Using a Car Dent-Popping Tool on Precision Doors
A car dent-popping tool, also just known as a suction cup or dent puller, is able to fix many minor dents with ease. All it takes is a little preparation and force to remove the dents and make the surface look new again. While these are made for cars, they can actually be used for Precision doors as well. This guide will help you determine when it’s best to use this tool.
Using the Suction Cup
Using a suction cup to remove dents from your garage door is incredibly simple. You need a good amount of strength to actually pull out the dent, but the procedure itself is very straightforward.
Start by cleaning the surface. You’ll want to clean the dent and several inches outward. There’s no need to clean the entire garage door. You just want to focus on cleaning the affected area. This makes it somewhat easier to pull out the dent, but more importantly, is that it makes it easier for the suction cup to adhere to the metal.
If the area is dirty, then the suction cup will be adhering more to dust and other materials rather than the door itself. Cleaning the area ensures that the suction cup will make direct contact with the metal.
Place the suction cup right in the center of the dent. Push in to get all the area out of the suction cup. It’s best to do this on a flat area as that will give you the best suction.
Most of these tools have a handle. Grab the handle and then pull outward. This is the part that requires some muscle. Keep pulling until the metal bends back into place.
Keep in mind that it might take several attempts to make the metal look new again. Sometimes the first few attempts won’t move the metal at all. Other times, it will remove some of the dent, but not all of it. Try it a few times until the dent is as removed as possible.
Precision Door Materials
As you might guess, these tools really only work on metal Precision doors. This won’t work with vinyl or wood. One thing you should be aware of though is that several different metals are commonly used to construct garage doors. Does this tool work equally well on all of them?
The two metals most commonly used for garage doors are steel and aluminum. Steel is stronger, but it’s also heavier. Aluminum is lightweight and protective, but it tends to dent more easily.
Suction cups tend to work better on steel doors. They tend to pop back into place more easily when force is applied. This tool can also be used on aluminum, but a mallet tends to work better.
Minor Dents
Another thing to keep in mind before trying this is that it’s best for minor and uncomplicated dents. If your precision door has a dent that goes in various directions and is very large, then you might want to get a professional involved. Minor dents though, such as those left by rocks or small balls, are often easy enough to fix with this method.
While you can certainly try this with larger dents and it might help, there will likely be some pocketing left over. That’s because the suction cup only lets you pull out the dent, but it doesn’t fix the metal itself. A major dent might require the panel or entire door to be replaced.
Flat Surfaces Only
You also want to consider how the dent appears. Most minor dents are fairly straightforward. The surface around it is still flat, and the dent itself is smooth. Complex dents though might have different angles and depths. This can prove problematic for a suction cup.
You need the surface to be flat in order to get enough power to remove the dent. It’s also best if the dent is minor and only in one direction. If the dent has different angles and elevations, then you might only pull out small sections of the dent, but not the whole thing.
Once again, you can give this a try even on more complex dents, but keep in mind that this isn’t a miracle tool. You might only correct some sections of the dent while other sections still appear dented.
Arm and Hand Strength
Another thing to consider before trying this is that you need substantial arm and hand strength to use the suction cup. This is true if you’re using it on a car door, but it’s even more true for garage doors. You’ll need to supply enough force to pull the metal back to its original shape.
If you have any current arm or hand injuries or pain, then it might be best to ask someone else to do it. This could be a family member or even a professional service. You don’t want to hurt yourself trying to remove a dent in your garage.
While you might experience some hand and arm discomfort when pulling, you shouldn’t experience pain. If you do, then stop and consider if you should continue. It’s better to call a professional instead of risking an emergency room visit for hurting yourself.
Getting a Professional
While trying to fix a garage dent is possible with a suction cup, there are times when a professional is really needed. The first thing you should consider is the size and complexity of the dent.
A smaller dent with a relatively flat surface should be fairly easy to fix on your own. A larger dent that is going in different angles will likely require professional help. This is especially true if the dent sprawls from one panel to another. These can be very hard to repair on your own.
You’ll also want a professional if the dent caused deeper damage to the door. A bad dent can damage paint, leave holes or even cause rust if left unattended for long enough. This is much harder to fix on your own and it should really be handled by a professional.
If you don’t have a metal garage door, then you shouldn’t try this method. Wood and vinyl won’t respond to it, and you might actually damage the material further. Professionals can tell you the best way of fixing a dent in these materials.
