Hitchcocks Forum

I was forced to 'step off' two years ago by a woman jogger, who had deliberately made herself deaf with those ridiculous ear-bud things, running out in front of me.

My knee came down on the left side of the tank and left a fine impression. I heard about a young man here who has started a business removing small dents from cars and asked him if he would like to try removing the dent in Thumper's tank. He'd never done a bike before but finally agreed to try. The result is beyond pleasant... He used hot glue and a kind of puller and then spent some time addressing the remains of the dent with a small dorn and a hammer handle. Amazing work. He also indicated that the metal was "a little thicker" than he was used to... Well done though, eh?

I got the wing of my car creased by a mirror whilst it was parked at a supermarket. I went to the dealership and they pointed me at their panel beater chap who fixed it in the their lot whilst I had a couple of free coffees. Lots of cars get traded in with little dings, so these guys are the experts. He took the ding out with little hammers and dollies without dismantling or cracking the paint. Brilliant job, cheap too.

Go to a pro.

"ding" pulling kits for "blind" dents are ridiculously cheap for Destroy-It-Yourself dent removal.

Did he do that without damaging the paint?

Yes, pros can take dents out without destroying the paint. It is not a DIY job.

Jefrs you might need a professional to remove a dent without cracking the paint, but the kit available these days means mere mortals stand a chance of doing the job.

@ Pete..

Yes he did. Not a mark to be seen. The thing was, that I was satisfied when I could no longer see the dent. He could. Younger eyes, better than mine. 'Don't worry.' he said. 'It will be perfect when I'm done.' Nothing to be seen now... Amazing process and a very clever young man doing it.

I'm not recommending it but have you seen the youtube videos of "hairdrier and inverted compressed air can" dent removal? I was quite surprised/impressed if it's real!

Yes Paul, I have tried that. Didn't work, although it did bring the size of the dent down a bit. Just couldn't get the last of it.. Glad I went to a professional though. Bloody marvellous result.

Papasmurf, having seen what a pro can do, no. Don't even attempt it! It took him about half an hour, I think I gave the chap £40.

Unlike Exile's tank, my dent was creased, and the paint black which is the worst colour for showing dings.



If you don't know where to go, ask a main car dealership that trades a fair number of used cars, they'll have a chap.