The paintless dent removal process has been around for more than 10 years, but it has been only recently that it has enjoyed a growing popularity among auto enthusiasts and the shops that provide the service. Basically, paintless dent removal involves the use of specialized bars that are inserted in the body panels behind the dent, and the bars are used to gently massage the dent out of the panel. Since this massaging process tends to create high ridges on the outside of the body panel, soft mallets and plastic dowels are also brought into play to gently pound down these high spots.The process is definitely a work of art for the technician, as he alternates between prying the dent out and pounding down the high ridges until the panel assumes its original smooth appearance.
Recently, we inadvertently placed a dent in our '05 F-250 Super Duty while backing a 29-foot fifth-wheel trailer into a tight camping spot. Although the dent was minimal, it was the first blemish to occur on our new truck, and we wanted to regain its original pristine image. We took to the truck to the dent professionals at Beach Cities Paintless Dent Removal in Huntington Beach, California, where owner Jeff Magill stood by to apply his expertise. The entire process took a little more than an hour, and the final result put our Super Duty back to showroom fresh. Follow along, as we take you through the entire dent-removal process.