A dent is a nasty reminder of an accident. Not only does it detract from the smooth, beautiful surface of your vehicle, it can also lead to rust and other damage. If you want to take dent repair into your own hands, here are three common mistakes many car owners make when hammering out a dent. Don’t make these mistakes and consider stopping by Brock’s Collision Center to take care of a dent properly.
1. Using a Standard Hammer
Immediately after denting your vehicle, you may be tempted to swing at it with your typical claw hammer. While this may relieve some stress, it definitely isn’t good for your car. Most metal hammers will do nothing more than dent, scratch and compromise the body of your vehicle. It’s very easy to make things worse with a standard hammer.
Instead, professional bodywork hammers come in a range of head shapes and sizes to handle a variety of dents. These hammers are made for the job and offer better results. If you don’t have a complete professional toolkit available, you may be able to have some success with a rubber mallet. Keep in mind that there’s a sharp learning curve when it comes to hammering out dents.
2. Directly Hitting Your Car
A few taps directly on your vehicle is a good way to make your dent look even worse. Professional dent repair requires some padding. Use a thick rag to soften the blow and prevent your hammer from chipping paint and making the dent worse.
A direct hit can easily create a much worse problem than you had before. It’s surprisingly easy to put a major dent in your vehicle. The more you hammer, the more likely you are to do bigger damage than the original dent. If a few calm, gentle taps don’t do the trick, it may be time to throw in the towel and seek professional dent repair services.
3. Forgetting to Sand It Down
Even the most gentle hammering, tapping and dent removal will still leave you with scratched paint. This ugly spot needs to be covered up to restore the look of your ride and prevent rust from eating away at the area. Auto Paint Repair is a tough task to get right, especially if you miss some of the prep steps.
A dent, even flawlessly hammered out, needs to be sanded down thoroughly to create a smooth surface. This is important for many reasons. First, paint won’t adhere well to the spot around your dent without having the sealant sanding off. Sanding and buffing are also essential to blend the spot in and avoid an ugly, blotchy coat of paint. Finally, there’s nothing like a new coat of paint to highlight all the minor dings and imperfections left in the dented area.
Stop By Brock’s Collision Center for More Information
If you’re thinking that hammering out a dent is a lot harder than you initially thought, then you’re not alone. Getting a dent out is a complicated process that requires professional experience to enjoy a flawless look. Even the slightest accident could leave it looking worse than before. Once you get the dent out and the body looking smooth, you need to have all the equipment and coats of paint necessary to prevent the spot from rusting.
Contact us at Brock’s Collision Center to learn more about dent repair services and to schedule a repair for your vehicle today. Let us handle this complex repair and fully restore the dented area of your favorite car. We’re experts at collision repair, automotive painting, and many more repair services.