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Spring time and hail are synonymous in my part of the world. I'm wondering if I can take out a few pea or marble size dents without to much trouble. I've heard dry ice would work and heard it wouldn't. Does anyone know methods that really work without repainting?
Is this a good question?
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Maybe this video will help you.
One other interesting one here for bigger dents.
Another site with several techniques, and the ones you just saw also.
Dry ice is worth a shot, since it's cheap, but I'm not sure I'm convinced.
Sorry about the hail on the Caddy.
Regards,
Frank
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I gave the dry ice a try but haven't used a heat gun yet. I wish I could accept both answers as both are right. The videos tipped the scale. Some of the smaller dents are completely gone. Some of the larger ones are half gone. Will try the ice with a heat gun next. Dry ice doesn't store well.
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Do this in small areas at a time, not in the heat of the day. Try putting a fair amount of ice or dry ice with something between the ice and the car to protect the paint from dropping in temperature to quickly or freezing. Use an IR thermometer or a kitchen thermometer, on the backside of the surface or several inches away from where the ice is. Let the surface reach less than 40 degrees F. Now take a hair dryer over the cold spot on high heat.I know this is what you have heard prior. Sometimes you have to try this a couple of times.
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Dry ice I have used it several times with success, several times without. Part of what I have learned is you need to get a good temperature drop then add heat. I believe that how straight/ flat the metal is also plays a part. Pieces with large flat areas such as roofs, hoods and trunk lids seem to have better results. Tops & edges of quarter panels seem to have too much tensile strength. In other words the weaker the material the better chance of good results. I have had it work with plastic/fiberglass bumper covers too.
Thanks for the suggestions ya'll. Would my heat gun be to much?
I do not believe so as long as you keep it moving so that it doesn't overheat the paint. Use reasonable care. The idea is to get a quick, extreme temperature fluctuation and let Physics handle the rest.
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