Having a reliable vehicle is vital for getting around on the
Gold Coast and unfortunately, bumper scrapes, door dings and scratches happen
all the time. Your local mechanics in Currumbin can help you fix them or you can
have a go at doing it yourself.
There are several ways you can fix some types of dents:
Use a plunger
This method often works on small to medium dents without
sharp edges. Splash a bit of water onto a cup type plunger and wet the surface
area of the vehicle in and around the area of the dent. Place the plunger over
the dent and push and pull it rapidly until the dent pops out. You may need to
do this several times until the area is restored.
Use boiling water on
plastic bumpers
Plastic bumpers are made so they are very stiff and usually
resist any attempt to push out dents. By pouring boiling water over the area of
the dent you will heat it up enough so that it becomes more pliable flexible
and easier to push out the dents.
A hair dryer and
compressed air
The plastic areas on your vehicle often respond well to this
treatment.
Heat the area of the dent with the hair dryer on the highest
setting so the plastic softens and expands.
Then spray the area with air from a compressor, this will
force the plastic to quickly cool and contract, causing the dent to pot out.
Dry ice
Use a protective glove to hold a piece of dry ice and rub it
over the dent until you see or hear it pop out.
For stubborn dents, you may need to heat it first using a
hair dryer, but eventually the hot, cold action will force the metal to go back
to its original shape.
For large dents, try
hot glue, screws and wooden dowels
- Place a screw into each side of the short dowel to act as a handle
- Hot glue one end of the dowel inside the dent and keep adding dowels until the area is covered
- When the glue is cold pull on the dowels until you’ve removed the dent
Once you have removed the dent it may still need to be
filled and painted. This can be done using scratch filler and a touch up paint.
It’s important to select the correct type and color of
paint to finish the job.
Start by looking for the vehicle paint code. This should be
under the bonnet or on the inside of the door pillar. Be aware that your
vehicle’s color may have faded so it may be best to get a match from an auto
parts store or paint shop. They will often be able to match the right color
and place it in an aerosol spray pack for ease of spraying.
If you have used filler you will need to sand the area
smooth using sandpaper before painting and between coats so the finish is perfectly
smooth.
Often your local mechanic in Currumbin will give you a quote
for fixing your dents, often their prices are competitive enough that it’s
better to have it done properly rather than risking an imperfect job yourself
especially if you’re not used to doing such work.
