Every year, there are more than 5 million accidents across the US alone. And while these crashes can vary in terms of resulting injuries to passengers, most often your car suffers some damage at least.
From a bent fender to a totaled front-end, there can be a lot that happens. Still, accidents are not the only reason why your car may sustain damage. From extreme weather to pranks by neighborhood children, there are a lot of reasons for dents, cracks, and scratches to appear on your vehicle. Thankfully, where there are minor damages, they are relatively easy to fix.
When looking into repairable damages on your car, it is important that you keep a few things in mind. Some accidents only cause cosmetic damage to the vehicle, while others cause mechanical problems as well, like snapped suspension or blown radiators. In either case, you must ensure that the car is repaired by a professional, certified mechanic with experience. Of course, you can take the DIY route, too, but only when you are confident enough in your ability to get the job done. In case of minor dents or scratches, DIY may be the ideal route to take. If you’d like to know more about car repairs and panel beating be sure to check out NRC Group
Here are some tips to help you repair your car properly after an accident:
1. Ascertain the type of damages
There are several types of damages that you may come across on your vehicle. If the damage to your vehicle is major and was the result of an accident caused by a negligent driver, getting in touch with a car accident law firm and your insurance company is the appropriate route to take. However, you can pull up your sleeves to get it done on your own for minor damages where you don’t feel like getting into the hassle.
The type of damage to a car can include dents, one of the most common things where a body part is pressed inwards from any excessive pressure. Some minor dents don’t cause paint damage, but some do. The former is the type of dent you can fix on your own. Then there are scratches that can be minor like swirl marks from using a dirty cloth to clean the car to pinstripes made deliberately with a sharp object or something you picked due to various other reasons. There is also weather damage like dents from hail, snow, sand, or corrosion of paint from excessive heat.
2. Use suction cups to pull out minor dents
Now that you know the type of damage you are dealing with, it is time to start. The first thing to do is fix the dents. Now, whether there is paint peeling off or not, you can pull a dent out easily on any vehicle. There are several DIY ways to get it done, but one of the most efficient ones is to use suction cups. Also known as plungers, these tools are appropriate because they provide adequate pressure for you to pull the dent out.
Depending on where the dent is and how big it is, you’ll need two or more suction cups to get the job done. Start by moistening the area where you want to apply the cups. This gives them a better grip as you’ll need to apply significant pressure to pull the dent out. Next, you simply pull on the plungers until the sheet of metal returns to its original position. This job requires experience because otherwise, you can end up causing more damage than the original. Visit Natrad if you’d like to know more about car and radiator repair.
3. A hairdryer can also pull out small dents
Another way to pull out a dent that requires a little more effort is with a hairdryer. This is an unconventional method and might be surprising to some, but it is highly efficient. You’ll need a hairdryer, a can of compressed air, industrial gloves, aluminum foil, and dry ice. Each of these things has its own function. For instance, the gloves are there to protect your hand since a hairdryer may take longer than a heat gun and burn your skin. Dry ice and compressed air will cool down the car part.
It is important that you don’t use a heat gun for this part because it blows air at a much higher temperature and pressure than a hairdryer. You’ll end up damaging the paint with a heat gun. Take the hairdryer and stand at least six inches away from the part where the dent is. Any closer, and there is a chance that even the hairdryer can melt paint off. Once the body part becomes malleable, pull the dent out, and you’ll find it much easier than the suction cup method.
4. Minor scratches can disappear with polish or fillers
Scratches, like dents, can vary from minor to major ones. Minor scratches can even be swirl marks resulting from using a dirty cloth to clean your car. These scratches generally require a proper polish using a machine polisher. Scratches where either the underlying primer starts to show or the original paint is cut require more elaborate repair. You’ll need touch-up paints or fillers to smoothen out these scratches before applying a coat of polish to even the color and surface of the vehicle.
5. Windshield repair kits do an amazing job of repairing cracks
Windshield repair kits have become a common DIY tool these days. Those nasty cracks on your vehicle’s glass can impair visibility both during the day and at night. The complete procedure for the repair comes with the kit, and you can also find relevant videos on the internet for better understanding. Since all the necessary tools for the repair are included in the kit, you’ll only need to get the process right to eliminate a chip in the windshield or substantially minimize larger cracks. It is important that you make sure to get professional help if you are not confident that you can get the task done on your own.
Conclusion
Taking the DIY route to repair minor damage on your car is cost-efficient. You may not be able to get professional body shop results, but you can make a significant difference to the overall appearance of the vehicle. Most damages involve a scratch, dent, or crack on a body panel or on your car’s glass. Dents can come out with suction cups or a hairdryer. Scratches are fixable with either polish or fillers, while windshield repair kits can eliminate chips and cracks for you.
