DIY Paintless Dent Repair and why You Shouldn't
Dents is a problem every car owner encounters. No matter how hard you try to prevent them, whether it’s parking in a safe car park far away from other vehicles or parking them in your garage, you somehow still manage to find a dent on your car. DIY paintless dent repair is not an all money-saving solution as it might seem at first.
In this article, we will cover the drawbacks of DIY dent repair and what you can do to combat the sworn enemy of every car owner – dents.
Damage done after DIY paintless dent repair.
After PDR by expert dent master.
What is DIY Paintless dent repair?
As the name suggests, these are the various methods of fixing dents or dings at home. There are many methods for DIY dent repair, some are workable and some, maybe not so much.
If you consider DIY paintless dent repair, you should consider all the drawbacks that can arise with these various DIY methods.
So, let us explore some of the well-known methods of DIY.
Various Methods of DIY
Around the globe, there are probably countless ways you can repair dents at home, if you know your tools well and know what you are doing you can always give it a try and save yourself some of your hard-earned cash. However, if you don’t have much patience or don’t want to risk further damage you should leave it to the experts.
Using a Plunger
There are more ways to use a plunger than just unclogging your toilet - or you sink. You can use a plunger to pull out small and medium-sized dents. Just apply some hot water and start pushing and pulling until you get results.
Boiling Water
Unfortunately, boiling water is limited to plastic bumpers. When you have a dent on your bumper just apply some boiling water - This should soften the plastic, making it more flexible, allowing you to push it out back to its original position.
Hair dryer & Compressed Air
Another method of dent repair at home is quite simple - Get a hairdryer and some compressed air. Then, at the highest heating option, heat the damaged area. This will expand the plastic.
Once the plastic is expanded use your compressed air to turn the damage cold which should theoretically pop the dent out due to the contraction of the material.
Dry Ice
If you have some dry ice lying about in your household, you can use this to pop the dent out into its original bodywork. Just get some dry ice and rub it onto the dent until you hear a pop.
Hot Glue, Wooden Dowels & Screws
A dent master commonly uses this method in combination with other professional methods.
Simply get some dowels and put hot glue on the bottom and now place the dowel in the areas around the dent. You can use as many as you need to cover the whole area. Once the glue dries, pull them out individually until the dent is gone.
So, now that you got the idea of how DIY dent repair works we should discuss the drawbacks of such methods.
Drawbacks of DIY Paintless Dent Repair
As with everything else, there are drawbacks. With DIY dent removal, you need to consider the possible drawbacks you may encounter. If you are a trained professional then you already know that you have nothing to worry about.
However, if you have no idea what to expect it’s undoubtedly important for you to know the risks you are taking.
Voiding Manufacturers Warranty
This may or may not apply to you. Depending on the specifics of your manufacturers' warranty, you may lose it if you attempt DIY dent repairs on your vehicle. If you're unsure, be sure to check what exactly your warranty covers.
Requires Skill
Some dents are easily removed and on the other hand, dents can be very complex. Do you know the difference between the two?
Dents can be quite deceptive. A "minor" dent may not be as straightforward as you think. In short, a skilled technician may only be able to tell the difference.
Time-Consuming
Dent removal can be time-consuming, especially if you don't have the right tools, experience and skill.
For example, a minor dent can take an expert 30 mins, that same dent can take you 8 hours!
Is it worth your time?
The Quality
If you are worried about quality then you should go ahead and contact your local dent specialist right away. A dent master has both the tools and the expertise to deliver you high-quality results you may desire.
Likewise, with no proper tools or the expertise, you may improve upon the damage but not perfect it.
Cause More Damage
Without a doubt, any repair can cause more damage and DIY dent repair is no different. You should carefully consider two things before you do the repairs yourself. (1) Do you have the necessary skill and knowledge of performing the repair yourself? (2) Are you willing to pay extra in the case of the extra damage you may cause performing the repair?
If the answer is "no" to both, is the risk even worth it?
In short, you may want an alternative method of fixing your car dents.
So, let us have a look at an alternative method.
Why use a dent master instead?
A dent master is a specially trained technician in paintless dent removal. An average dent master will have the tools and the techniques required to deliver a high-quality dent repair for you. Of course, different dent masters have different levels of expertise, so it is wise to research different paintless dent removal specialists in your local area to get the best results.
In the long run, you can save time and money as you don’t need to spend hours perfecting your DIY dent repair technique nor risk the extra damage costing your more, when a dent master becomes your only option.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, DIY paintless dent repair is not something everyone should consider doing. When you care about the appearance of your car, the best option is hiring an expert dent master – You can even save time and money, in the long run, doing so.
Finally, you will want to find the best dent master available in your area because as mentioned before, all dent masters vary in expertise.
Undoubtedly, you want the very best for your vehicle.
