Dents, door dings fixed with Dry Ice

[ThreeAces97]

I remember reading on the board a year or so ago someone talking about fixing minor dents, door dings with dry ice.   I then found a video on Youtube that demonstrated the process.   Last summer I had a portion of a dual head halogen lamp fall on my bike and put a quarter size dent in the gas tank.   I never had the time to go to the Company that sold dry ice, but yesterday there was a styrofoam container from Omaha Steaks on my front porch.   Besides the steaks that were in it, there were 2 bags of dry ice.

I made sure the bike had been sitting in the sunlight for a while, set the bike's kickstand on a 2"x4" (center the gasoline in the tank and get it away from the dent).   Put my gloves on, grabbed a 4"x4" piece of the dry ice and went to work.   I held it on the dent for a minute before I started hearing the creaking of contracting metal.   I was worried the dent may be worse when I lifted the ice off.   After hearing no more creaking noises I lifted the ice and allowed the freeze spot to warm up.   I would say that 90% of the dent is gone, and unless I point it out to someone, it is not noticeable.    

I proceeded to go on a dry ice-dent repair mission,   I fixed partially or completely no less than 7 dings on my wifes Volvo and at least 10 more on neighbors cars.    I actually picked up some followers becaused they were so amazed at the the metal contracting noises.

[humshark]

I've not heard of this before.  I'll check up on it, but I am curious as to weather or not anyone has done this in the past and can report on weather or not paint was effected. 

Seems like there could be issues, but I dunno!

[MP]

Have done that before.  Regular ice will work too.  Dry ice is better.  As you say, it will not remove ALL the dent, but it usually makes it a lot better.
If the metal is too heavy, it will not work.
The hotter the day, and the more direct sunlight, the better. Get it as hot as you can, then put a chunk of ice in the dent.  As large as will fit :inside" the dent.  That shrinks the metal in the middle, and it "pops" out.
MP

[Big IV]

wow now that is cool.
Do you find steaks on your porch often? Seems like a good problem to have.
I've got two fist size dents in my bike's tank (bad day) I wonder where I can find some dry ice to check that out...this is coal country they have to have dry ice around here somewhere. Atleast that is where I would buy it back home is from a coal company, don't know why, but they have it there back home.

[..]

wow now that is cool.
Do you find steaks on your porch often? Seems like a good problem to have.
I've got two fist size dents in my bike's tank (bad day) I wonder where I can find some dry ice to check that out...this is coal country they have to have dry ice around here somewhere. Atleast that is where I would buy it back home is from a coal company, don't know why, but they have it there back home.

If the dents are that big use a dent puller first and then the dry ice.

If the metal is creased it's going to be difficult to remove the dent.

[..]

I've not heard of this before.  I'll check up on it, but I am curious as to weather or not anyone has done this in the past and can report on weather or not paint was effected. 

Seems like there could be issues, but I dunno!

Paint is not affected. Do a youtube search for dry ice and dent removal.

[ThreeAces97]

BIG IV,   what I noticed in the dings I fixed last night;  if their was a crease in the dent, it would not take the crease out.   One of the dents in my wifes Volvo was from a large rock that hit the hood, the ice removed most of the dent but not the point at whick the rock hit the hood.  

I tried nothing bigger then a half dollar sized  ding/dent with good results.   With your tank dents, make sure you donts have fuel in the tank at the point of the dents.   The fuel will not allow the metal to get cold enough.

As far as the steaks, my father in law shipped them to me for my birthday which was spent riding home from the Blue/Grey Ride.

Dry Ice,  some grocery stores get a daily supply for their meat and fish counters,  ask and you may receive.  Most ice company sell it.   You will need a coller for transportation and gloves for handling.   Being a guy with an inquisitive mind, I had to touch the ice with my bare knuckle to see what it would do.   Didn't hurt to much, lost a little skin.   Here is a video link;

Remove Car Dents With A Dry Ice Block Www.mastrik.com	powered by Aeva

[Dogg]

back in the day, like, 20 years ago, I used to travel from car dealer to car dealer doing paintless dent repair. We had a really bad hail storm, golf ball sized hail, and it destroyed thousands and thousands of new cars at dealers in my area. I got $40 a dent. lol

I cleaned up, bought my first house and almost paid cash for it in 2 years.


Based on the same principle,dry ice and a suctioncup. never scratched the paint. and I always got ALL the dent out, well, only because the dents were just dings from the hail.lol

[hubcapsc]

I wonder where I can find some dry ice to check that out...

Welding supply store...

-Mike

[Strong Eagle]

Thanks very much for posting this.  Some doofus put a dent in my tank in the bike parking lot... you have to look to see it... but there is an indentation... I will have to try the dry ice since I really had no idea how to get it out.

Cheers.

[RoboCop]

Haven't tried either technique, but Airduster also looks to work

Remove Car Dent With Airduster	powered by Aeva

[Big IV]

does the air duster work with same basic principle of hot and cold?
I suppose  it is cold when it squirts out....and I thought I was taking a break from learning by playing on the internet.