PDR repair of hail dings?

[RichKitt]

I have seen numerous threads of people either replacing entire siding pieces or just leaving hail damage. Even a couple of mentions of using a PDR tool but not seeing anyone attempt pulling a hail ding out with PDR puller tool.

Can this be done (using the puller and hot glue)?

If so, does the hot glue cause any damage to the finish on the aluminum siding panel?

 

[ARoamer]

Having done automotive PDR as my job, yes it can be done. There is a huge advantage to being experienced when doing PDR, it's kind of a finesse thing. A lot depends on the depth and sharpness of the dings, if the metal is stretched it will likely never look right, maybe better but not totally flat. Aluminum siding is soft, you may overpull and stretch the metal also. And there is the possibility of pulling paint off depending on what the coating is. Also, if you use isopropanol as a release for the hot melt be aware it may etch or remove the finish. Maybe find a hidden spot to experiment on before jumping in.

 

[RogerR]

I choose to take the money, about half the value at the end of the 3rd year of ownership. Now it is 6 years old the remaining value or trade value are almost the same if there had not been hail on the front and one side. My damage was cosmetic, no punctures, but maybe 200 visible dents with most relatively small.

If you intend to trade soon and have a late model then maybe worth it but unless this is a DIY dent removal I would never spend the money.

 

[craigav]

I will add that after having hail dents and leaving them there, you will be a whole lot less concerned with future hail storms. Having that peace of mind is hard to put a price on. ~CA

 

[LuckyDuck]

We, too, filed a claim and took the settlement but left the dings. Like others said here, they were just cosmetic and no way was I going to have a dealer tear siding off. It doesn’t leak now — no guarantees it wouldn’t when they were done. Actually, they seem to be less noticeable the longer they’re there. Or maybe it’s my imagination…

 

[FISTEP]

I will add that after having hail dents and leaving them there, you will be a whole lot less concerned with future hail storms. Having that peace of mind is hard to put a price on. ~CA

I remember how it hurt to see the first little scratch on my shiny, brand new truck. But now, I can't remember or care where it was.
The first cut is the deepest...lol!

 

[Kevin Cooper]

When I was young, our black and white 1956 Pontiac got beat to heck with hail. It never got fixed. 5 years later they were almost completely gone.

 

[FISTEP]

When I was young, our black and white 1956 Pontiac got beat to heck with hail. It never got fixed. 5 years later they were almost completely gone.

That had to be quite the hailstorm to dent the boiler plate that cars were made with in '56!

 

[Kevin Cooper]

That had to be quite the hailstorm to dent the boiler plate that cars were made with in '56!

It was. It broke all the windows on the North side of the house and stuck glass in the opposite wall.

 

[RichKitt]

Thanks to all

I think I am going to purchase the tool and at least try to remove a few of them. My main concern is making things worse.

We will see how this goes…

 

[muckinfuss]

In addition to the usual Youtube video class..... two suggestions (from experience)....pick up a piece of Al siding to practice on. If you go by a jobsite there may be some drops you can get for free. A small ball peen hammer will do the trick for putting in the 'hail' dents.

A PDR kit will have several different tips and how each works for different dents isn't readily apparent just by looking at them. The original S.W.A.G. Pay attention to the hot melt you choose...it comes in different degrees of hold. Softer hold material takes more attempts, but is less likely to over pull a dent with a subsequent bulge as the result. Here's one source: https://www.gluegun.com/collections/paintless-dent-repair-glue-sticks Google will expose others.

Good Luck.

 

[RichKitt]

Thanks !

 

[Hollander Mutthaulers]

Two and a half inch hail totaled our Tahoe and 16XRB - and much of the town - Memorial Day, 2019, Ogallala, Nebraska. Took pretty good insurance payment for the car and trailer, both had been mint, repaired what had to be repaired and have a great conversation piece with less fear of further damage.

Trailer got lexan skylight, fantastic fan, one-way window in door, more eternabond on the roof, new plastic edge trim, and some other nice upgrades.

Tahoe got a new windshield, new rear quarter window, new from junkyard tail light assembly, but still has driver mirror held together with gorilla tape, same with some plastic window trim, touched up a few paint chips. We can always spot our Tahoe in the parking lot, it's the one with the golf ball pattern sheet metal.

It was a nasty night and our poor old Plott mix couldn't get far enough under the table with the racket of tennis ball size hail hitting the roof and coming in sideways through the broken door window. But we survived, it's what we do, and we've got a memory and a story to tell.