3 DIY Legends For Auto Hail Repair Demystified For Amateurs Looking For Faster And Efficient Repairs.
One of the persisting problems during the winters is the onset of hailstorms after regular intervals. These hailstorms can be quite harmful, because the hailstones can cause persistent damage to the objects that are left out in the open. When the hailstones fall on the surface of automobile vehicles, they can cause dents and dings, which can be hard to remove if not using proper methodology for auto hail repair.
With new technological innovations, we, now, have numerous methods of repair that are effective for dent removal. With methods like paintless dent repair, the dent repair procedure has become extremely easy and cost-effective. This prompts many car owners to go for the car repairs themselves. Most people assume that the paintless dent repair is straightforward and can be undertaken by an amateur. There are numerous DIY tips that promise trouble-free repairs at no extra cost.
We have numerous YouTube videos and blogs suggesting different DIY methods that can be performed at the comfort of one’s home. However, most of them are legends since dent repair is actually a specialized procedure and can be performed best when undertaken by an experienced repair technician. Below we highlight all the different techniques that you might have heard of for repairing the hail damage and why they don’t actually work well.
Exposure to the Sun: Many people believe that simply parking the car under the sun would help in removal of the dents left behind by the hailstones. When we think of this logically, the technique sounds impossible since the sun rays do not have any abilities to repair the damage that is caused by the hailstones.
Dry ice and hair dryers: There are numerous blogs that suggest the use of dry ice and hair dryers for auto hail repair. The procedure for repair using the dry ice and hair dryer involves warming the dented area using the hair dryer and then using dry ice to cool the area subsequently. It is believed that the consequent temperature change causes the dent to pop out instantly. While you might get some result from this method, it is bound to be incomplete. This is because the dent repair will be partial and you will have some amount of the dent or ding in place.
Kit for dent repair: Many car owners choose to use a dent repair kit for undertaking auto hail repair for their vehicles. This kit can be utilized along with the hair dryers and dry ice to repair the damage that is not fixed. This kit includes basic tools that are utilized for the dent repair. However, unless one has the required knowledge for using the tools, it can be pretty hard to repair the damage that is left behind by the hailstones. In many cases, using the vehicles without appropriate knowledge can cause more damage than good.
Finish Glazing: For minor dent repairs and auto hail repair, this is an alternative method to the paintless dent repair procedure. Many people undertake this procedure at home using DIY techniques. It is advantageous because one does not need to sand the paint right to the metal. Instead one can just sand the paint coarsely so that the glaze putty adheres to the body. As the paint is not sanded all the way to the metal, the protective anti-corrosion factory coating is not affected. However, this method would work the best when the paint job of the car is in a good condition.
The procedure of finish glazing involves cleaning the dented area appropriately before the sanding procedure can be started. Next, the sanding procedure is begun and it is done in a way that the glaze can stick properly to the car surface. After this is done, the area is blow-dried using compressed air. This allows the technicians to blow over any extra debris from the dented area. Next, the area is again cleaned properly and a fresh coat of the finish glaze is applied to the dented area. Afterwards, a second round of sanding is done to finish off the procedure.
While we might hear of different methods from people around us or the internet, the best way to go forward when you need dent repair for your vehicle is to talk to a professional repair technician who can provide the appropriate advice and help about the repair procedure that can be undertaken. For the dents that are of a smaller variety, the primary procedure that is undertaken is called paintless dent repair. It involves repair of the dents by pushing the dents outward by slipping in specialized tools that are suited for the procedure. One needs to hire an experienced repair technician to perform this procedure as any wrong move could lead to more damage to the car.
For the dents that are larger in size, one needs to go for traditional repair with the use of body fillers. This procedure is usually undertaken by the repair technicians that specialize in the procedure for dent repair. While hail might not lead to dents of very large sizes, it is always possible to have exceptions, in which case, the repair procedure includes sanding and filling of the dented area and applying a second coat of paint to the car surface.
It is better to avoid the use of the traditional dent repair methodology unless you have no other option left. This is because the application of the paint job leads to degradation in the resale value of the car. It somehow implies that you have not taken good care of the car when it was in your possession. Therefore, the best way to go forward when needing a repair is to consult an expert technician and finding out the sort of repair that would be appropriate. You can get customized services from a repair technician near you by consulting them for an initial review and then undertaking the repair procedure.
While there might be a possibility of performing the procedure at home by oneself, it is necessary to have appropriate knowledge about the procedure before it can be performed. Usually, dent repair is very sophisticated and should be undertaken only by someone who is experienced in the procedure. If not, one risks causing greater damage to the car than repair of the dented area.
About author: The author is the owner of a dedicated auto hail repair service in Denver, Colorado. He hopes to bust the myths associated with hail repair and provides important insights into the hail repair process through his articles. He is also interested in knowing more about cars and new technologies in the business of car repair.
