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06-17-2015, 07:35 AM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
1970 27' Overlander
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 18
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Repairing large crease dent
Hi guys!
I have been restoring a 1970 Overlander for the past few months. It is in great condition other than a couple of large crease dents on the rear end cap. Obviously they're not ideal, but I didn't really pay it much attention until I realized that RV parks in Austin would turn me away. In my book, out of sight is out of mind.
Has anyone had any luck with a slide hammer and some glue tabs on these larger crease dents? If not, have you tried anything that worked better? I'm not looking to replace the panel, and certainly won't be entering this one in any restoration contests. I also don't have time to take off any inner skins. I'm just hoping to reduce the shadowline a bit and start fulltiming!
Thanks for any and all advice.
Andre
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06-17-2015, 07:40 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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Curious, were you actually turned away by any parks?
Only so much can be done by pulling out panel damage. Sad to say but the only way that is going to disappear is by replacing the panels or applying a large patch of some sort over the area.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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06-17-2015, 08:08 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1973 21' Globetrotter
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,322
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There are several threads on dent repair (minimization). Try doing a google search from outside of the forums with "Air forums" in the search terms, and you should find several. To sum up some of those I have read, people have had fairly good luck making dents such as yours less ugly by pulling them out with glue tabs and/or suction cups. Be careful with a slide hammer, it doesn't take much to create new problems.
good luck!
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06-17-2015, 09:27 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1960 28' Ambassador
Vintage Kin Owner
1998 25' Safari
Avonton
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,331
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That kind of dent can be nearly taken out with an air powered "Body Buddy" slide hammer, dent puller as seen in these pictures.
__________________
Doug & Terry
VAC - TAC ON-1
60 Ambassador Int.
1950 Spartan
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06-17-2015, 11:06 AM
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#5
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2 Rivet Member
1982 27' Excella
Huntsville
, Texas
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 86
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Dent repair
The dent removal looks really good. Wish the made a micro version for hail repair!
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06-17-2015, 11:29 AM
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#6
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3 Rivet Member
1993 34' Excella
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
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I used the sticky tabs and a dent puller to fix mine. Not perfect but certainly better than it was. If you are not specifically looking for it you won't notice it now.
-Alden
__________________
1993 34' Excella 1000
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Diesel
(No it doesn't have a HEMI in it)
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06-17-2015, 01:33 PM
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#7
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New Member
1976 27' Overlander
Astoria
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3
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I had almost an identical dent in my 76 27' airstream. Used a grinder with a mental cutting wheel to make a slice in the wood paneling just above the curtain rail on the inside where it would not be observable. Drilled out the rivets and toke down the curtain rail. Pulled out the panel from the side window to the dent and pushed out the dent than hammered from both inside and out to decrease the affect of the crease. Re- riveted the panel in the same holes Turned out beautifully. Because of the double curve the panel needed no suport where the slice was made. 2 guys about 2 hours.
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06-17-2015, 02:37 PM
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#8
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2 Rivet Member
1965 30' Sovereign
West Allis
, Wisconsin
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 70
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They wouldn't let you in to camp ground? Really? Mine will never be allowed then!
I need one of those Body Buddys! The 3"-4" suction cup from Harbor Freight didn't work, surface too concave. On flatter area it let go before area crease was released.
BTW, if your dent flops back in or "oil cans", I've heard others have permanently installed hard foam between inner and outer panels. Of course, inside access is required.
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06-17-2015, 06:20 PM
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#9
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1 Rivet Member
1970 27' Overlander
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 18
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Hi Shacksman,
That "Body Buddy" looks like it worked pretty well! What sort of air compressor do you need for it? I've looked online but all I've found is the suction cup piece for sale. If you have a model you recommend, let me know!
Thanks
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06-17-2015, 06:24 PM
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#10
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1 Rivet Member
1970 27' Overlander
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AWCHIEF
Curious, were you actually turned away by any parks?
Only so much can be done by pulling out panel damage. Sad to say but the only way that is going to disappear is by replacing the panels or applying a large patch of some sort over the area.
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Hi AW Chief,
I haven't been rejected yet, but I've had a few park owners push me back on the waiting list because of the appearance. Apparently they're getting picky in Austin these days...quite frustrating since these Airstreams look better than your typical RV with or without dents.
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06-17-2015, 06:26 PM
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#11
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1 Rivet Member
1970 27' Overlander
Houston
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alden Miller
I used the sticky tabs and a dent puller to fix mine. Not perfect but certainly better than it was. If you are not specifically looking for it you won't notice it now.
-Alden
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Hi Alden,
Great to hear! Do you remember where you purchased your dent puller? I'm not looking for perfection, just improvement!
Thanks,
Andre
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06-18-2015, 08:10 AM
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#12
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3 Rivet Member
2008 19' Bambi
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 114
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too many people from California have moved to Austin. Not the Austin of old. What happened to the days of the Armadillo and onward thru the fog days.
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06-18-2015, 09:29 AM
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#13
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4 Rivet Member
1971 31' Sovereign
1973 29' Ambassador
1978 31' Sovereign
Palm Desert
, California
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 369
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Quote:
Originally Posted by c177tx
too many people from California have moved to Austin. Not the Austin of old. What happened to the days of the Armadillo and onward thru the fog days.
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Nowhere is the (fill in the blank) of old. My family has been in California for over 125 years. What happened to rush hour without traffic? Don't just point the finger at Californians.
Anyway, I used the small suction cups from Harbor Freight to pull the smaller dents out or where the aluminum was curved. It worked ok. I had a large one in the front corner and was able to remove the stereo cabinet and push it out from the inside. I can't do that in the back unless I remove the bathroom end cap.
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06-22-2015, 05:29 AM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member
1993 34' Excella
, Maryland
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 231
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aboudre1
Hi Alden,
Great to hear! Do you remember where you purchased your dent puller? I'm not looking for perfection, just improvement!
Thanks,
Andre
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I picked them up off of Amazon.
-Alden
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06-22-2015, 07:18 AM
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#15
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Rivet Master
1960 28' Ambassador
Vintage Kin Owner
1998 25' Safari
Avonton
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,331
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Quote:
Originally Posted by aboudre1
Hi Shacksman,
That "Body Buddy" looks like it worked pretty well! What sort of air compressor do you need for it? I've looked online but all I've found is the suction cup piece for sale. If you have a model you recommend, let me know!
Thanks
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Lots of them on ebay pneumatic dent puller | eBay it needs 3.5CFM at 85 lbs
__________________
Doug & Terry
VAC - TAC ON-1
60 Ambassador Int.
1950 Spartan
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