DIY Dent Removal: Are Dent Pullers Effective?

Getting an unexpected dent or ding can be a considerable inconvenience and one you may try to remedy with an at-home DIY dent puller kit to save money versus going to a professional. In some cases, you may be fine, and your dent could come out, but there is more likely another, more frustrating scenario that could play out when doing a DIY fix. 

Of course, dent puller kits can work on some dents, however, they do not work on all dents. It’s essential to know what you are getting into before you potentially do more damage without being aware. Let’s go through the at-home techniques vs the professional methods to show you which gives the best value and the most aesthetically pleasing outcome.

What Type of Dent Puller Kits are Available?

It may seem exciting or fun to try and fix something by yourself at home without the help of a professional, and while there are DIY kits out there made for minor dents in cars, many times at home may not produce the results quite like the professionals. Let’s look at the kinds of dent pullers out on the market and what results you can expect from them. 

Suction Dent Puller

These DIY kits look and work much like a plunger you’d find in your home. Suction dent pullers work by laying it onto your vehicle’s panel where the dent is and, with short, quick movements, removing minor dents and straightening the metal panel. 

Glue Dent Puller  

A glue dent puller kit works by using adhesive glue and a special strip to pull out the dent. You start by glueing a flat pull tab into the dent, let the glue dry and then pull out the dent. These can work on more minor dents, but one must be very careful that the glue won’t mess up the paint job and follow the instructions word for word. 

Do These At-Home Kits Really Work?

Dent pullers can produce results, but it is very important to remember they only work on shallow dents that are on a flat, flexible surface of your car. This is a very specific type of dent. Dent pullers will not work on deep, angular dents or anything along the edge of your car’s body.

Dents in areas of thicker metal will also be very hard to remove at home. You can get quality results with DIY home kits, but you have to make sure you won’t do more damage than already on your car in the first place.

There is a reason why paintless dent repair (PDR) is a popular and growing business. You should never shy away from using a professional body shop if you are uncomfortable using a home kit.

Risks of Dent Pullers

There are some risks associated with using at-home kits, such as:

• You cannot use it on damaged paint as it will cause more damage 
• Dent pullers are limited use and cannot be used for many types of dents
• Time-consuming if you have no previous experience
• Hard to achieve professional-level results 
• Easy to make the damage worse if the instructions are not followed
• Must be used on flat and flexible area 
• Runs risk of “oil-canning” where the metal panel gets overworked, and the surface looks uneven 

What is Paintless Dent Repair?

Paintless dent repair is a service where a skilled technician fixes your dents by using a reflection from a light board and guiding removal tools under your vehicle’s panels to gently and effectively work out the dent from the opposite side. PDR is performed without having to sand, grind, use a body filler or repaint the area. As a result, PDR can be highly cost-effective and give fantastic results every time.

Paintless Dent Repair vs Dent Pullers: Which is Better?

Paintless dent repair is better than any at-home kit you can find because you simply cannot beat the work of a professional. Certified technicians have experience, equipment and know-how to fix your car right the first time. If you have the time and your dent is small, an at-home kit may work, but always call the professionals for jobs you are unsure of for the best results. 

Call the Dent Repair Specialists at Caversham Coachworks Today

At Caversham Coachworks, our dent repair service is second to none. We pride ourselves on having a reputation for outstanding customer service, which means you can trust us to put you and your car first. Our technicians have the knowledge and tools to get your vehicle looking new again. 

Whether you need a full hail damage dent repair, insurance repairs, non-fault repairs, or just a simple scratch and dent repair, you can depend on us.
Call or go online for your free estimate today!