Tried a heat gun on a plastic bumper dent and it went wrong

Had a small dent in a black poly bumper on a 2018 Civic. I saw a video where a guy used a heat gun to soften it and push it out from behind. I set my gun to about 400 degrees and worked it for maybe two minutes. The dent popped, but the whole area got a weird, wavy texture and the paint clouded up. I learned that heat needs to be way more even and gentle than I thought. Anyone have a better method for these plastic dents that doesn't risk the finish?

2 comments

2 Comments

jamesf269d ago

Been there, my friend. My old Corolla's bumper looked like a melted candle after I got overzealous with a heat gun. The trick seems to be keeping the gun moving like you're painting the air and using your other hand to feel the plastic so it never gets hot to the touch. A hair dryer on high might be a safer bet for gentle warming. Some people swear by pouring boiling water over the dent from the inside, then pushing it out.

emmaj339d ago

James is right about the boiling water trick. You can get a big pot, heat it up, and slowly pour it over the dent from the inside of the bumper. The key is to let the plastic get flexible, not soft. Then you reach behind and push it out with the heel of your hand. It takes patience, but it cools back down with the original shape and finish mostly intact. A heat gun is just too focused and easy to overdo on modern paints.