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 | Quick and Dirty Dent Repair
As anyone who has gotten into a fender bender knows, there's nothing
inexpensive or quick about well done automotive paint and bodywork.
Professional paint and bodywork is something best left to professionals. The
materials and equipment required to reproduce a factory finish are beyond the
scope and the budget of most do-it-yourselfers. That said, a $3,000 repair
bill for a car that's worth $500 doesn't add up. Sometimes pulling or
hammering out a dent and painting the word "ouch" on the fender are all that's
required to restore function and utility.
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| Free Beats Good
The following tips may be helpful if you have a car the still runs and drives
fine, but is not worth the cost of professional body repairs. This procedure
is also helpful for a vehicle that perhaps came with dents when purchased. If
a small scratch on the mirror finish of your paint results in sleepless nights
then this is not the procedure for you. In this case, the car in question came
complete with a dented fender and resulting annoying tire rub upon deep left
turns or bumps. Something had to be done. As "cheap" was on top of the list
when it came to budget, a $50 limit on tools was imposed. Thank goodness for
the global economy.
Nothing to Lose
The best part about this procedure is that even if it doesn't turn out
perfect, little will have been lost—except time. If everything turns out okay,
your prized $500 runabout will once again be underway, and you will have saved
a pile of money. Don't overestimate your power of reverse dent pounding. Deep
creases in stamped steel fenders cannot be fixed. Even if things don't turn
out perfect, valuable lessons can be learned. The absolute worst thing that
can happen is you will have to replace and paint the bent fender. The best
thing that can happen is that it will turn out good enough. Either way a
valuable appreciation of professional bodywork will be gained.
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