• Small dents can be removed from the exteriors of most cars.Zerst??rtes Auto image by Angelika Bentin from Fotolia.com
  
  Dents are a common problem in the exterior of cars. Some are more fragile then others and can get a dent solely by someone leaning against it. There are a number of different ways to remove these dents, using a variety of tools that can either be purchased or improvised with what you have in your home.
  
  

Suction Cup Devices

• There are a number of different suction cup devices which are effective at removing small dents. The tool is basically a large suction cup which can be placed over the dent in the car's exterior and pumped up to affix itself firmly so that no air can get in or out. There is usually then a handle or lever on the back of these devices, depending on the design, which allows the dent to be popped out. These devices vary in their efficiency, as many are sold through infomercials on television or on racks in automotive stores and are not guaranteed to work.
  
  

Dent Kits

• There are kits which are also used for paintless dent removal. Pulling nibs of different sizes are provided in these kits, along with a very strong glue. Nibs are pieces of metal or plastic attached to a threaded metal stub. A drop of glue should be put on the side of the pulling nib opposite the threaded metal stud and then affixed to the bottom of the dent you plan on fixing. The ding repair tool with a hook on the other end should then be screwed down over the threaded stud of the nib, allowing you to pull the metal up. Once the dent is pulled out, a couple drops of releasing agent can be put on the glue to release it from the car without affecting the paint. This process can be effective if done right but can also scratch the paint on the car and not work if anything is done wrong. Exact usage of these also varies from kit to kit.
  
  

Heat and Cool

• Sometimes dents can be fixed solely by using objects you have around the house. This all depends on how severe and large the dent is. For those dents which aren't that bad, using a blowdryer on one side of the dent and a large piece of ice, like dry ice, on the other side will cause the metal to contract and then suddenly expand, allowing the dent to literally pop out and back into its original shape. Compressed air turned upside down will also freeze whatever it sprays so this can be effectively used. Tapping a cooled, dented section of a car with a hammer from the inside of the dent, like within the wheel well, is also an effective way to remove small dents.