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My Fiat 500 had a big door ding courtesy of my buddy Benny’s door, and my GMC Terrain had a few more. A professional paintless dent repair (PDR) quote came to about $500 per car, so I tried a roughly $35 glue-pull kit to see whether I could at least make the dents less noticeable.
Short answer: it made a dramatic improvement on a shallow ding in a flat panel. It’s not a perfect, pro-level repair, but for a commuter car it was absolutely worth it.
See the paintless dent repair kit I used on Amazon
What’s in the kit
- A hot glue gun and automotive glue sticks (black and gold/yellow; colors usually indicate strength or temperature range)
- Plastic pulling tabs in many shapes and sizes
- A hand-squeeze “bridge” puller with silicone feet that protect the paint
- Plastic scrapers for removing the glue
You’ll also want isopropyl alcohol to release the glue and clean the panel, and maybe extra PDR glue sticks.
How to use a glue puller kit, step by step
- Clean the panel with isopropyl alcohol and work in the shade. A cool, dry panel holds glue better.
- Pick the tab. Start with a larger tab for a big ding and work down to smaller tabs for the low spots.
- Apply hot glue to the tab, press it in the center of the dent and let it set for about 30 seconds.
- Attach the puller and squeeze gradually. Don’t yank it. Pulling too hard can create a high spot.
- Release the tab with alcohol and a plastic scraper, then repeat with smaller tabs.
My results
The first pull made a big difference. A smaller tab took out the remaining low spot, and a longer tab smoothed the crease. In the end the 1.5–2 inch dent I could feel with my hand became a faint wrinkle that’s hard to spot unless you look for it.
When to call a PDR pro instead
- Sharp creases, dents on body lines or panel edges
- Aluminum panels
- Cracked or chipped paint, since the glue can pull damaged paint off
- A car you want to look perfect
FAQ
Can I use a regular hot glue gun?
The gun is usually fine if it takes the same stick size, but use PDR glue sticks. Craft glue doesn’t grip as well.
What’s the difference between the glue stick colors?
Usually strength and temperature range. Check your kit’s instructions, and use the stronger glue on cooler days.
Will it damage my paint?
Not on healthy factory paint if you use alcohol to release the glue. Scuffed or repainted areas are at risk.
Want more honest tests like this?
I test car care products on my own cars and tell you what actually happened, good or bad. Subscribe to Peter von Panda on YouTube so you catch the next one, and leave a comment on the video with your own results. Peter von Panda out.
