Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Preparing to Remove the Dent
• Part 2 of 2: Heating and cooling the straightened section
• What do you need

Removing a dent on your car can be quite costly, especially if you go to a car repair shop for such a repair. However, you can repair and remove some of the dents from your car with household items such as a hairdryer and dry ice or a can of compressed air. Keep reading this article and you will learn how to remove dents from your car using these materials.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Preparing to Remove the Dent

1. 1 Find dents on the car. This method is especially useful for removing small to medium dents, and there are many more on your machine than you might think. Find all the dents by taking a close look at your vehicle.
2. 2 Examine the dents. Dents can usually be removed using this method if they are located on metal panels in the trunk, hood, doors, roof or fenders, but not if they are located along the edges of wide, flat surfaces.
   • For best results, use this method on small dents that do not contain large wrinkles or damage to the paint, and that cover a surface area with a diameter of at least 8 centimeters.
3. 3 Prepare the materials needed to remove the dent. You will need a hairdryer, heavy duty or thick rubber gloves to safely handle dry ice or liquid compressed air, aluminum foil and a bag of dry ice or a can of compressed air. You need anything from the following:
   • Extra thick insulated rubberized gloves.
   • Full (or nearly full) compressed air cylinder.
   • Dry ice pack.
   • A hair dryer with temperature control, such as switches for Low, Medium, High, or Cold, Warm and Hot.
   • Aluminium foil.

Part 2 of 2: Heating and cooling the straightened section

1. 1 Heat the dent panel. Turn on the hair dryer and blow hot air for one to two minutes at the dent and the surface adjacent to it.
   • The hair dryer should be turned on in the middle position and located at a distance of 13-18 cm from the surface of the car. Do not overheat the surface, otherwise you may damage the paint with heat.
2. 2 Insulate the damaged section of the rectifiable panel (if possible). Place a sheet of aluminum foil over the damaged area of ​​the panel. This step should only be performed when using dry ice instead of compressed air. The purpose of this step is to keep the patch warm for longer and to protect the paint from dry ice that could potentially damage the top coat.
3. 3 Wear thick protective gloves. Gloves will protect you from frostbite and other injuries that can occur when your skin comes in contact with dry ice or liquefied compressed air.
4. 4 Use dry ice or liquefied compressed air. The sudden change in temperature from warm to cold will cause the surface of your car to first expand (when heated) and then contract (when cooled).
   • If you are using dry ice, hold the block in one hand, and then gently rub the surface of the dented area through aluminum foil.
   • If you are using a can of compressed air, turn the can upside down and spray onto the dented surface to cover the area with a layer of liquid ice. Some basic scientific principles work here: the interaction of pressure, volume and temperature of a gas. In normal use, the temperature of the cylinder drops as the gas escapes, and if the cylinder is turned upside down, it will self-cool.
   • This method requires only short-term use. The outer panels of most modern cars are made of a relatively thin and lightweight material that cools very quickly. You will probably see changes 30-50 seconds after application, and maybe even earlier.
5. 5 Wait a while. Moments after applying dry ice or compressed air, you may hear a popping sound indicating that the dent has been removed. As a rule, with a rapid change in temperature, the material returns to its original shape.
   • If you used dry ice, remove the aluminum foil after removing the dent.
   • If you applied liquid ice with compressed air, wait for the white foam to evaporate from the surface of the car, then wipe off the rest with a soft cloth.
6. 6 Repeat the process as needed. For some dents, this alone may not be enough. If you see improvement, but the dent is still noticeable, you can repeat the heating and cooling process again.However, do not overdo it with the number of repetitions of this procedure (especially in the course of one day). While rapid changes in temperature will help fix your car outside, hypothermia can be potentially hazardous to paint.

What do you need

• Hairdryer with a choice of modes
• Thick protective gloves
• Dry ice pack or can of compressed air
• Aluminium foil
• Soft fabric