If you're wondering whether we can remove dents from aluminum, the answer is yes. We can also polish out superficial scratches and blemishes too. In this blog post, I'm going to show you how I repaired the deep, 2 inch crease on a Ford Bronco aluminum door using the Paintless Dent Removal method, and how I polished the scratch out as best as possible.
A real world PDR repair on the aluminum door of this new Ford Bronco.
The Truth About Perfect Repairs
I'll start by saying that this repair was not completely flawless. While I aim for perfection, this was a case where significant improvement was to be expected. PDR is genuinely handcrafting the metal back to its original shape while preserving the original, factory paint finish. This is why the initial assessment of the damage is crucial for strategizing an effective repair plan, and why skills, technique, and experience are imperative to a successful PDR outcome.
The Benefits of Paintless Dent Repair
Sometimes, depending on the initial damage, a significant improvement is the expected result. That being said, arguably this result is ultimately better than having the door and adjacent panels repainted at a body shop. By using the Paintless dent repair method, the owner of this Bronco avoided many costly missteps, including a CarFax vehicle report, repainting of the door and adjacent panels, and of course the hassle that comes with dealing with a body shop.
Working with Aluminum
Aluminum car door panels can be tricky to remove dents from. While you might think the metal would be as soft as an aluminum can, it is actually quite the opposite. The aluminum on modern cars is in my opinion tougher than traditional steel door panels and more dent resistant too. When removing dents from aluminum car panels, we utilize the same methods as we do on steel, however, our techniques require substantially more effort. Meaning, we have to strike it harder, we have to isolate our pushes more intensively, and we have to use heat in scenarios where we wouldn't necessarily have to when working with traditional carbon steel. The heat helps to soften the aluminum, as it can be very rigid. This is why assessing the damage thoroughly before performing a paintless dent removal is so crucial.
The Benefits of PDR Over Traditional Repair
By using PDR, the original factory paint finish is preserved, and there is no need to replace the entire panel, making it a more cost-effective solution. I've also seen aluminum do some crazy things, like regain its rigidity and stability after extensively working the metal on a deep large dent that was seemingly fatigued.
Scratch Repair
Very often, I come across dents that have a blemish. Sometimes what appears to be a scratch is actually residue from the object that created the dent. Before addressing a transfer, I always inform my client of the possibility of an existing scratch or abrasion underneath the residue. In the case of this Bronco, after flattening the metal, I was able to polish out most of the abrasion using a very fine 3M abrasive called Trizact 3000.
Conclusion
Aluminum dents can be repaired with PDR, but it's not without its challenges. Working with aluminum requires skill, technique, and experience, which are imperative to a successful PDR outcome. PDR is a cost-effective solution that preserves the original factory paint finish, and it can result in better outcomes than traditional body shop repairs.