want to fix a bumper

[ZippyDan]

http://www.zippydan.com/pictures/IMG_0216.JPG pic 1
http://www.zippydan.com/pictures/IMG_0217.JPG pic 2
http://www.zippydan.com/pictures/IMG_0218.JPG pic 3

ive read that i can do this by applying heat to the inside of the bumper at the dent point (using blow dryer or heat gun), and then pushing out on the dent while keeping a wet towel on the outside

i was wondering if any experts here could tell me what chances i have of fixing this, and where i could borrow a heat gun 🙂

 

[bruceb]

A hair dryer on high should be warm enough. But that is a pretty good depression and the paint is messed up. You can try, but you may still need a body shop if you want it back to 100%

 

[ZippyDan]

first i have to worry about the shape before i worry about the paint! if i can't get the shape back to 97% then i don't care about the paint...

 

[brblx]

not happening.

yes, heat is the way to get the dent out, no, it will not look good when you're done. you won't be popping the dent out so much as reforming the plastic, and it's gonna end up lumpy.

 

[ZippyDan]

so how do you delumpify it

 

[IcePickFreak]

You'd need to heat that entire area. It will look better but yes a bit lumpy. And by lumpy it's because when you do something like this you basically stretch the TPO (what bumper covers are generally made of). Similar how a metal body panel will be wavy/lumpy after you pull out a dent.. the extra surface area has to go somewhere. On metal however it's possible to slightly shrink it after you pull out the dent, on TPO not so much. That said, it will still look way better than it currently does.