deflate the ball.

3. Straightening. In this way, you can eliminate dents on the wing or body of the car. You will need a hydraulic or rack jack, various extensions in the form of a square welded from two corners, or parts of a thick-walled pipe, a straightening hammer, large wooden blocks.

Fixing a dent in a car fender. Before starting work, remove the wheel from the vehicle from the side of the defect. Install the jack on support. Behind and directly on the stiffener under the wing, put a bar. Next, we insert a jack with an extension cord put on it between the bars. Move from the edges to the center. From the inside, in a circular motion, begin to level the dent, bursting the wing. Then trim it by tapping it with a hammer from the inside, and providing support from the outside. Ideally, it will be possible to eliminate the dent if you start the repair with a stiffener. Do not loosen the jack immediately after completing the repair abruptly: first tighten it a little, and only then remove it. Define the boundaries of the dent as follows: cross its surface with a straightening file.

1. Do not leave the car on the jack for a long time.

2. Wear gloves.

3. Before puttying work surface thoroughly degrease and dry. Putty gently with a thin layer, which, after drying, level with sanding paper. Repeat the whole procedure with each layer.

4. Paint with a spray gun or spray can. After painting, degrease the surface, dry it and evenly (twice, with a break of 15-20 minutes) cover with a primer, preventing it from spreading.

5. Lacquer three times on top, and polish the surface after 30 days.

Many motorists very often face the problem of damage to the body of their car, namely dents.

This article will describe the process of eliminating them in different ways.

Body inspection before repair

The first step is to inspect the entire body, this is done only when daylight, as this makes it possible to inspect it without distorting the light of the lamps. Then you need to make sure the integrity of the paintwork. If, nevertheless, there are cracks or swellings, then it is worth cleaning them in the right way, and after that proceed to leveling the dents.

Did you know? The most expensive paint for cars is made in Germany by Standex, it is called Lapislazuli. The price for one liter of such paint exceeds 10,000 US dollars. Such a high price is due to the fact that it contains particles of gold. All over the world there are 5 cars painted with this paint.

Types of dents

By type of dent are divided into 3 groups:

simple- small dents up to 5 mm deep, in most cases they are without scratches;
complex shape- scratches and dents are quite deep, from 5 to 10 mm, the damage is very extensive;
with holes- most often such scratches were obtained as a result of blows against piercing and cutting objects, their character traits appear in torn metal.

When self-repair is not possible

In some cases, it is impossible to repair dents on your own:

dents are very voluminous and deep;
deformed part of the body with large tears (torn).

Do-it-yourself straightening methods

Many motorists cannot afford repairs in a specialized service center as this procedure can be quite expensive. In this regard, the question arises: how to remove a dent with your own hands. There is a list of the main ways to remove dents without painting, and they are all quite simple, as they are produced on their own and do not require the involvement of expensive equipment.

Did you know? The first car service shop opened in Boston in 1899.

By means of a magnet

Straightening, in other words, pulling out, dents by the magnetic method is quite simple, it is enough to have a powerful magnet to which the handle is attached. This type of repair is ideal for smoothing out small dents.
Repair is as follows:

The first step is to clean the surface with a regular cloth.
Next, attach the magnet to the body.
Then, using the handle that comes from the magnet, we begin to extract the dent.
Be careful to only remove the dent, not overtighten it.

Important! Before repairing, it is necessary to put something soft under the magnet so as not to scratch the paintwork.

Lever

This process is much more difficult than the previous one. To straighten the dent, you will need a rather expensive set of tools, namely levers.
This repair is carried out in the case when the damage is voluminous and complicated. The whole process consists in tapping dents with inside body. If necessary, you can dismantle some parts that will prevent you from getting to the damaged parts of the body. Hooks and levers have different lengths and shapes, in addition, they are bent at different angles.

The work surface must be cleaned.
Then, using a building hair dryer, the part is heated to 40-50 ° C.
The edges of the bends need to be tapped and pressed against the surface, thereby leveling the dent.

Alignment technology is quite complicated. The master selects the lever or hook he needs, levels the surface with pressure and tapping.

By means of an applicator

Dents are retracted using a special kit called "Pops-a-Dent". The set includes a rocker made of plastic, which is curved in a special way. In order not to damage the surface, it has long legs with a rubberized sponge at their ends.
Thermal gun and a set of rods with silicone glue. The kit also includes nozzles with different grip areas, whose soles are glued to the dent and thus straighten them.

Important! Through the technological holes, you should definitely see the protruding glue, this gives good strength to the mount itself.

With the help of the above device, it is not difficult to cope with the defect:

The first step is to degrease the dent itself and wipe it dry. Not a speck of dust should remain on the treated surface.
We melt the glue and apply it to the nozzle as quickly as possible. We press to the dent, scrolling a little and pressing it half a turn.
After 2-3 minutes, a cutting should be passed through the ear of the nozzle.
Then you need to screw the valve onto the thread.
Slowly straighten the dent until it is level with the metal.
After that, you should leave everything in this position for 5-7 minutes.
We unscrew the valve, removing the arc.
To separate the nozzle, we heat the plastic with a building hair dryer, while scrolling it around.

If your driving skills are very careful, then you can not buy the whole set. It will be enough to purchase only a glue gun. The arc can be made at home by yourself, for example, from wood. Instead of rods, you can use an ordinary bolt, gluing it with a hat to the defect.

Thermal

The essence of this method lies in the fact that from a huge temperature difference, the metal begins to level off. To implement this method, you must have:

building hair dryer;
compressed air.

The work algorithm is as follows:

After the dent area is heated, it is cooled with compressed air.
If the affected area is large, then it is heated in several places.

