So, a MONSTER storm just blew through and we don't have a garage or covered parking where I work. We had penny sized hail pelt everything in site and now my car has a few dings from the hail.
I'm going to get an estimate for the repairs from one of those paintless dent removal places.
Has anyone else experienced hail and how much did it cost to fix? I'm trying to avoid using my insurance on this, but I may have to.

 

Not sure of the cost but have seen some of the repairs from a recent hail storm in St. Mary's County MD. They can usually do a pretty good job unless dent is in a crease. Currently there are a number of these repair companies located in that area. They have set up portable repair area's in a number of businees parking lots.

 

get some dry-ice from the grocery store and try popping the dings out with that...just put it on the dent.


dan

 

dry ice? good luck. i haven't heard of that process. :?

a good friend owns a dent removal business...we had a hail storm a year ago and most estimates were around $1,000 - $1500 depending upon the severity of the damage. my father's new car was 2 days old when he received hail damage from that storm.

 

Your insurance won't go up why not let them pay for it.(Act of god)?And buy a good cover!!Or2

 

Dry Ice? I definitely want to read more. You must be joking, right? How does dry ice create enough force to pull dents out of sheet metal?

 

My insurance will go up if it's more than $500 damage, because I'll lose 1% of my 3% "no claims filed in 5 years" discount.
I could see how the dry ice thing could work, it's -109 degrees Farenheit which should make the sheet metal contract quite a bit. It may not smooth out the dent all the way though.

 

Had never heard of the dry ice method, myself. But, Googled it real fast.

Here's someone debunking the process:
http://www.vintageairstream.com/rr_topics_dents.html

Here's one explaining how it should work a little better:
http://pa.essortment.com/howtofixbody_rjmc.htm

Take it as you will.

 

it always amazes me that some people are so quick to say "i never heard of that. that's stupid".

some people, as they get older, learn to keep an open mind and they occasionally actually learn something.

body shops have been using dry ice forever. it worked better on the heavier metal of cars produced years ago and the shops now have all kinds of newer/better ways to get the dents out that work faster but...

when someone is looking at hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars maybe it's worth 5-bux and ten minutes to see.

try it first without heating anything.


dan

 

2% of a $2000=40 a year!A paint job good be $1,000.that would take 25years to make back.

 

houstondan - If you reread my post I merely asked if you were joking. I rarely use the word "stupid" except when I am driving on Korean roads; but that is another story. I am not a mechanic nor am I a body repair technician so the concept of using dry ice seemed fantastically strange. I am thrilled to learn that dry ice has been used for years and I hope to learn more information just like this in the future. Keep it coming kiddoe!

 

Interesting link. Thanks for the url.

 

[
houstondan - If you reread my post I merely asked if you were joking. quote]

easy,there...wasn't talking about your post.


dan

 

so you were talking about my post...did i call it stupid? i don't think so!

after being a past owner of an auto detailing business for nearly 10 years...i am aware of nearly all tricks of the auto trade and this seems strange to me too. i have used dent removal companies for years and have had great success with them. so dan...the next dent you get in your crossfire...dry ice it. i'd love to see your results! cheers.

 

I just got the estimate to repair. There were a lot more dents than I saw origionally. Total is $2000. I'm going to get it fixed

 

by the time the repair is complete...no one will have known the dents were ever there. the end result is amazing.

 

Insurance or cash out of pocket?just wondering.

 

I am still fascinated with this dry ice process. I wish I still had my J30 because I had a dent that would have served for the perfect test. I think I will call the Captain, Medical 121 General Hospital, and suggest we give it a go. If it works I could set up a booth on the highway and fix dents all day - at times I think it better then dealing with government officials.

 

I'll be using insurance to cover the repair costs.