DIY Disasters: How Not to Fix Dents in Your Car

Once there was a young woman who considered herself fairly handy in all things DIY. One stormy day, she heard a loud crash. Stepping outside, she discovered a fallen pine branch had clipped the trunk of her vehicle. The damage? Two quarter-sized dents in the paintwork. "My car!" she exclaimed and shook her fist angrily at the tree.

"I bet I can fix this myself," she mused. Next came a twinge of doubt, but she brushed it away. "A well-aimed tap with a hammer should pop that sucker right back out again," she told herself. The outcome to this particular DIY project was ... er ... not so great. Those taps were a tad too vigorous, leaving the car with unsightly bumps where the dents had been. Whoops.

Yes, that woman was me, and I learned my lesson. Turns out you can fix dents without special panel repair skills. You may not even need specialized or expensive tools. But you must do your homework first. Don't just grab a hammer and chisel like I did. (Gulp.)

In a similar predicament? Wise Bread is a good starting point, with a post detailing three quick and easy fix-it options: 1. the dry ice method, 2. the hairdryer and air duster method and 3. the lighter, aluminum foil and air duster method. For a more detailed strategy, check out Do it Yourself's post, "Repair a Dent in Your Car."

Approach your panel repair the right way and avoid your own personal DIY disaster!

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