Dry Ice To Fix Dings

A

Airvtec

Member
Location
Hayward, CA
Car
2006 FX35
I'm pretty sure one of my co-woker gave me this ding, but I never saw it so I can't be 100% sure. I waxed my car just a week ago, and never saw it. He brought his kid to work on Friday, and that day our cars were kind of close. I can just picture that kid swinging open the door and not even thinking about how it will ding my car. Oh well, sh$t happens.

So, I read online some people recommend using dry ice to get the ding out. I figured what do I have to lose but a few dollars on the dry ice if it doesn't work. Well, I was hoping it was a magic bullet, but not quite. It did help. The ding isn't as noticeable, but you still can see it. It wasn't big to begin with, small ding. Like the one you get when the corner of another door hits yours. It definitely made a difference, but not 100% gone.

It was kind of hard to find the right angle for the picture so you guys can see the before and after size. I spend less than $1 on the dry ice at your local supermarket. If you have a ding, I say give it a try. It's cheap, and the worst is you're out of a few bucks. If it works out, then you just removed the ding.

I read that it's best if the outside temp is warm or hot. I rubbed the dry ice directly on the ding. Kept it there for about 30-60 seconds. Remove the dry ice, and let the ice crystals disappear. After the crystals disappear, you can wipe away the condensation. Since the outside temp wasn't that hot, I used a heat gun to dry out the condensation. I repeated this until the dry ice was gone, which wasn't necessary. I've reached the conclusion that after about the 10th time, if it isn't gone...it ain't going. You'll have to put the dry ice directly on the paint. Lightly rubbing is okay, but I wouldn't put too much pressure. Good luck, I hope some of you guys will be able to get ding out completely. For a diy and less than couple dollars, I'm happy with the result.

The ding is where the reflection of the white line has a kink in it.
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AFTER: it's hard to see, but it's still there. However, you can definitely tell the before and after difference.
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You can also try the air duster + heat gun/hair dryer combo.. The logic is simple: heat first (Not on a spot. Spread out the heat) then use the air duster upside down.. Air duster has liquid CO2 in it so it cools the metal quickly, allowing it to return back to form.. Paint is a flexible substance once heated so it won't crack as well.. Just don't over do it..

---------- Post added at 02:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:12 PM ----------

To add: it might be that the OP did it the opposite way (ie, cool first then heat) which might be the reason for ineffectiveness.. Dry ice or air duster (in short, evaporating CO2) would cool faster than the heat gun would heat up.. I think it's best to heat up first then use the dry ice or air duster to cool.. Plus, I believe this is most effective on bigger dents than smaller ones..
 
Thanks for the info. I'll definitely give it a try, because I KNOW that one day I'll need it. My people think I'm crazy (and maybe I am) for parking a 1/2 mile away from stores so that I can stay away from people who inadvertently or deliberately put dings on your car when they open their doors when parking next to you. Makes you mad enough to do bodily harm to some fool. A little kid of about four did it to me once when he opened the passenger side of his father's car on me, so I couldn't get mad (his father profusely apologized), I just felt like crying. Everytime you wash, polish, and wax, you see the reminder staring you in the face. Well, I guess that's life.
 
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