Keep Your Car Dent-Free…For Free (Almost)!
Posted: Saturday, October 14, 2006
by lorien1973
Online Discount Mart Home & Garden Decor
Are you tired of shelling out money to your car mechanic every time you hit a pothole? Are you also tired of buying those “ding kits" that promise to repair your dents in 15 minutes or less? You know the ones: they come with the pulling device, the hot gun glue, and about 20 other items—everything but the rubbing alcohol that you need to remove the glue, afterwards
Another reason that you might want to steer clear of all-purpose pull-type repair kits—other than for economy’s sake—is that the sort of repair job you need to do will depend on how much of the metal was stretched when you had the minor collision. Pulling on already stretched metal might make matters worse.
But before you attempt to fix your car’s dent, remember to bring your car’s temperature to 50-90 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, give your car a thorough washing, in the area where you will perform the repair. Remove any surface was for better adhesion.
Heavy Duty Fix-Ups
If you’ve already bought the dent-pulling device (they’re sometimes called a bridge), or if the dent is just too bag for a simple fill-in, arm yourself with a dolly and a metalworking hammer, and go to it. It is a bit more complicated, but we’re still talking bare bones, here. (Remember, you ostensibly have the pulling device in-house, anyway, so you’re not out any more money.)
First, go through the dent and find its center. After having found the center, drill right through the hole with a 1/8" drill bit. Then, put the dent pulling device right inside the hole and pull on it. You’ll either flatten out the dent or, if it is smaller, hear and see it pop out. Try hammering the dent with the metalworking hammer. Hold the dolly in the back of the dent. .
Fill the area with body filler and let it dry. Sand down any excess after it dries completely. Spray-prime the area. Apply six coats of the special primer used for cars, ensuring each coat dries thoroughly before you apply the next one. Apply touch-up paint that matches your car perfectly. Viola! You’re done!
Scratched Surfaces
Is your car prone to unattractive scratches from pebbles and rocks from the highway, when you’re traveling at high speeds? If so, the smallest of projectiles can cause a not-so-tiny scratch on your car’s hood—or anywhere, for that matter.
For these smallish scratches, buy the touch-up paint that matches your car’s color. You can add clear coat after that. And try to remember that no-one is going to be doing a Sherlock Holmes on your car’s bumper, looking for signs of scratches. Chances are, the scratch is only visible to you.
Rust Repair
What about rust problems? If you’ve got cracked areas on your car, and a bit of rust, scratch off the rust with sandpaper and seal it with touch-up paint.
Finally, do your best to avoid dents! Be careful to avoid potholes and, well, you know the drill. It’ll keep you from having to go through the whole dent repair process all over again.
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