Rookie Dent removal

[petrofinder]

Hello All- I stumbled on this site and have found all the info great for a new hobbiest who is stepping in to painting. I am not painting cars but rather old gas pumps from the 30's.

I am in the middle of redoing my first pump that I will be doing the body work and painting on. I typically farm out that work but decided I needed a new hobby. My question is about removing a dent in a panel. This panel has a dent that when I dolly the metal to straight it leaves the metal flexed and can pop in and out. Needless to say I do not want to put some filler and paint on it to find it popping the other direction. I have read about shrinking with a hammer and using heat to shrink the metal to flat. Any thoughts?

[Phil V]

How big is this oil can effect ? (the part that pops in and out).

[Len]

Hello All- I stumbled on this site and have found all the info great for a new hobbiest who is stepping in to painting. I am not painting cars but rather old gas pumps from the 30's.

I am in the middle of redoing my first pump that I will be doing the body work and painting on. I typically farm out that work but decided I needed a new hobby. My question is about removing a dent in a panel. This panel has a dent that when I dolly the metal to straight it leaves the metal flexed and can pop in and out. Needless to say I do not want to put some filler and paint on it to find it popping the other direction. I have read about shrinking with a hammer and using heat to shrink the metal to flat. Any thoughts?

We just had a good thread on this the other day. Go to the top of the page hit the "Search" link and type in "shrinking" read the posts there then ask any further questions you may have.

[petrofinder]

The dent is 8" by 3" or so. I read the article about shrinking but while I understand the methods used i am not sure which to try first.

[Len]

Do you have a torch? I would try the method that uses the tools I have first then go from there.