Dry ice dent removal...

[Actaeon]

Link

I have a few dents I might try and remove. Has anyone tried it?

I think the local grocery store sells dry ice, do you know of any other places that might?

Thanks

 

[Abhi]

The logic being that the metal in the cars body would contract and pull itself into shape??

Why wont normal ice work for this?

 

[Abhi]

"Dry ice has a surface temperature of -78.5 degrees C"

Maybe thats why dry ice is required....

 

[BannedTroll]

I've used regular ice to do it.

 

[Actaeon]

Originally posted by: Abhi
The logic being that the metal in the cars body would contract and pull itself into shape??

Why wont normal ice work for this?

Dry Ice = -109.3°F or -78.5°C
Regular Ice = 32°F or 0°C

 

[SinfulWeeper]

I have to call BS.
Wouldn't all cars in Alaska be dent free

 

[Actaeon]

Dry Ice is cheap, so I might go and try it out tomorrow out of boredom.

Nothing to lose

Thanks guys.

 

[MrDingleDangle]

how much does it cost? i might try it if its cheap

 

[DivideBYZero]

I have not tried it

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: Actaeon
Dry Ice is cheap, so I might go and try it out tomorrow out of boredom.

Nothing to lose

Thanks guys.

where do you buy dry ice ?

 

[TonyG]

This method is supposed to work well for some dents, but you really need to wait for a hot day to get the metal to contract as much as possible.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

This will work, but as I understand it, it can cause paint damage and increase the odds it will craze, flake and peel at that location.

 

[gsellis]

Originally posted by: SinfulWeeper
I have to call BS.
Wouldn't all cars in Alaska be dent free

Missing a point here. In Alaska, the whole car is the same temp. With the dry ice, the point of contact is cold and the rest is warm (compared). In fact, this might work better on a hot day as opposed to a cold day. The metal under the ice will contract and may 'pull' itself straight. This may work.

 

[Actaeon]

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: Actaeon
Dry Ice is cheap, so I might go and try it out tomorrow out of boredom.

Nothing to lose

Thanks guys.

where do you buy dry ice ?

I remember a while back you could buy some at a local grocery store (albersons, publix), I also hear you can buy some from Baskin Robbins. They use it to cool something down (I forgot, its just what I have read). Other than that, I have no idea .

As far as waiting for a hot day, you can use a blow dryer to heat a certain area up, then apply the dry ice.

I don't know the exact pricing, but from what I hear, it sounds pretty cheap. A buck or two for a block of dry ice or something.

If anyone is interested enough, I can take some before pictures, try it, and if anything happens, take after pictures. Then you guys can try it on your cars .

 

[shuan24]

i doubt its going to work in the winter time. Its suppose to work on hot summer days, where the temperature difference is at the maximum. Also, I highly doubt it works on large dents. Its meant to be used on small dings.

 

[Actaeon]

Originally posted by: shuan24
i doubt its going to work in the winter time. Its suppose to work on hot summer days, where the temperature difference is at the maximum. Also, I highly doubt it works on large dents. Its meant to be used on small dings.

82F

Gotta love living in Florida.

 

[TheGameIs21]

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: isekii

Originally posted by: Actaeon
Dry Ice is cheap, so I might go and try it out tomorrow out of boredom.

Nothing to lose

Thanks guys.

where do you buy dry ice ?

I remember a while back you could buy some at a local grocery store (albersons, publix), I also hear you can buy some from Baskin Robbins. They use it to cool something down (I forgot, its just what I have read). Other than that, I have no idea .

As far as waiting for a hot day, you can use a blow dryer to heat a certain area up, then apply the dry ice.

I don't know the exact pricing, but from what I hear, it sounds pretty cheap. A buck or two for a block of dry ice or something.

If anyone is interested enough, I can take some before pictures, try it, and if anything happens, take after pictures. Then you guys can try it on your cars .

I have done this and it worked like a champ on hail damage. It doesn't work as well where the metal bends or if it is a support. The key is to get the metal as hot as possible without a flame and immediately apply Dry Ice to the area that is dented only. If you apply outside of the actual dent you wont have as good of a result.

YMMV

 

[oogabooga]

i have done this before.

i had a real bad dinger, and used a blow dryer to gently heat the area of the dent (so not to damage the paint.. too much) and then used the dry ice to try to 'pop' the dent. Didn't really work too well, but it did soften the metal up so i could just reform it with tools

there was a dry ice place in SD selling dry ice for 1 dollar a pound. I'm sure in the supermarket it's much more expensive, but should still be within reason.

don't expect it to work though, but it's worth a shot.
I hear those dent removers that use epoxy's that they sell in auto stores work pretty good. Haven't taken the time to go pick one up, and haven't had the need to since my car's dent is sorta fixed.

 

[zixxer]

I did this to a friend's integra.


It seems to work better on imports... I guess thinner sheetmetal? I dunno..


you're not supposed to apply it directly to the paint. You heat it with a hairdryer.. not too hot though... then put a thin cloth (we tore up an undershirt) on the paint, then put dry ice on it.. but dont push in.


We pushed out (from behind) with a rubber mallet (NOT your bare hands) and it popped right out.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: Abhi
The logic being that the metal in the cars body would contract and pull itself into shape??

Why wont normal ice work for this?

Dry Ice = -109.3°F or -78.5°C
Regular Ice = 32°F or 0°C

That's the freezing (and melting) POINT, not its constant temperature.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: Abhi
The logic being that the metal in the cars body would contract and pull itself into shape??

Why wont normal ice work for this?

Dry Ice = -109.3°F or -78.5°C
Regular Ice = 32°F or 0°C

That's the freezing (and melting) POINT, not its constant temperature.

Supposing that it works better with colder substances, dry ice would generally be a better choice because I don't know how to chill ice lower than -78 degrees Celcius without some lab equipment.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: Abhi
The logic being that the metal in the cars body would contract and pull itself into shape??

Why wont normal ice work for this?

Dry Ice = -109.3°F or -78.5°C
Regular Ice = 32°F or 0°C

That's the freezing (and melting) POINT, not its constant temperature.

but to keep solid, it has to be at least that temperature or lower
therefore, dry ice is that cold (or colder), until you expose it to warmer temps and it sublimates

 

[ReiAyanami]

plus u can refizzle soda with the leftovers

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: Actaeon

Originally posted by: Abhi
The logic being that the metal in the cars body would contract and pull itself into shape??

Why wont normal ice work for this?

Dry Ice = -109.3°F or -78.5°C
Regular Ice = 32°F or 0°C

That's the freezing (and melting) POINT, not its constant temperature.

Supposing that it works better with colder substances, dry ice would generally be a better choice because I don't know how to chill ice lower than -78 degrees Celcius without some lab equipment.

Oh, I agree completely.
I just wanted to clarify that the freezing point is not as cold as it gets.