Removing Small Dents from Trucks
Heat and cold can remove a small dent from your truck. Take a blowtorch and gradually heat up the metal at the site of the dent – and maybe a half inch all the way around. Once the metal is hot, begin gently tapping and with a hammer to see how it responds. For small dents, it should restore the original surface finish of the aluminum. You might be able to fix small to medium-sized dents on a truck’s body by only using a plunger and hot water.
Dent Removal Tips
Aluminum
Use a heat gun to target the heat application directly to the dent. As you warm the aluminum, you’ll see it start to loosen up and shift a little. The heat actually relieves the stress that binds the metal so that it loses its shape. For small dents, it should restore the original surface finish of the aluminum.
Brushed Aluminum
Use a heat gun, or place the panel in the sun for a couple of hours, till it gets really warm. After it gets nice and toasty, lay a paper towel on the offending dent and place a piece of dry ice on it. The sudden chilling would shrink the dent out of the panel.
Cost of Dent Repair
Paintless dent removal costs can vary a bit, depending on the size of the dent. Small dings can cost around $75 to $125, while larger dents range from $150 to $450.
DIY Dent Removal
The quickest and often easiest dent removal method is to use a sink or cup plunger, which will work on small to medium sized dents (depending on the plunger size).
How to Get Dents Out of Aluminum Sheet Metal
Drill a small hole in the center of the dent. Insert a sheet metal screw. Tug the washer.
Renovating Aluminum Siding
To fix a small hole, sandpaper or scrape paint and corrosion from the edges of the hole and a small area surrounding it. Fill the hole with plastic aluminum, which is sold in tubes at most home centers, hardware stores and auto-parts stores.
Dents on Airstream Trailers
Bend the dent out using a body spoon. This is a metal tool with a rounded tip designed to push out dents without damaging the metal. To do this, you need to access the body panel from the back. You will need to go inside the Airstream and use a wrench to remove the pop rivets that hold the inner skin on.
Repairing Aluminum Panels
When repairing dents on an aluminum panel, my first choice of repair method is the use of glue-on pull tabs. If this doesn’t work, I suggest using paintless dent repair (PDR) theory and methods. Apply low heat onto the repair area as recommended per the automaker’s allowable heat range standard. As you apply low heat to the repair area, along with the use of body picks and plastic-coated tips, push the dent out from the backside of the panel. You can destroy an aluminum panel if you don’t know what you’re doing.