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I was ready to cut out a whole quarter panel until an old timer in Boise showed me a different way
Had a nasty crease on a '98 Silverado bedside that looked like it needed full replacement. This retired guy at the parts counter said to try a slide hammer with a 3/16 inch hole drilled right at the deepest point of the dent, then work it out slowly with a heat gun. I was sure it would tear, but after two hours of careful work, it came out smooth enough for filler. Who else has saved a panel they thought was junk with an odd trick?
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nathan1005mo ago
Yeah, I had a fender on my old Ranger that was pretty much folded over. I mean, @the_piper is right about the glue puller too, that heat is key. I used a hair dryer on high and a toilet plunger, no joke. Just warmed it up real good and popped it out from the back. It left a little wave but nothing a bit of mud couldn't fix. Saved me hunting down a new fender for a truck that wasn't worth it.
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ross.lily4mo ago
Disagree with @nathan100, a slide hammer saved my old beater.
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leo_black765mo ago
Man, that's so true... @nathan100 is right on the money about the heat. It's not just about making it soft, it lets the metal relax back to where it was, you know? I've found if you don't get it warm enough, the metal just fights you and wants to go back to the dent. A cheap heat gun from the hardware store is way better than a hair dryer for that deep, even warmth. It makes all the difference between a clean pull and a panel full of sharp little wrinkles.
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the_piper5mo ago
Always figured a slide hammer on thin sheet metal was asking for trouble, like it would just punch right through. But drilling that tiny hole first makes all the difference, doesn't it? Lets the metal move without stressing the surrounding area. I had a door ding on a Civic that I fixed with a glue puller after warming the panel, same basic idea. Sometimes the old ways are the best ways.
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