The Top 10 Dent Pulling Methods
28th Apr 2025
The Top 10 Dent Pulling Methods
There are a lot of ways to pull a dent from damaged body panel. We’ve compiled a list of the top 10 methods. These methods have broken into two categories: Inexpensive, ‘do-it-yourself’ methods, and professional dent pulling methods.
Below are the top 10 ways to pull a metal dent:
DIY Dent Pulling Methods:
These DIY methods are easy and cheap, but you may not get the results you expect. While the basic ideas behind these DIY methods are sound, they often lack the power, temperature or the right tool (and the skill or experience) to remove all but the most superficial methods. Nonetheless, for many people it is often the first thing they will try, before ultimately taking the dent to a professional:
#1 Plunger Method: For smaller dents, using a household plunger is often suggested as a dent puller. The process centers on creating a seal with the plunger over the dent, which is then pulled out forcefully to pop the dent out. Although it's possible for this method to fix a small dent, it could result in more damage: The pressure that is created when you "plunge" could easily create more damage! Be careful.
#2 Boiling Water or Hair Dryer and Compressed Air: Heating the dent with boiled water or a hairdryer and then quickly cooling it with compressed air might cause the metal to contract and pop the dent out. If you’re wondering if a hair dryer is going to get metal hot enough to make it workable…you’re asking the right question. This method will not likely work as hair dryers (or boiling water) are never going to be hot enough to make the metal pliable enough for a good repair.
#3 Dent Pulling Kits: Various dent pulling kits are available on the internet. Dent Pulling Kits contain tools specifically designed for pulling dents (an improvement over the plunger method!), such as suction cups or adhesive tabs that attach to the dent. By pulling on these devices, you can gradually pop the dent out. These kits are relatively simple to use and may work on a minor dent.
#4 Dry Ice: Like the “boiling water” method, this method uses extreme temperatures (in this case, cold temps) to remove a dent. If the dent is small and shallow, applying dry ice to the affected area can cause the metal to contract, potentially helping the dent to pop out. Generally ineffective on most dents.
#5 Hot Glue and Dent Pulling: Using a hot glue gun or a specialty glue to attach a plastic tab or a heavy pin to the dent and then pulling it gently with a pulling tool can sometimes work on shallow dents. Once the tab is attached, steady and gradual pulling is applied to remove the dent. The challenge is the adhesion of the hot glue, which will likely not be strong enough to pull out most dents.
Professional Dent Pulling Methods:
So, the DIY methods are basically good ideas with the wrong tools. Professional body technicians have a variety of tools and methods to take out any dent. For more complex dents and damage, here are the professional dent pulling methods:
#6 Dent Pulling with Pins: This method relies on the creation of small holes which are placed in and around the damaged area, into which pins are inserted. Once placed, the pin is then pulled with a slide hammer to remove the dent. This method benefits from its secure and strong connection to the damaged material, which is necessary to apply leverage to pull the dent out. Unfortunately, creating that strong connection results in more damage – and more repairs! The pin holes require filling, and the entire area will need to be sanded, and the coating will need to be restored (primer, paint, clear coating, etc.…). to match the desired shape and smoothness to restore the original appearance.
Obviously, this makes the repair significantly more time consuming and expensive.
#7 Heat and Cool Technique: Professionals will use a heat gun or torch (not a hair dryer!) to expand the metal around the dent, followed by immediate cooling (usually with dry ice or a cold spray) to contract the metal rapidly, can help pop out the dent. However, controlling the temperature and the cooling process is crucial to avoid warping the metal.
#8 Paintless Dent Repair: Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a specialized technique used to repair dents on a car's body without the need for painting or body filler. PDR involves reshaping the damaged metal using specialized tools to push the dent out from behind, restoring the original shape and preserving the car's original paint.
#9 Hydraulic Dent Removal: Utilizing hydraulic pressure through special tools to push the dent out from the inside of body panels can be challenging, especially in tight spaces or areas with limited access.
#10 Dent Pulling with Stud Welding: This method is almost the best. Rather than adding damage with pin holes, this method welds a small stud onto the dented surface to grab the damage, which is then pulled out using a slide hammer or pulling device. Once the dent is pulled the welded stud is broken off. This method is very effective for any size dent and can be less damaging to the coating or surface and require less ‘clean up’ that the above methods require, but there will be some necessary sanding and filling to recover the area where the stud was attached.
#11 (Bonus!) Dent Pulling with Electrodes: As with the stud welding method, this method can pull almost any damage. Like stud welding, the technician will use a slide hammer or a pulling device to leverage out the dent.
Since this approach uses an electrode rather than a welded stud to attach to the dent, it creates much less damage to the body and coating. Breaking off the welded stud will cause damage to the body on its own. However, an electrode can be easily removed with just a twist, resulting in very easy clean up as there will be no pinholes or welding damage to fix. The Panel BeaterTM, manufactured by American Innovative Manufacturing (AIM) is the first dent puller designed to use this method.
Each dent pulling method requires some combination of tools and experience to accomplish a professional result. Moreover, the difficulty level can vary depending on the location, size, and severity of the dent, making it essential to assess and choose the appropriate technique for each situation.
Many of these methods are unreliable or time-consuming (hot glue, dry ice) or require a high level of skill (‘heat and cool’ technique), or are specialized for a specific type of damage (hydraulic dent pullers).
Which method is ‘best’ depends on the type and extent of the damage, the skills of the person doing the repair, and the budget available. For a DIY repair of hail dents or minor dings, some dent pulling kits or the plunger method may work – if you can avoid creating more repair work for yourself! For more significant damage, the professional methods are going to be the only suitable solutions. But when you compare each method, accounting for effectiveness, speed, and minimizing additional damage, one method stands apart from all the others. The Electrode dent pulling method, (see Panel Beater™) does not require additional damage to repair the dent (pinholes, studs, etc.), which results in a faster, better, and easier dent repair process. The Electrode method, as demonstrated by the Panel Beater™ is superior to every other method.
The Panel Beater™ was purpose built from the ground up to be a nearly universal tool for dent pulling. It does not require advanced skills to operate and runs off its own onboard battery for convenience and portability. In addition, the Panel Beater™ is a robust and affordable tool that has been providing consistent results for body shops around the country and globe for years.
To learn more about the Panel BeaterTM click here for a demo or read about the operation and specifications here.
Always prioritize safety and take caution when attempting to repair automotive dents yourself.
