dent removal

Shocks, Springs, Brakes, Frame, Body Work, etc

Moderator: Team

Post Reply
jed
HotPass
HotPass
Posts: 875
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:18 pm
Location: Dallas

dent removal

Post by jed »

Anyone here have real world, every day experience with doing body work dent removal. I have a 59 studebaker with
dents in the drivers door. Tried to post pictures but unable. I am going to remove them my self and have very limited
experience with dent removal.
My question is while using the hammer and dolly do you hold the dolly directly under the dent and hit on the dolly or
hit the metal on eather side of the dolly? I know if the metal expands it can be shrunk by heating the expanded metal.
I have watched some utube videos. The one by East Wood is perty good. I just need some some clarification.
strokersix
Pro
Pro
Posts: 413
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 7:12 am
Location:

Re: dent removal

Post by strokersix »

Visualize how the dent formed and reverse that process. Not being a smartass, really that is what you need to do.

In other words, the deepest part of the dent was first to form, last to straighten. Work outside in to bring the dent back flush.

If you just go beating on the center of the dent you will make it worse.
Chris_Hamilton
Pro
Pro
Posts: 316
Joined: Sun May 24, 2015 11:50 pm
Location:

Re: dent removal

Post by Chris_Hamilton »

Google "Hammer on dolly" "hammer off dolly". There is a lot of misinformation in those searches though. Here are two links to a guy named Jeff Lilly who is a Pro. Pictures are better than words so these two should help you understand better. Simple dent repair where you can get to the backside you want to bump the dent out as much as you can before you use the hammer and dolly. Hammer and dolly are for fine tuning and eliminating the dent. Bump from the backside using your dolly or a hammer that the face conforms to the shape. Do it gently don't exert any more force than necessary. Once you have the dent roughed out that is when you start using the hammer and the dolly to fine tune and eliminate (hopefully:)) the dent.

https://www.jefflilly.com/build-tips/36-dent-removal/

https://www.jefflilly.com/build-tips/dent-removal/

Some other good sites to check out.

http://www.spiuserforum.com/index.php (best paint and body site on the web, true correct info there given by Pro's)

http://www.allmetalshaping.com/

Metalshapers Hub https://ce8df029be3e-004671.vbulletin.net/ ( home of Peter Tommasini, google his name and be amazed)

If you post your question on SPI User Forum you will get lots of good answers and help. I'm active there as well.
High quality metal, body and paint work
http://www.spiuserforum.com/index.php?t ... inia.9030/
lefty o
Guru
Guru
Posts: 3445
Joined: Tue Oct 15, 2013 8:50 am
Location:

Re: dent removal

Post by lefty o »

it is a lot of practice to hammer and dolly out dents. go buy a trashed fender off of something similar year, smack it with a BFH a few times, and work out on it before going after your car with a hammer. many moons ago i did a year of vocational autobody in high school, and was decent at it, but i wouldnt attempt it now on something i wanted to keep. heat and quench will only shrink metal so much, so keep in mind the more you work the dent, the more you stretch the metal.
Chris_Hamilton
Pro
Pro
Posts: 316
Joined: Sun May 24, 2015 11:50 pm
Location:

Re: dent removal

Post by Chris_Hamilton »

Many ways to shrink, one of the best ways on an existing panel is using a torch heat a small spot until dull red, (it will rise up like a volcano), no need to get it cherry, then simply using a body hammer tap the spot. Keep tapping as it will still shrink even as the steel is cooling. No need for a dolly on the backside. Be very wary of quenching steel as it will make it more brittle and tougher to work. I never quench steel. Stay away from gimmicks like the shrinking disc, very hard on the metal and I don't know any Pro's that use them regularly. For panel work (dent repair) a oxy/acetylene torch is all you need.

BTW just so you know I'm not talking out of my ass, I have been doing this for a living for almost 30 years. #-o Both High End Collision Repair and Restorations.

Check out some of those links I posted especially the SPI Forum.

Kent White is super knowledgeable and has some terrific DVD's along with tools and gas welding supplies. You can learn alot from his DVD's and he makes them available to rent as well as buy.

https://www.tinmantech.com/
High quality metal, body and paint work
http://www.spiuserforum.com/index.php?t ... inia.9030/
jed
HotPass
HotPass
Posts: 875
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2008 4:18 pm
Location: Dallas

Re: dent removal

Post by jed »

Thanks for all the information this is what I was looking foor. I just need to read the literature and watch the videos
then go to work. I'll try to document the progress.
thanks again John
Racer71
Pro
Pro
Posts: 324
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2019 12:36 pm
Location:

Re: dent removal

Post by Racer71 »

You might also check out a pdr guy. We have one in my area who is phenomenal but has been doing it forever. Some of them are very talented and many times not that costly.
Post Reply