4 Considerations During Dent Repair
It is not advisable to undertake DIY dent repair if you lack the necessary skills for this task. This is because many factors influence the techniques that may be appropriate for a particular repair. Below are some of the considerations that can only be made by a skilled person.
Metal Thickness
The thickness of the metal that was used to make a body part may vary from one car manufacturer to another. The same car can also have different parts of varying thicknesses if aftermarket parts have been installed. An expert can select the best tools to use after assessing the thickness of the dented part. For example, they may use a hammer in case the vehicle has thick steel body parts. Thinner metals can sustain irreparable damage in case a hammer is used to straighten the dent.
The Metal Type
It is also important to identify the type of metal affected by the dent before starting the repair process. For example, a part made from high strength steel may be damaged in case a lot of heat is used during the dent repair process. Dent repair experts, therefore, establish the particular metal from which a part is made before determining the amount of heat required. For instance, a part that was made from mild steel may not be damaged by the same magnitude of heat that can damage high strength steel.
The Sequence of Damage
The dent repair process is likely to yield satisfactory results in case the person performing the repair is aware of the sequence in which the damage was sustained. Why is this sequence important? The point of impact is normally the worst affected part. Trying to repair that section first can result in secondary damage to the surrounding sections of the body part. It is therefore better to repair the peripheral parts of the damage first so that you work your way towards the worst affected part of the dent.
Work Hardened Segments
Many car body parts have sections that were work-hardened during the manufacturing process. For example, the body lines on panels are work-hardened at the factory. Accidents can also create work-hardened parts on a panel. Repairs should only be attempted after identifying these sections. This is because those sections can easily become brittle and crack during the dent repair process. As such, caution should be exercised when fixing the dents on work-hardened parts.
It is evident that dent repair is a complex process which should only be handled by professionals. Otherwise, you risk increasing the damage to your car.
