No matter how small those minor bumps appearing on your vehicle are, one thing is for sure: they look ugly and you would definitely want to get rid of them as soon as possible! Those little dents of course, will not end the world, they just make your car look old and unfashionable.
The good news is, there are ways to get rid of car dents, some you can do it yourself at home, and some times, you need to call in the experts. This article will explain how to sort out those minor dents on vehicles.
Before You Fix It, Check It Out!
Before you start pushing on that dent, take a moment to study it. Here’s what to look at:
Size: Is the dent small and shallow, or is it big and deep? Small dents are easier to fix.
Spot: Is the dent in a flat part of the car or on a rounded bit? Flat stuff is a lot easier. Dents in edges or bends are difficult.
Paint: is it broken or scratched? If it’s messed up around the dent, the patch job will be more difficult and time consuming.
Fixing Dents Yourself:
Be Careful with your car dent repair:
If you’re handy and the mark is small, there are different ways you can attempt to fix it yourself at your own house. But be careful! It’s easy to make the dent more destructive if you’re not sure what you’re doing. Here are a few procedures to try:
- The Plunger Trick: This one uses a regular household plunger! You press the plunger onto the dent to produce suction and pull it out. This performs best for small dents on flat surfaces.
- Hot Water Help: Carefully pouring hot (not boiling!) water over the dent can sometimes make the metal extend and pop back into position. Be super cautious with this technique, because hot water can destroy the paint if you’re not attentive.
- Hair Dryer: Utilizing a hairdryer to warm the dent and then giving it a quick blast with compressed air can force the dent out. Again, be careful with the heat to avoid paint deterioration.
Ask For Help- Paintless Car Dent Repair (PDR)
For some dents, however, the best way to achieve a good repair is through what is known as paintless dent repair. What is this magic? In paintless car dent repair, or PDR, a trained technician uses special tools to push the dent from behind the car’s metal panels, not touching the paint in any way! This is a great option because:
Pocket Friendly: And a PDR repair is usually cost effective-not heavy on your pockets basically.
Speedy fix: your PDR repair could be done in an hour or two, whereas you’ll spend days in a body shop.
Keeps the Original Paint: PDR retains the original paint of the car, which makes the car more valuable and boosts its resale price.
But PDR isn’t perfect for every situation. Here’s when it might not work:
- Big Dents: PDR works best for small dents that don’t have much paint damage. Big dents or ones with broken paint might be too much for PDR.
- Getting There: The dent needs to be reachable from behind the car’s metal for PDR to work. Dents on certain parts like pillars or very strong areas might be impossible to reach.
- Skill Matters: PDR takes a lot of practice to do well. Finding a good PDR technician is important to make sure the dent gets fixed properly.
Finding the Perfect PDR Technician
If you decide to go PDR, here’s what to look out when choosing a good body man:
Talk to people: Talk to friends, family, or even your mechanic for recommendations on PDR technicians in your area.
Online Reviews: Whether you’re at your computer or on your using your smartphone, scan out some review sites to see how old customers’ experiences went with different PDR techs.
Ask for Certification: Ask if the mechanic is certified by the National Dent Repair Association (NDRA) or the International PDR Association (IPDR). This ensures the technician has been through the appropriate training and has good experience.
Collect Quotes: Get prices from several PDR technicians. Don’t just choose the cheapest one; check out their years in business, ask Google what their customers are saying, and so on.
The Final Fix
Car dents can be a pain, but with a little know-how, you can get rid of them and make your car look its best. Whether you repair it yourself or call in an experienced, carefully evaluate the dent and select the method that works excellently for you. Remember, sometimes the wisest thing to do is leave it to the experts to secure a perfect and long-lasting repair. By taking the time to understand your choices, you can make a knowledgeable conclusion and keep your auto looking glossy and smooth for years to come.