Small dents can be an eyesore and greatly decrease the resale value of your vehicle, especially those in its paint. Dings in particular can ruin its appearance.
Household items can help eliminate those stubborn dents in plastic bumpers. One such solution would be using boiling water from a can to gently massage away its dent.
Glue Pulling
Glue pulling is a form of paintless dent repair (PDR) using glue tabs and pullers to dislodge damaged areas from vehicles. Although not as popular as traditional techniques such as pushing or pulling from behind, glue pulling offers technicians an effective and straightforward alternative that leaves original surface coating intact compared to weld-tab methods – plus completion is usually quicker!
Weld-tabs can be problematic when used on panels with sensitive electronics, insulation and sensors on the reverse side; glue tabs allow techs to avoid disturbing these areas during repairs. Furthermore, glue pulling allows technicians to work from both sides of damage site while simultaneously decreasing welding points in vehicle thus reducing amount of welding required by weld tabs alone.
Glue pulling requires special tools, but many may already exist in your shop. Understanding the proper conditions to employ this technique and the ideal ways to pre-prep panels prior to applying glue tabs is crucial as improper preparation could cause adhesion issues that require further glue pulling; improper preparation could even result in loosening or even falling off from panels altogether.
Once the panel is prepared and ready for glueing, a technician applies a small amount of hot glue to a tab before attaching it to the panel for it to cool. Once set, dent pullers can be used to push it to the center of the panel where it can be removed using plastic scraper; any residual glue left can easily be cleaned using 91% rubbing alcohol sprays.
As part of the glue pull process, high spots may form during this step. Should this occur, gently tap down this area with either a dent hammer or plastic tapping tool to flatten out. Take care to not strike too forcefully as too hard hits may create additional low spots in your dent.
Although glue pulling has many advantages, it should not be seen as the go-to solution for dent repair. When vehicles are damaged in ways unsuited to this method of repair, traditional PDR techniques and methods should still be utilized to minimize damage and ensure high quality repairs at reduced costs. Still, glue pulling should be considered if your collision repair shop strives for excellence while remaining profitable and efficient.
Wooden Dowel Pulling
If the other methods fail, or you have an especially tight dent (one that cannot be removed with pullers and mallets), another strategy might be useful: The wooden dowel pulling trick. Although not as fast, this technique can still be quite effective and you’ll require several tools such as a hot glue gun, some wooden dowels, and screws.
Before beginning work on a dent, it is necessary to first clean both its surface and surrounding area thoroughly. Make sure all oil and grease has been eliminated – you could try soap and water or visit an auto parts store nearby for car body cleaner.
Next, drill two holes about 4/5 of the way up each wooden dowel cylinder-shaped dowel to attach screws that will serve as handles when pulling out dowels from dent. You should have one handle on either side of your dent.
Apply a thin line of hot glue along each wooden dowel’s bottom surface, placing them atop or around a dent. Allow for the glue to set before beginning to pull on them. Be cautious as this process can be very tricky; move around your dowels until you find an ideal spot where you can begin pulling.
Be mindful when pulling dowels in different directions each time – otherwise they could get caught inside the dent and no longer be easily extracted again. Furthermore, avoid exerting too much force when pulling dowels; too much force could crack the paint of your vehicle body panel and even lead to paint chipping!
Once you’ve attached wooden dowels to a dent and allowed the glue to set, remove one at a time until all have been taken out; once all dowels have been pulled off you should be able to pull out the dent from your vehicle.
Plungers can also be an invaluable tool for loosening tight dowel pins. Although often associated with unclogging sinks and bathtubs, plungers are also fantastic tools for unjamming car dents! If pliers won’t budge tight dowel pins, try applying some alcohol drops directly to it; allow this solution to soak in for several minutes before trying to pull it out using your pliers.
If you’re having difficulty with removing a dent on your vehicle on your own, take it to an auto body shop such as Import Specialty Auto for assistance. Their team will quickly and affordably remove it!