Driving in a spotless car makes us all feel great until it gets dented. It is more often not our fault; we are not expected to control every incident in our day-to-day driving. If your car dent is still fresh, especially on a new one, it must be frustrating to stare at it. It can happen to anyone; you're not alone.
🛠️Regardless, you're in the right place to get hands-on knowledge on how to fix your car dent conveniently in your comfort zone. Larger dents may require the assistance of a dent repair technician. This blog will show you practical ways to fix your car dent, recover its appealing look, save thousands of dollars, and increase its value.
Familiarizing yourself with different types of dents is important for easy dent repair.
Before we look at different types of car dents, it's important to demystify the difference between a car ding and a dent.
The two are often used interchangeably. But in fact, they are different.
Dents are deeper; dings are smaller!
🚗 Let's get down to it.
Different Types of Car Dents
Depending on what caused the dent, car dents are different from one another.
This type of dent is categorized by a long, oblong shape, resulting from objects that are pressed against your vehicle. It could be falling branches, walls, poles, etc.
Dings are relatively small, shallow dents that often happen in the parking lots when another car door swings open against yours.
This occurs when pointed objects strike your vehicle and leave significant, angular dents. Causes: stone, sharp edges, or any shopping cart impact.
As implied, this type of dent appears round on the surface of your car. It could be the result of a golf ball impact or any round solid object. Small round dents can easily be removed at home using hot water and a plastic plunger.
These kinds of dents have multiple points of impact, making their repair more complex than others because of their almost shapeless appearance.
This type of dent comes from collision with other vehicles or solid object impact against the fender.
Depending on the dent's shape, severity, and location.
Here are some popular dent removal methods you can use:
Your car got a small to medium dent without damaging your car paint?
Use paintless dent repair to massage and push the panel out from behind to restore its original shape.
Some cars in our world today have plastic and flexible body panels.
If your car has a dent on a plastic bumper or flexible panel, pour hot water over the dent to soften it, then use a plunger to pull it out.
Small, shallow dents on flat surfaces of your car, like the doors, bonnet, or hood, can be easily fixed.
Pour water on the exact dent point and suction cup or plunger.
Wait for a moment before you pull gently but steadily.
Yes, you can also apply dry ice directly to the dented area and wait to see it pop out.
Filling and sanding are great techniques to smooth your car's dent surface and restore its original sleek surface.
Carefully follow this step-by-step guide on filling and sanding:
Clean area of impact. Ensure it's free of dirt, oil, and wax.
Apply filler: Use Bondo (body filler) to fill the dented area. Let it spread across it evenly.
Allow it to dry—check the filler manual for timing.
1. Coarse sanding: Use coarse-grit sandpaper (about 120-150 grit) to sand the filled area, feathering it out towards the edges.
2. Medium sanding: Switch to medium-grit sandpaper (about 220-240 grit) and sand the area again, feathering it out further. Use water occasionally on the surface.
3. Fine sanding: Use fine-grit sandpaper (about 320-360 grit) and sand the area once more, creating a smooth surface.
4. Final touch-up: Use high-grit sandpaper (about 400-600 grit) for a final touch-up, ensuring a smooth finish.
❗Note: Sand gently to avoid over-sanding. Also, apply moderate pressure while sanding. Patience is a virtue in debt repair.
After filling and sanding the dented area, you can move further with painting and blending.
Here is a simple guide to help you:
Preparation:
Clean the area. Keep the surface sleek and clean.
1. Prime the area (if necessary): Apply a primer to the repaired area if the paint is significantly different from the surrounding area.
2. Apply base coat: Use a paint gun or brush to apply the base coat, following the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Apply a clear coat: Once the base coat is dry, apply a clear coat to protect the paint and give it a glossy finish.
1. Feather the edges: Use a small brush or paint gun to feather the edges of the painted area, blending it with the surrounding paint.
2. Blend with surrounding paint: Use a blending technique (e.g., wet-on-wet or dry brushing) to blend the painted area with the surrounding paint.
3. Inspect and touch up: Inspect the blended area and touch up any area untouched.
Final Touches
1. Remove masking tape: Carefully remove masking tape to avoid peeling off the paint.
2. Apply a paint sealant (optional): Apply a paint sealant to protect the paint and give it a glittering finish.
3. Inspect and finalize: Inspect the repaired area to ensure it's smooth, even, and well-blended with the surrounding paint.
Car dents are unpleasant, but the good news is that you can efficiently manage your car dent without a headache or breaking the bank. Identify what type of dent, what method, tool, or materials to use, how to paint, and how to ultimately prevent future dents and damages. If you need your vehicle to look fresh and new after a dent. Contact a professional dent repair.
💬 Paintless dent repair is the quickest and most affordable type of auto repair that helps you identify and replicate the exact paint of your car back. It allows you to have your car back shortly in a good appearance.
💬 There are several tips to follow to prevent dents in your car; simply read our blog entitled “13 easy steps to avoid car dents.” Keep mindful driving, use a car cover, and park your car wisely.
💬 Regal Repair fixing if your car damage qualifies for paintless dent repair, the process takes around an hour. However, depending on the complexity and size, it could take more.
