What Can I Use to Pull Out Minor Dents From a Vehicle?

Dents of any size on your vehicle are unsightly. Not only are they ugly, but rust can form if the paint is cracked or chipped in or around the dent. You can pull minor dents from your vehicle and prevent rust from forming using materials from a parts store. Body shops charge several hundred dollars for minor dent repairs, and that's without the paint. You can repair the dents yourself and save money.

Instructions

1

Drill several holes into the dent. Drill several around the center of the dent and a few around the outer areas. Make the holes no larger than the screw tip on the end of the dent puller.

2

Insert the tip of the dent puller into the holes and screw it in. Slide the handle on the dent puller toward the car and then pull it hard away from the car. Repeat this and move the dent puller to different holes until the dent has been pulled out.

3

Grind the paint down to the bare metal in and up to 4 inches surrounding the dent. The bare metal must be showing before moving to the next step.

4

Mix a quarter-size amount of hardener for every baseball-sized amount of body filler you use. Mix the filler and hardener together thoroughly until it is one solid color.

5

Use a squeegee to apply body filler over the dent to fill any low areas and holes left by the dent puller. Let the filler dry for one hour.

6

Sand the dried filler with 80-grit sandpaper on a long sanding block. Go over the filler again using the sanding block and 120-grit sandpaper. Wipe the area with wax and grease remover and a microfiber towel.

7

Spray primer over the filler to seal the filler. Hold the primer 10 to 12 inches from the surface. Let the primer dry for 30 minutes before applying a second coat. Let the second coat dry for 30 minutes.

8

Sand the dried filler with 320-grit sandpaper and a sanding block. The area is now ready for paint or can stay in primer for several weeks without allowing moisture through to the body filler.