Dent Repair, How to Remove a Dent, DIY Dent Repair

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There are three basic options for dent repair:

Do-it-yourself
Paintless Dent Repair Professional
The Local Auto Body Shop

If the dent is not too drastic, a do-it-yourself job is fairly easy with the right tools. If you want a professional job for an affordable price then look into paintless dent repair. For cars that need extensive work, it might be best to seek out a local professional shop.

Do-It-Yourself

Do-It-Yourself Dent Repair Tools: Purchasing a dent repair kit might be the most inexpensive way to fix your vehicle's dent. You can purchase a kit online or at your local auto store (AutoZone, Napa Auto Parts, Advanced Automotive).

A dent repair kit should include:

Small and large pulling tabs
Pulling bridge
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Turning knob

These tools allow you to fix minor dents at an affordable price.

How to Perform Auto Dent Repair: No one likes having dings and dents on their car. If you have small dents requiring a quick fix, consider using the steps below.

Drill a hole in the center of the dent.
Take a dent pulling tool and insert it into the hole.
Pull on the tool until the dent pops out or becomes flat.
Remove the pulling tool from the hole
Crawl under the car with a metalworking hammer and use it to gently smooth out the dent from the backside.
Fill the drilled hole with body filler and touch it up with paint.

The process is very simple and If you are not overly concerned with a perfect finish then this is an inexpensive alternative. Many people who try the DIY method leave ripples in the metal and cracks in the paint. If you want to prevent this and get a flawless job search for a local paintless dent repair technician.

Paintless Dent Repair

Paintless dent repair (PDR) is the process of removing dents by way of the inside rather than the outside panel. PDR is quick, convenient and less expensive than taking the car to an auto body shop. A PDR technician meets you at home or at the office and completes the job in less than 30 minutes at one-third of the cost of an auto body shop.

The technician will use paintless dent repair tools such as metal rods and picks to massage the dent out. All you do is pay for the labor since no parts or paint are needed.

There are paintless dent repair kits available for purchase if you want to do it yourself. The results will depend on your individual skill level.

Paintless dent repair tools include:

Blade tip picks
Rat tip picks
Blunt tip picks
Door tools
Hand tools
Brace wires
Glue pullers
J-Hooks
CD-ROM training

Paintless dent repair tools range anywhere from $900 to $1500. These kits are worth buying if you plan on becoming a technician.

Although PDR works wonders, there are some downfalls. Not all dents are accessible for PDR repair. Paintless dent repair technology does not allow technicians to remove dents from plastic bumpers. Some technicians can address paint touch ups while others cannot. Despite this, PDR is a great way to make dents disappear. There are also class options available, where a licensed professional can train you on the PDR process and you can receive your own license and run a PDR business.

How to Repair a Dent