Paintless dent removal

[tmmar]

Has anyone had any experience with a paint less dent removal service? I have a dent on the cap along the top edge of my coach and was thinking about using one of these services to remove the dent.
Thanks,
Tom

[Kaadk]

A company I used to work for sold vision sensors that highlighted metal fatigue to a company that did paintless dent repair. That's about as much experience as I have with them.

But I can say this, a company that is going to use a $20,000 sensor to make sure it's actually smooth is better than one that's gonna eyeball it. (Probably more expensive too)

Edit:

It appears my old company has discontinued the old sensor, but for those of you interested in the technology I managed to come across a couple of old articles about it:

Vision system enhances inspection of automobile parts - Vision Systems Design
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ca...0020086717.pdf

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[VinceU]

Originally Posted by tmmar

Has anyone had any experience with a paint less dent removal service? I have a dent on the cap along the top edge of my coach and was thinking about using one of these services to remove the dent.
Thanks,
Tom

A self contained "auto body shop" used to come to our company parking lot and solicit repairs to small parking lot dents. They did a great job and quickly but that was in sheet metal. Not sure if they can do 'glass. That was in Bala Cynwyd PA probably 10 years ago. The concept works however.

[prof_fate]

call any car dealership, they all use the paintless dent wizards.
only works on metal.
must have access tothe backside of the panel.

it works and is AMAZING. And cheap.

[Mmnsc]

Tom
I had it done on a car that was heavily dented by hail. You would never know there was a dent and the paint was totally intact. Is the dent in a metal portion of the coach? Not sure if they can also do aluminum as I have only seen it done on steel sheet metal.
Marty


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[MillerTime]

Originally Posted by tmmar

Has anyone had any experience with a paint less dent removal service? I have a dent on the cap along the top edge of my coach and was thinking about using one of these services to remove the dent.
Thanks,
Tom

Have a pic?
I work in the collision industry in Oklahoma, so we know a little about hail in our state.
I should be able to tell you whether it will push or glue pull if I can see a good pic and a size reference pic (ie. quarter, beer can etc.)

Oh, and yes we use or do PDR quite often, some will work, and some not. Just kind of depends on the metal and the physics or type of dent it is. Dents on corners are alot harder to fix, due to the fact the metal is work hardened from the corner already, so dents on corners are usually much harder to make than on a flat surface......and also sometimes harder to fix as well.

[Salt Shaker]

Steel and aluminum. PDR is the only way to fly. I dodged a tornado in my brilliant black hemi charger. The downside of outrunning it was hail made it look like a golf ball on the other side of the storm. Insurance covered PDR. It actually cost more than body filler and a reprint. If I remember it came in at about $4800. Boy did she look nice when done, better and straighter than factory.

Salt

[Campin Cajun]

I also used a company called Dent Works on my Jeep, it was a kink dent on the top curved corner above the front fender. I never thought they could make it look good. I was wrong, I could not point out the dent after he was done.

[tmmar]

Here's a picture of the dent I would like repaired. It looks like it is about 6" long and there is no access to the rear of the dent. I believe that the cap is made of aluminum. Don't know if something like this can be repaired using the paint less dent removal technique.
Tom

[Kaadk]

Generally, paintless dent removal works by getting to the backside of the dent, and gently lifting the metal back into place. If they can't get to the backside, then it's doubtful.

[Campin Cajun]

They would have to use a plunger/suction cup type puller to get that dent out.

[MillerTime]

Aluminum is harder to work out, it retains its memory more then steel.
They could try to glue pull it if its not too strong of material. Nobody uses suction cups to pdr. They hot glue a plastic tab and jerk it off with a slide hammer.
Its worth a shot!

[RodneyD]

Man, that looks pretty bad. May need old fashion body and paint work.

[Surveyor Mike]

Most good PDR tecs will come out and look at the dent and give you a price, or tell you they cannot make it "undetectable". I agree, a glue pull is the way to go. Some guys will want to drill hols for access, don't do it! If it cannot be glue pulled, call a paint shop.