Removing dents with heat

[Darkspeed]

Dont do this if you dont know what you are doing.

1. locate dent
2. Map gas on dent until it swells ( bulges) out to the extend that the dent starts to disappear.
3. wipe with cold wet rag until heat is gone.
4. if dent is still there do one more time.

5. dont melt the skin - dont overheat the skin... be careful..

[SteveH]

It would be great if you could do a video of that.

[Darkspeed]

Originally Posted by SteveH

It would be great if you could do a video of that.

Torch + video hmmm well if i can find a virgin dent and a third arm I will try that.. I will look tomorrow.

[ND10CentCan]

Originally Posted by Darkspeed

Torch + video hmmm well if i can find a virgin dent and a third arm I will try that.. I will look tomorrow.

I have a better idea....come to ND for a nice Thanksgiving break and I will let you practice those skills on our slightly wrinkled end cap. I will even make the pie.
Sandy

[Splitrock]

Bungee the camera to the top of yer head.

[edglenn]

Awww, c'mon Darkspeed. You ran outta dents?!? Just clunk in a new one, and make a video.
Then show us what happens when you leave the MAP gas on a little too long...
My friend wanted to actually do this the other day. I said "no, thanks".

[A W Warn]

Darkspeed,
Did the heat affect the clear coat?

[Darkspeed]

Originally Posted by edglenn

Awww, c'mon Darkspeed. You ran outta dents?!? Just clunk in a new one, and make a video.
Then show us what happens when you leave the MAP gas on a little too long...
My friend wanted to actually do this the other day. I said "no, thanks".

ya too long and the outer layer of alclad will melt off in a thin sheet

[Darkspeed]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

Darkspeed,
Did the heat affect the clear coat?

I dont have clearcoat on mine. im sure it would yellow a clearcoat.

[Darkspeed]

Originally Posted by ND10CentCan

I have a better idea....come to ND for a nice Thanksgiving break and I will let you practice those skills on our slightly wrinkled end cap. I will even make the pie.
Sandy

aww.. thanks for the offer!

[reinergirl]

I would KILL to be your neighbor Darkspeed Imagine being able to just drop by... LOL

Seriously, after reading Uwe's restoration thread (he subsequently started an Airstream business) and then Frank Y's restoration thread (he also subsequently started an Airstream business) .... Hmmmm, I'm wondering if I am predicting your future???? Keep it up, you rock! I read these forums to "copy" those who go before me and you are bookmarked so many times on my computer it's crazy.

I realize as an inventor that you are a "think outside of the box" kinda guy and I'm curious about what type of stuff you actually invent? My dad was creative also and held a couple of patents for Sturm Rugers & Co (of course they benefited far more than he ) . Just curious.....you can be as vague on the answer as you want !!!

Just keep posting the pictures ...

[Foiled Again]

Just a question - I've heard of using a hair dryer or a heat gun. Wouldn't a heat gun give you better control? Less chance of yellowing?

Would it put out enough heat?

Anyone wanna practice on scrap Alclad and report?

Inquiring minds want to know.


Paula

[Jim Foster]

Originally Posted by Darkspeed

Dont do this if you dont know what you are doing.

1. locate dent
2. Map gas on dent until it swells ( bulges) out to the extend that the dent starts to disappear.
3. wipe with cold wet rag until heat is gone.
4. if dent is still there do one more time.

5. dont melt the skin - dont overheat the skin... be careful..

I have used a similar method to shrink sheet metal, however, with sheet metal you can see how hot the material is getting. Aluminum does not change color as it gets hot, it just all of a sudden melts.

Be very careful.

[ND10CentCan]

Originally Posted by Darkspeed

aww.. thanks for the offer!

I thought you would appreciate the chance to come to ND in the late fall and get a break from those warm temps where you are. Plus you could take a tour of the crazy oil fields up here. So when should I expect you?
Sandy

[Darkspeed]

Originally Posted by reinergirl

I would KILL to be your neighbor Darkspeed Imagine being able to just drop by... LOL

Seriously, after reading Uwe's restoration thread (he subsequently started an Airstream business) and then Frank Y's restoration thread (he also subsequently started an Airstream business) .... Hmmmm, I'm wondering if I am predicting your future???? Keep it up, you rock! I read these forums to "copy" those who go before me and you are bookmarked so many times on my computer it's crazy.

I realize as an inventor that you are a "think outside of the box" kinda guy and I'm curious about what type of stuff you actually invent? My dad was creative also and held a couple of patents for Sturm Rugers & Co (of course they benefited far more than he ) . Just curious.....you can be as vague on the answer as you want !!!

Just keep posting the pictures ...

Wow thanks.. Think I am blushing..

Anyone actually make money with an airstream repair/resto business?

[desertair27]

Originally Posted by Splitrock

Bungee the camera to the top of yer head.

Sounds like it's time for Darkspeed to start wearing a gopro video camera so the rest of us can watch him work his Airstream magic! Gopro.com/videos/

[reinergirl]

Originally Posted by Darkspeed

Wow thanks.. Think I am blushing..

Anyone actually make money with an airstream repair/resto business?

Well, the person who is doing my frame/floor and ???.... restoration https://sites.google.com/a/colinhyde...ions.com/home/ is booked more than a year in advance, so yeah I'd say there is money to be made! Especially with your skill set.

A complete restoration can be easily $50,000 and thats's lowball with the owner pitching in to do whatever... IMHO. The labor costs are huge! Bad for the average joe, but that's where the restorer's make $$$.

Fact of the matter is that there just aren't that many people qualified and competent to work with Airstreams. I feel very lucky to have a good one!
Quite frankly, keep blushing if you want, but on the basis of what you've accomplished with your trailer so far, hang your shingle tomorrow and you'd have people lining up from...say... ND.... in a minute LOL

[barts]

Originally Posted by desertair27

Sounds like it's time for Darkspeed to start wearing a gopro video camera so the rest of us can watch him work his Airstream magic! Gopro.com/videos/

We'd need slow motion so we could follow the changes; otherwise it's dizzying .

- Bart

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Originally Posted by Jim Foster

I have used a similar method to shrink sheet metal, however, with sheet metal you can see how hot the material is getting. Aluminum does not change color as it gets hot, it just all of a sudden melts.

Be very careful.

Paint it with dish soap and let it dry. When the dried soap turns black under the flame, it is the perfect temp.

[Kosm1o]

You can remove door dings on cars with dry ice. I would guess it would work on auminum as well. Do a search on YouTube , it is there.