Getting that first little ding in your vehicle can be a traumatic experience. If it’s minor and there is no damage to the paint, there is no urgent need to get it repaired. However, if you don’t get it repaired, that slight imperfection will be there forever and you’ll focus on it every time you look at your car.
Rather than taking your vehicle to a body shop, you can purchase a dent repair tool kit and do the job yourself. The Fly5D Paintless Dent Removal Tool Kit, for instance, is a comprehensive repair kit that gives you all the tools you need to get your vehicle back to pristine condition without taking it to a repair shop.
In short, paintless dent repair is a cost-effective process that involves pulling out minor dents in your vehicle. This means the repair will not involve filling, sanding and painting, just gradually manipulating the body of your vehicle until the dent is removed.
A dent repair tool kit is not effective on all types of body damage. Shallow dents with no sharply defined creases and without damaged paint are where you will find the greatest success. Deep dents, jagged dents, complex dents or dents that have creased, cracked or chipped the paint are not candidates for this type of repair.
A quality dent repair kit is all about the tools. Here are the main ones you’ll want to have in your kit.
You will need at least one puller in your kit. This is the item that applies the force to pull out the dent. A bridge puller has three feet that come in contact with your vehicle. The center one has a threaded knob that is twisted to gradually pull the dent out. A gold puller uses an individual’s gripping strength rather than twisting to remove a dent. It is quicker but not as powerful. A slide hammer affixes directly to the dent so the user can manually pull the dent out.
Tabs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. These items are hot glued to the dent location to give the puller something on which to grab. The wider the selection of tabs, the better equipped you will be to find the perfect match needed for the dent.
You will need a hot glue gun and the right glue sticks to glue the tab to the car. While many individuals may already own this equipment, almost every kit includes it.
The best dent repair tool kits also include a hammer that has a rubber face. Use the hammer to gently tap down areas that may have pulled out too far.
While this item is rare, you can find it in the most comprehensive kits. The LED light shines a parallel line pattern on the dent so you can see any imperfections in your work, so it is easier to touch them up.
This may include a bottle, a scraper, a cloth, gloves and more. You use these tools carefully to clean the area before starting and after finishing the job.
Whether it's a bag or a case, the best dent repair kit includes a carry-all so you can keep all of your tools in one location.
While the process involves patience, you can break down dent removal into a few simple steps.
While it is possible to get a suction cup dent puller for roughly $5, it won’t be very versatile. The best price range to look at is between $30-$80. Once you start to move too far above $100, you have to be careful because that may be more expensive than taking your vehicle to an auto body shop to get a small dent repaired.
A. If it is a small, shallow dent and there is no damage to the paint, there is a good chance you will be able to repair the dent yourself.
A. The answer to this question depends on the size, shape and location of the dent. Additionally, your skill level and level of perfectionism determine how long you spend finessing the dent to perfection. While this sounds like a simple process, and for the most part it is, it may take several attempts and a great deal of patience to get the results you seek. However, the average time required for a small repair may take anywhere from one to three hours.
Fly5D Paintless Dent Removal Tool Kit
What you need to know: For the individual looking for a comprehensive kit, this offering includes a collection of 65 parts and tools.
What you’ll love: Besides all the essentials, this stainless steel set of tools includes various items not found in smaller sets. The kit includes a dent puller, a slide hammer, a big T dent puller, a mini T bar, an LED light board, a tool bag and more.
What you should consider: A few individuals felt the LED light board wasn’t up to par with the rest of the tools in this expansive set.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Mookis Paintless Dent Repair Kit
What you need to know: If you are looking for an affordable dent repair tool kit that just features the essentials, this will suit your needs.
What you’ll love: This is a good starter kit for individuals who want to try a little minor bodywork on their own. It includes 12 durable puller tabs that work on a wide variety of dent shapes and a puller, a glue gun, glue, a rubber hammer and more.
What you should consider: As with other dent repair kits, you need patience to achieve quality results.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
Super PDR Paintless Dent Repair
What you need to know: This is a solid kit that offers a little more than the basic dent repair tool kit, making it a good value for someone who may need to perform more than one repair.
What you’ll love: This is a 42-piece dent removal set that includes a bridge dent puller with six tabs and a gold dent puller for repairing small dents. For durability, the tools are manufactured using heat-treated, high-carbon stainless steel.
What you should consider: The instructions are fairly basic. It is best to reinforce your knowledge by watching repair videos.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Allen Foster writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
