That old timer at the NAPA parts counter gave me bad dent repair advice

Honestly, I ran into this older guy named Frank at the parts counter near my shop in Denver. He told me to use dry ice on a big hail dent on a 2018 F-150, said it'd pop right out. Tried it last Wednesday and it did nothing but fog up the panel and waste $30 on dry ice. Then I had to spend an extra hour fixing the mess with my stud welder. Has anyone else gotten garbage tips from guys who think they know everything?

2 comments

2 Comments

grantschmidt3d ago

Wait, you actually tried dry ice on a hail dent? That's one of those internet tricks that sounds good in theory but never works in real life. I can't believe Frank told you that without warning you about how it just makes the panel cold and does nothing for the dent shape. Fogging up the whole panel makes sense too, that moisture has to go somewhere. At least you had the stud welder ready to fix it, some guys would have been stuck with a mess and no backup plan. You're a better man than me for even trying it.

gavinw453d ago

Oh come on, it's not like the guy was defusing a bomb. Worst case scenario you waste a few bucks on dry ice and have to wipe down a wet fender. I've done dumber stuff on my own truck just to see what happens. The internet is full of these "hacks" that are really just science experiments you try on a junk panel first. People act like trying something new is a career ending mistake. Did you ever try the hot water thing on a plastic bumper?