Small dents - How to get rid of them DIY?

1. Schism Infrequent Poster Joined: Oct 2009 Leicester Posts: 195

   #1 22nd June 2010, 14:50

   Hey all
   
   I've got a few small dents in my car that look like they'd probably pop right out if I could managed to suck them out some how? What's a practised and practical way of getting rid of them? One of them in a small one on the bonnet to the side and above the front Citroen Chevrons. Quite a few saxos get that dent apparently!
2. user_42881 Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2010 North Shields Posts: 779

   #2 22nd June 2010, 16:16

   HAMMER!!!!
   
   
   
   Hammer motorsport is not responsible for the carnage that follows
3. user_38238 Infrequent Poster Joined: Oct 2009 Gillingham or Coventry Posts: 188 Mk2 VTR Suzuki Bandit 600 Alfa Romeo 156 2.4 JTD

   #3 22nd June 2010, 16:27

   can't u get to the other side of the bonnet and use a soft piece of wood and a mallet to bang it flat?
4. user_35312 Established Member Joined: Jun 2009 Coventry CV6 Posts: 2477 Slowda Octavia vRS SOLD - Cam'd Chip'd VTR

   #4 22nd June 2010, 16:29

   Yeah get a little panel beating set with a few dollies (like metal parts you rest under the dent to hammer them out with) ..or you get the suckers but they don't really work that well in most places ive read
5. mirrorblanks Established Member Joined: Apr 2010 liverpool Posts: 1737

   #5 22nd June 2010, 16:33

   little dents are actually the hardest to remove, if they are on the bonnet then most likely you can't get to them properly from underneath and need a special dent remover kit
6. Schism Infrequent Poster Joined: Oct 2009 Leicester Posts: 195

   #6 22nd June 2010, 22:08

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by mirrorblanks little dents are actually the hardest to remove, if they are on the bonnet then most likely you can't get to them properly from underneath and need a special dent remover kit

   Yeah I can kind of touch the bottom dent as it's at a point of bare metal underneath, and if my fingers were strong enough I could push it out
   
   But to "hammer" it or anything, that would take some effort getting to I think!
7. mirrorblanks Established Member Joined: Apr 2010 liverpool Posts: 1737

   #7 22nd June 2010, 22:25

   best getting a professional to do it, usually charge about £30-50 a panel, thats paintless dent repair
8. vtrsaz Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2010 tipton Posts: 248 saxo vtr mk2 51 plate 3.2 omega mv6 02 plate

   #8 22nd June 2010, 22:40

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by mirrorblanks best getting a professional to do it, usually charge about £30-50 a panel, thats paintless dent repair

   ! was quoted around £45 for 1 dent the size of a fifty pence,you can guess what i said cant ya.Dry ice is actually supposed to remove dents apparently,but what i do normally is gently heat the damaged area with a hairdryer or heat gun,being careful not to get it too hot,and distort or blister the paint,and use the end of a screwdriver handle behind the dent,and rubbing back and forth over it with a fair bit of pressure,but be careful you dont reverse the dent,if you push to hard.It does actually make it a lot better,but dont expect perfection.
9. Schism Infrequent Poster Joined: Oct 2009 Leicester Posts: 195

   #9 23rd June 2010, 12:35

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by vtrsaz ! was quoted around £45 for 1 dent the size of a fifty pence,you can guess what i said cant ya.Dry ice is actually supposed to remove dents apparently,but what i do normally is gently heat the damaged area with a hairdryer or heat gun,being careful not to get it too hot,and distort or blister the paint,and use the end of a screwdriver handle behind the dent,and rubbing back and forth over it with a fair bit of pressure,but be careful you dont reverse the dent,if you push to hard.It does actually make it a lot better,but dont expect perfection.

   Cheers mate, that sounds pretty good!
10. Predator_R32p Super Moderator Joined: Mar 2003 Durham (England) Posts: 37932 1. AX 2. Mk2 Saxo VTR 3. MK4 R32 DBP

    #10 23rd June 2010, 14:10

    Thats just a quote and may be different when they arrive, prices will increse if its on a swage line
    
    i really wouldnt do it myself, hammering the metal can thin the metal out cause it to heat up and look even worse so leave it to the pros on this one or wiat till you go to trax, theres usually dent people there
11. user_31039 Established Member Joined: Feb 2009 Woking / Plymouth Posts: 1031 saxo 1.1 posi blue, saxo 1.4 furio black

    #11 23rd June 2010, 22:23

    use a plunger
12. bald24 Established Member Joined: Sep 2009 St.Neots Posts: 1443 1.1i '51

    #12 23rd June 2010, 22:35

    Hammers do work
    
    Had a small crash in the ice this winter, had my door panel off and whacking it with a hammer reduced the dent
13. Rikochet Infrequent Poster Joined: May 2010 Dundee Posts: 121 Citroen Saxo VTR Phase 2 (51)

    #13 24th June 2010, 21:31

    Boiling water and a bit of patience and you should be able to work the dent out. Don't get frustrated and start hitting it with a hammer. If a hammer is required use a mallet and a piece of soft wood behind it.
14. daz_zz_er Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Oct 2009 Southampton Posts: 3534 BMW 320TD

    #14 24th June 2010, 22:14

    How do i get door dings out?
15. mirrorblanks Established Member Joined: Apr 2010 liverpool Posts: 1737

    #15 24th June 2010, 22:16

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by daz_zz_er How do i get door dings out?

    take door cards off, try pushing them out from inside
16. daz_zz_er Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Oct 2009 Southampton Posts: 3534 BMW 320TD

    #16 24th June 2010, 22:47

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mirrorblanks take door cards off, try pushing them out from inside

    Ok thanks do the door cards unscrew off?
17. mirrorblanks Established Member Joined: Apr 2010 liverpool Posts: 1737

    #17 24th June 2010, 22:49

    ye, and unclip iirc
18. daz_zz_er Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Oct 2009 Southampton Posts: 3534 BMW 320TD

    #18 24th June 2010, 22:57

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mirrorblanks ye, and unclip iirc

    Ok thanks Mate
19. Powellyboi Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 Woodley, Reading Posts: 1322 www.thatpanelbeater.co.uk

    #19 25th June 2010, 09:17

    You will not get a good result if you dont know what you are doing. its your car though so if your happy to try and do it yourself then give it ago..
20. vtrsaz Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2010 tipton Posts: 248 saxo vtr mk2 51 plate 3.2 omega mv6 02 plate

    #20 25th June 2010, 12:38

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Powellyboi You will not get a good result if you dont know what you are doing. its your car though so if your happy to try and do it yourself then give it ago..

    Precisely,youll never get it perfect(unless your a pro lol),but should drastically reduce the appearence,but be warned as said earlier,its very easy to turn the dent around,then youll end up knocking it back in.
21. Powellyboi Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 Woodley, Reading Posts: 1322 www.thatpanelbeater.co.uk

    #21 25th June 2010, 14:08

    some pics of before and after would be much to my amusement!