Pro tip: a heat gun and a toilet plunger got a big dent out of a quarter panel

Had a 2008 Civic with a huge door ding that looked like a golf ball hit it, and the customer wanted it fixed cheap. I warmed the metal with a heat gun for about two minutes, then used a clean toilet plunger from the hardware store to pop it out from the inside, and it came back almost perfect. Has anyone else tried something this weird that actually worked on a job?

3 comments

3 Comments

john_flores23d ago

Damn, that's clever. Never thought of using a plunger for metal. I've used dry ice on small dents before. Makes the metal contract fast and sometimes pops right out. Works best on shallow stuff, not big crunches.

owens.nina23d ago

Dry ice is a solid trick, @john_flores. The plunger method is hit or miss, honestly. It really needs a perfect seal to work, which is tough on a lot of body lines. For bigger dents, a hot glue pull kit from the parts store is my usual go-to. It gives you way more control than a plunger.

the_piper18d ago

My buddy tried the plunger thing and ripped his door trim off.