How to Fix a Dent in Your Car
Whether a dent was caused by hail or a stray shopping cart, it is a frustrating thing when it happens to your car. Luckily, minor dents, both small and large, can easily be removed at home, using simple household items and the laws of physics. By quickly expanding and contracting the metal of the affected body panel, you can pop most dents out of your car in no time. Scratches and nicks in paint will have to be dealt with separately. If your car has received major damage, you may still need to visit a body shop.
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Instructions
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Heat the surface of the dent with a hair dryer or heat gun. Hold the appliance very close to the dent for a couple of minutes. Use the tool's highest temperature setting to heat the dent thoroughly.
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Rub a piece of dry ice, held with pliers or tongs, on any small dents. Always wear gloves, when handling dry ice, as it can be dangerous. The sudden temperature shift will cause the metal to expand and contract quickly, popping out small dents.
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Hold a can of compressed air upside down. Quickly spray it on any large dents in your car. Holding it upside down is necessary for the contents to come out in liquid form, which you need for this project. Large dents will be chilled by this method and will pop out immediately.
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Tips & Warnings
Pull out each dent on your car one at a time using this process. Do not heat several dents at once, then try using dry ice or the compressed air to pull them out. The sudden temperature change only works if both steps are performed one after the other for every single dent.
