hints for bumping dents back in

[jbar2bc]

Does anyone have helpful hints for bumping out dents? I worked on some today and I didn't do a very good job. Thank you!

[universalexports]

here is the problem, its a physics problem, any time there is a dent or ding, the aluminum had to stretch to create the dent or ding, so the metal has stretched, you have to heat the metal then re-shape or compact it with metal shaping tools to really do it right. and with that much heat repainting will be needed.

your options either that, or fill with some kind of filler, sand and paint.

[Redwings]

I have never tried this technique but a friend of mine who grew up on a farm swears by it. Wait until a really hot day and lay the metal out to catch the full heat of the sun. When the metal is good and hot lay a bag of ice right over the dent(s). He says the hail or rock ping will come right out when the cold air reacts with the hot metal.

[safetybruce]

LOL Redwings...I was showing my contractor who also used to be a paint and body man some spots on my Compact and Airflyte and lamenting the small dents...he said with a wink, he could show me a trick using controlled heat and an iced duck, I thought, at the time, wouldn't a frozen chicken be cheaper...

[brendaleeoc]

I am going to follow this thread closely...as my new trailer's name could well turn out to be
" Dimples".
I am finding while I polish that I have a million little dings and dents under all this oxidation.
Has anyone tried the hot/cold thing with success?
I really don't want to paint the upper half of my trailer unless I have to!

[Redwings]

Frozen chicken--followed up by a bag of frozen peas. Sounds more and more like dinner.

brendaleeoc--those dings and dents are just character. Any 50 year old learns that the imperfections are proof they have survived.

[safetybruce]

I'll be home in 3 days, and will try using a hair dryer and a bag of frozen jumbo boiled peanuts...if the dents do not come out, at least I will thaw my peanuts in the process.

[soup]

[quote author=safetybruce "at least I will thaw my peanuts in the process."[/quote]

He He ;D
SB, sometimes you crack me up!

[jbar2bc]

Well, thanks for the ideas. I'm going to try the sun and cold thing. ( I live in Georgia so the hot sun is not a problem) if that doesn't work I will try the heat and tools thing (all the skin is off so that wont be a problem and a paint job is in the near future)

Universal, what metal shaping tools would you recommend?

Thanks again!

[soup]

Autobody hammers and dollies should work.

Can always use fillers too but not on polished surfaces, painted ok. Again like auto body work.

[harrison429]

i bought my auto body shaping tools from harbor freight, they were cheap and did the trick

[safetybruce]

The week-end flea market in Pass Christian always has some el-cheapo body shaping tools...probably good enough for a rebuild or two, even if not up to professional grade.

[jbar2bc]

Hmmmm we have a big flea market everyweekend not far from me. I will check it out. Thanks!

[daydreamingirl]

I had heard rumors that dry ice is good at getting out dents so since we have million's of dings on Dottie (thus the name) we thought we would give this a try. Bought a block of dry ice for 10 bucks. My husband was told you can use a blow dryer (heat gun would be way too hot) to heat up the metal quickly. I stood with the blow dryer on a dent for about 2 minutes and then he would apply the dry ice. I'm am very sorry too say it did not work.

He has done body work on cars for the past 20 years, but working on aluminum is a hole new ball game. However he is using some of the same methods and tools. A dolly and body hammer. He is also drilling pin size holes where the biggest dings are to pull them out. You can read more and see some pics on my blog. myvintagetraveltrailer.blogspot.com/

Whenever he has access to the interior side of the skin he has been using the hammer and dolly.

[cowcharge]

The problem with aluminum is that like was said above, it stretches to make a dent. And the stretching fatigues the metal, making it much more likely to crack upon further bending. Banging on it directly with metal tools is pretty harsh for metal this thin, IMO. If it were me, and the skin was off the trailer, I'd try having a pine board under it, and a piece of paneling or other mildly flexible wood on top, and hit the wood rather than the metal directly. That way the impact would be spread out over a larger area, and the wood would have a little give to it, and you'd be less likely to either push the dent outward, or crack it.