Saturday, November 30, 2013
Paintless Auto Body Tools
Paintless auto body repair refers to a process of removing dents in a manner that does not require repainting of the affected area. This practice is widely known as paintless dent removal (PDR). DingSmith defines PDR as the art of removing minor dents and dings without sanding, filling or painting. Manual tools will prove sufficient for paintless auto body repairs; you can purchase them separately or in kits.
Hot Glue Tabs
PDR requires a number of repair techniques using a variety of tools according to the size and characteristics of each individual dent. You can pull out small dings such as hail damage using reusable, plastic tabs of various shapes and sizes. You can secure these tabs to the dent using hot glue specific for PDR that allows for easy removal without damaging the paint. Battery-operated glue guns allow PDR professionals the freedom to make repairs at any location. A majority of services advertise the ability to perform repairs at a clients home or office.
Pullers and Lifters
Once you secure the tabs are secured and the hot glue has cooled, you can pull the small mushroom-like grips on the tabs to bring up the dent using a simple T-handle puller or lifter. A firm tug on a T-handle puller should bring up most small dings easily. A lifter has feet you position over the dent while clenching a pair of handles to lift the glue tab and dent simultaneously.
Suction Cups
Larger dents are not suitable for the tab-and-glue method. A manual suction cup covers a wider area and brings up dents with one or a few pulls. This suction cup, a simple handheld tool found in most hardware stores, allows you to handle glass. A lever in the handle creates the suction when you place the rubber disk against the auto body for an extremely tight hold.
Hammering Tools
Hammering out the dent from the backside of the auto body is a technique either used alone or with pulling techniques. The hammer must have a specific design for working with metal to prevent further damage; a rubber mallet can serve the same purpose. AutoMedia describes a leather bag filled with buckshot that stands up to a hammer, while allowing pressure to work out the dent without causing further damage to the auto body.
Drill and Dent Puller
Ideally, paintless auto body repair requires absolutely no painting. One method consists of drilling into the dent and using touch-up paint on completion. According to MechanicAdvisor, a metal drill bit pierces the center of the dent for inserting a dent pulling tool into the hole. After you have smoothed the dent, you must fill the hole with a small amount of quick-drying filler. A minimal amount of paint completes the repair, much like applying fingernail polish or using a paint marker.
No comments:
Post a Comment