Paintless Dent Removal Kit

chaparral2f

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I keep seeing this ad for a tool that takes out small dents called BBKANG 41pcs Paintless Dent Repair Removal Remover Tools Kit Golden Dent Lifter 24 Pro Purple Glue Tabs + Hot Glue Gun Car Auto Body Hail Dent Remover Set on Amazon and here. I was wondering has anybody used it, my '68 Town & Country has some hail damage on it. It says it might take paint off if the paint is old. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks Rene'

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I found them to be much less effective than advertised.
Billy Mays would have loved pimping these things.
The heavier guage steel in our old land yachts is a big factor.
That glue gun from Michael's is great for floral arrangements.
 
I have used one that is similar, but not on old paint. You essentially just use hot glue to stick a plunger to the dent, and it has the lifter that goes over the top and pulls up on the recessed area, while bracing the area around it.

Here's what I have learned from using it:

1. Test a hidden area first, if it will pull paint off from inside the trunk, it'll pull it off your roof for sure.
2. Don't crank it until the glue releases, that will create little mounds. Squeeze the handles until your eye thinks it's out, then add one more little squeeze for good measure. If it pops off on it's own, so be it.
3. If you don't pull it the first time, you can try again.
4. Make sure you get the hot glue into the deepest part of the dent, and try to prevent air bubbles.
5. The directions are in "much very poor Engrish."
6. For hail damage without hard crease marks, it should work just fine.
 
I have used one that is similar, but not on old paint. You essentially just use hot glue to stick a plunger to the dent, and it has the lifter that goes over the top and pulls up on the recessed area, while bracing the area around it.

Here's what I have learned from using it:

1. Test a hidden area first, if it will pull paint off from inside the trunk, it'll pull it off your roof for sure.
2. Don't crank it until the glue releases, that will create little mounds. Squeeze the handles until your eye thinks it's out, then add one more little squeeze for good measure. If it pops off on it's own, so be it.
3. If you don't pull it the first time, you can try again.
4. Make sure you get the hot glue into the deepest part of the dent, and try to prevent air bubbles.
5. The directions are in "much very poor Engrish."
6. For hail damage without hard crease marks, it should work just fine.
Thanks I am still thinking about it, I just was hoping not to pay somebody to do it as there are a lot of little pings on the hood and fenders
 
Thanks I am still thinking about it, I just was hoping not to pay somebody to do it as there are a lot of little pings on the hood and fenders
If they're nice and smooth dents, like a golf ball hit, it should work well, unless it's near an edge or fold of metal. If it has any pointed spots that look like it was hit with a pointed object, it's not worth trying the hot glue route.
 
From everything I've read, the older metal of our cars doesn't lend itself to this type of repair. Older cars have softer, thicker steels that stretch and won't return to its former shape. That doesn't mean it won't work, that is just what I've read.

I bought one for a couple dings in my little Ford truck. Haven't gotten a chance to use it though. I'm waiting for the weather to warm up. There's a lot of videos on Youtube about the subject.
 
First one, might work. 2nd one... I think it's too close to the ridge. It might lift it up SOME, but not gonna look as good as it did.
 
It takes skill even to use that dent remover. As everyone here knows....I have zero body and paint skills. I leave everything but washing and waxing to the pro's! Excellent wrenchwork though. Lol
 
I used that dent puller on my sister's 2008 VW Passat wagon. A small non creased dent on the rear quarter panel. It took several times to get it smooth. Can't be too cold or hot outside, as this will effect how the glue adheres. I really don't think it will work on the older cars, the VW sheet metal is thin, I could flex it by pushing with my hand.
 
have you talked to your local used car dealer? the are paintless dent guys that make the rounds of dealerships and they have the proper tools. it's amazing what they can do.
 
I just sold 4 Dentfix brand kits similar to this to 4 of my body shop customers. They said it takes some finesse but they do work. At least the Dentfix ones. But they all know there is a "learning curve".

One guy, a very reputable body shop, tried one of those rod kits for paintless repair, figuring that "if this nimrod can do it, I can", well he couldn't. Now his paintless rod kit is in the junk pile.

There is a talent to these things....

My advice, for what it's worth... unless you've got hundreds of these dents on your car.... you'd be money ahead by just taking it to a pro. They do it every day, day after day... just sayin'
 
I skimmed through some of the later responses here
I wonder if you would benefit from the heat and shrink method
Using a good heat gun to warm the dent then using an inverted aerosol duster can spray the warmed up dent to shrink the dent...
 
One guy, a very reputable body shop, tried one of those rod kits for paintless repair, figuring that "if this nimrod can do it, I can", well he couldn't. Now his paintless rod kit is in the junk pile.
There ya go.
The truth about paint less dent removal:
REAL paintless dent removal pros don't try to pull out "dings and creases" using suction cups and glue guns. They use them on "bumps"
Dings and creases have to be massaged out from behind using special design rods and paddles by hand. Drilling holes in panels many times is necessary to get behind the ding.

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The person to ask might be @azblackhemi . Any experience with these on an older car Chris?
Well John thanks for mentioning me but I don't have much to offer here. I've done paint & bodywork since 1972 but the good paintless dent guys totally amaze me. I have never had any luck removing any dent completely without having to do paint work. I'm sure having the proper tools helps but it must take a certain skill I don't have. If I were a younger man I'd consider looking into it though. That way the next time someone asked me if I can "just pop it out" I could say sure, no problem.
 
I skimmed through some of the later responses here
I wonder if you would benefit from the heat and shrink method
Using a good heat gun to warm the dent then using an inverted aerosol duster can spray the warmed up dent to shrink the dent...
This can work really well on some of our old sheet metal, but be careful not to get so hot you hurt the paint.

If paint doesn't matter, a torch can be used on bare metal.

Well John thanks for mentioning me but I don't have much to offer here. I've done paint & bodywork since 1972 but the good paintless dent guys totally amaze me. I have never had any luck removing any dent completely without having to do paint work. I'm sure having the proper tools helps but it must take a certain skill I don't have. If I were a younger man I'd consider looking into it though. That way the next time someone asked me if I can "just pop it out" I could say sure, no problem.
I had a relationship with some of the local Dent Wizard guys back in the late 90's /early 2000's... I have to agree that it's an interesting skill to acquire, and like any bodywork, there is an artistic aspect to the work of the best folks doing it. I have little doubt that I could learn to do the basic stuff, but the best painters and metal workers have that "something" that I'll never have.

BTW, those guys liked me, because I'd show them how to get the removable stuff out of harms way. Their profitability, like everyone else's, revolves around short cuts to gain access to the work area. There was a kid working one of the Benz dealers who cracked a couple of stupid expensive pieces of door glass one day. While I was getting paid to replace his mistake, I showed him the inside of the door and how to get there without damage... he started coming to me for help with unfamiliar cars, to learn how to get there... but I never did gain any mastery of his skill set.
 
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