Why are these technologies so popular?

All of the above technologies are very popular for several reasons:

budget repair;
time costs are minimal;
do not require special skills from a person.

As you can see, there are many ways to correct and align various dents at home. We hope that this information will be useful to you in case of auto repair.

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Mechanical alignment from the inside

The use of this technology allows you to even out defects without painting. In this case, vacuum hoods and levers are used. 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 the technological hole of the car body and pressed 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 the damaged area of the 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 method under consideration involves the use of a 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.

In some cases, if the body has a large damage, 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 allow to completely get rid of the damage, this method is 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 on the reverse side of the 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.

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 clockwise circular motion 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 from the car body for 5 minutes.

Serious damage to the body ends with a full straightening, or even a replacement individual parts followed by painting. However, some dents can be removed without painting. After reading the article, you will find out which dents can be removed without painting and learn how to do it yourself.

What dents can be removed without painting

There are three main conditions that determine whether or not a dent can be removed. The first condition is the integrity of the paintwork. If at least one crack has appeared on the paintwork, it is impossible to level the dents without painting. Because through the crack water gets in which will lead to rust and peeling paint. The second condition is metal without traces of rust and fatigue. If the car has already been repainted, remove the dent without new painting damaged area is not possible. After all, the state of the metal under the paint layer is unknown.

It's one thing if the metal was primed with high quality, then painted and the dent did not violate the integrity of the paintwork. If the age of the car is more than 10 years or the body has at least a slight center of corrosion under the paintwork, then rust will appear at the site of the dent in 1 to 3 months, due to which the paint will begin to peel off. The third condition is that the dent should not affect corners, bulges or amplifiers. If a convex or curly part is dented, internal or external ribs and stiffeners are deformed, it is impossible to eliminate the dent without serious intervention. A serious intervention is scratches and other damage to the paint.

How to remove dents without painting

There are several different paintless dent removal techniques. Between themselves, they differ in different ways of influencing the metal. Each method requires its own set of tools and various materials. When choosing between different methods, motorists most often use the one for which there are or it is easier to get tools. When removing dents yourself, you must remember the main rule - the wrong impact on the dent will damage the paint. Before removing a dent on a car, it is advisable to practice on bent body parts or entrust this work to professionals.

To remove a dent from the inside, it is necessary to free access to the cavity under it and squeeze it out with your hand or a special tool. Auto parts stores sell special sets for this, however, it is more effective to act with the hand. After all, fingers not only put pressure on the dent, but also feel the metal. To align one of the wings, you need to remove the wheel and plastic protection. This work is best done on a lift. If there is no lift, you can get by with a jack. For information on how not to get injured when working on a lift or jack, read the article. After removing the fender liner, feel for the dent with your hand and squeeze it out. Press smoothly, the metal will resist, and then snap back to its original shape. In the same way, remove dents on doors, hood, trunk or other parts of the car.

How to remove a dent from the outside with a magnet

For such an operation, you will need a powerful electromagnet of a small size, to which a handle is attached. Such a device can be found in a car shop or you can make it yourself. Before applying the magnet to the dent, it is necessary to wrap it with one layer of soft cloth, this will save you from scratches. Put the magnet in the center of the dent, turn on the power and make sure it sticks. Some cars use aluminum parts that cannot be aligned in this way. Then firmly grasp the handle and pull the magnet towards you. When the dent disappears, turn off the power and remove the electromagnet.

Dent Repair with Vacuum or Glue

In car dealerships, you can find suction cups (applicators) that are designed to remove small (length, width or diameter less than 20 cm) dents without painting, as well as a special gel or glue for them. Vacuum suction cups are easier to use, because after each operation it is not necessary to carefully clean the traces of glue.

If vacuum applicators could not be found, take adhesive ones. Appropriate glue, gel, as well as a lever or other device that will allow you to work on the body. The technology of exposure is the same - the suction cups are stuck near the edge of the dent, either in increments of 5 - 7 cm, if the number of suction cups allows, or by rearranging from place to place and pulling the concave metal out. Gradually, the dent will completely disappear. Carefully read the instructions for the paintless dent remover, this will avoid damage to the paintwork. If you use a powerful suction cup that is one piece with the handle, then it can only remove those dents in which there is enough flat space to secure the suction cup. Therefore, in terms of efficiency, such a tool is inferior to small applicators.

Straightening dents on the outside with a building hair dryer and a can of compressed air

This method is suitable for small (up to 15 cm in size) shallow dents located far from the gas tank (at diesel vehicles can be used directly over fuel tank). Glue thin aluminum foil to the damaged area with a patch or construction tape. Turn on a building hair dryer (a household hair dryer will not work) on maximum mode and heat the damaged body part to a temperature of 50 - 60 degrees (you can touch it with your hand, but you can’t hold it for longer than half a second). The heat should be even, so don't hold the hair dryer in one place. When the part is warm enough, blow it with compressed air from a can. The greatest effect is produced by a canister in which air is mixed with fluorocarbon propellants. Coming out of the can, the air is cooled to tens of degrees below zero. Such a temperature difference in the damaged area will cause the metal to return to its original shape on its own. Instead of a can, dry ice can be used. car first aid kit. After leveling the part, remove the aluminum foil from it.

Conclusion

Like any other car repair, self-deletion paintless dents require special equipment and certain skills. Therefore, before starting work, get your hand on unnecessary body elements. After you learn to feel the tension of the metal and the most convenient points for impact, proceed to remove the dent on the car. Do not try to immediately remove dents without a minimum experience; to eliminate the consequences of such an impact, you will have to contact specialists.