@Sandroad When I decide this was the truck about a week ago, I started to become an internet expert on PDR (the Net is a wonderful thing, isn't it?). One thing for sure, there are no easy and quick solutions, no "pop" and you're done. You can forget about dry ice and/or hair dryers. As Seen On TV dent poppers won't cut it either. To get these dings out, patience will be more than a virtue. But if you're careful and deliberate the average Joe or Jane can get small dents out. You have to work easy and slow, as one has to learn how to "work"/shape the metal. You may be a bit of artisan when you're done and it might help your Zen studies as well.
One thing that will be interesting on my truck will be compound dents- where a second hailstone hit just off center from a previous one.
Whatever method is used, a PDR light pad is a must. It reflects parallel bars off the surface. If the bars bow out, there is more pulling on the dent. If the bars bow in, there is a high spot to be tapped down. All bars parallel is perfect. Also, get proper, purpose-built tools
Glue pulling might be the way to start. Put some glue on the end of a tab, let dry and use a slide hammer or purpose-built puller to pull, and a plastic tapper to get rid of a resulting high spot. It may take a few cycles of this to get it right. This is the way to go if access to back of the panel is hard or impossible. Once you get it down, though, it will only take about 5 minutes to fix a simple ding.
The other way is to get rods, etc. to work the dent from behind. Just like with a hammer and dolly you work from the outside in on the dent, usually something like a tight, dense spiral pattern is used. High spots may still occur but with skill and care are less likely. Possible drawbacks are access to the back the dent can be difficult or impossible. You'll need leverage as well to push and that might be tough to get on a panel. Like glue, once you get some experience it won't take long for a simple ding to come out.
Looking at what Ive got I may start with the glue and see how far I get, then to the rods. If there's a few I can't get- off tom the body shop!
If you get good with this though, the occasional parking lot or door ding or two would be a 15 minute fix.
This isnt a big priority for me- I'll wait until the weather lets me work outside (I also need to get brakes on the KG and do wrap up to the GMC)- but I'll try to post with some photos up after I get going on it.
Welcome to the club!!
