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Message started by babyhog on 09/25/09 at 09:52:01

Title: Dent removal
Post by babyhog on 09/25/09 at 09:52:01

Ok, I read the thread in the tech section about removing dents.  I'm planning to try the trick with the computer-type spray can.  There was no mention of whether the gas tank should be full or empty, or maybe it doesn't matter.  Anyone know?

~

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by Charon on 09/25/09 at 10:21:40

I think you will want the tank empty, or at least low enough so there is no fuel behind the dent. Otherwise, the fuel will absorb the "cold" and keep the metal from the extreme temperature change caused by the dry ice - or computer spray.

Just a guess, but if you have access to air conditioning and refrigeration supplies, R134a or R22 might work. Or a carbon-dioxide fire extinguisher.

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/25/09 at 10:50:39

You might be able to get dry ice from the grocery store. They sell it here/

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by babyhog on 09/25/09 at 11:01:39

My husband happens to be HVAC certified and has all that crap, so if the computer spray doesn't work, we could try that stuff too.
But yes, no fuel behind the dent sounds like the ticket!  
I'll take some before & after pics...  IF it works!

~

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by serenity3743 on 09/25/09 at 13:13:49

I have a small dent which I haven't yet tried this trick on.  Will be interested if it works for you!

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by babyhog on 09/25/09 at 15:37:25

Well, just tried it.  And it worked pretty well.  I had two very small dents, one maybe the size of a pencil eraser and the other was even smaller.  The smaller one is completely gone, the pencil-size one was kinda square-shaped, and it is barely visible.  I doubt anyone but me could find it.  Now a little touch up paint for the paint chips (little dots) and she'll be good as new.  

On a side note, I tried it on a couple spots on my car too.  Totally removed a small one, didn't do as well on a long one, but it was close to where the doors meet (on the rear door, just behind the gap between front and rear door)  It did pretty good on one other spot on the front, which was in a curved area.  I wish I had "before" pictures of the car.

I couldn't even get a good pic of the bike tank that showed the dent before the operation, so sorry I can't post before and after pics.

Now if I can only get this weird taste out of my mouth!  If you try it, don't breathe this junk...  uck!
~

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by babyhog on 09/25/09 at 15:59:06

P.S.  My husband said its against EPA regulations to release refrigerant into the atmosphere, so using it for this purpose would not be recommended.

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by Tonydtiger1971 on 09/27/09 at 12:55:22

Do you think it would work on one the size of a half dollar, my handlebars dented the tank when my son dropped it showing off for Grandpa. LOL.  

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/27/09 at 13:43:55

Depends on depth. A 1/2" deep dent isnt coming out with a dose of cold. If its on the filler neck side, you might be able to GENTLY & Slowly work it out, but the shape of the tool & your attention to detail & patience will be deciding factors in the success/degree of success or the damage you actually do. I spent over 8 hours working a dent out of the deck lid on the Honda. If I had been in a position to have it painted & could have used bondo on it, I could have had it in an hour or less, but I had to move slow & not drive any lumps in it from the inside. Its not perfectly smooth, but its easy to walk by & not even notice it.

A bunch of tiny taps works better than a couple of heavy smacks. A hard edge on a pry bar is gonna mess things up.

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by babyhog on 09/27/09 at 15:09:11

Here is a decent instructional video.  I think the secret is getting it warm enough, then using enough liquid co2 to chill it.... maybe.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0UAUBE-Hmg[/media]

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by Tonydtiger1971 on 09/27/09 at 19:30:44

Ok thanks

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by bill67 on 09/27/09 at 19:32:44


7E7D7C717369100 wrote:
Here is a decent instructional video.  I think the secret is getting it warm enough, then using enough liquid co2 to chill it.... maybe.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0UAUBE-Hmg[/media]

 Do you think that would work on the wrinkles on my face ;D

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by serenity3743 on 09/28/09 at 09:05:30

I don't know, Bill.  Why don't you try it?  Be sure to post the video!

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by Phelonius on 09/28/09 at 10:05:37

And all these years I thought a can of dent remover was bondo.

Phelonius

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/28/09 at 10:25:18

If I had a dent I needed to fix on a painted part, I take a side cover off & try some hot glue on a bottom edge & see if it sticks well enough to pull a dent. If so, can you get it off w/o messing the paint up. If so, then glue a rod/dowel, not in the bottom of the dent, but about 1/3rd of the way between edge of the dent & the  bottom. Gently pull on the rod & gently tap on the edge of the dent. A careful study of the dent will show a raised area around the dent, called an Eyebrow in body working circles.
If the dent was slapped in with any real ferocity, it simply cant be fixed w/o heat ( Like a brazing tip on a torch) shrinking it. Metal stretches a lot easier than youd think.

I Do have a dent I should try the heat/cold on. Pretty "soft" dent, as dents go. It was the outside of my knee, catching the bike as it rolled off the stand, parked, in Neutral, pointed downhill in a parking lot. Im just not ready to worry about it.

Title: Re: Dent removal
Post by Tonydtiger1971 on 09/28/09 at 20:53:17


54425542494E535E14101314270 wrote:
I don't know, Bill.  Why don't you try it?  Be sure to post the video!



I'd like to see that video.  ;D

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