Dent removal for cans?

[Bikay]

Very cleverly I managed to dent the can on my CBR600. The dent is on the end where the can narrows to the exit hole. It's a standard stainless job so it'll be there forever and it's really starting to bug me!!
I knocked it against a bar in a bike shed at work. Unfortunately I can't get inside to knock it back out. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get the dent removed?

[stinkwheel]

If you can block off the ends, connect it to a compressor whilst heating the area of the dent with a blowlamp, you might be able to pop it out. This is how they make a lot of exhaust systems. I have seen it done with dented petrol tanks too but be carefull, it might also turn into a hand-grenade.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Bikay]

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I don't have either of those items so I'll be safe. Reckon heating the can may also mark it perhaps?

[stinkwheel]

A 'poor mans' way of doing this which might work for a small, non-creased dent in the body of the can would be to put the can in the freezer and whilst it is still cold, seal up the ends (a big cork and lockwiring?) not exactly sure how you would do this, be imaginative (gaffa tape is your friend).

Take the still cold and now sealed can and pour a kettle of boiling water over it, the sudden expansion of the air inside as it heats up should in theory pop out a small dent. Again heard of this being done for petrol tank dents rather than end-cans but the principle is the same.

I have seen this used in reverse to spectacular effect by throwing iced water over an oil drum (a big one) which was heated then sealed up. Created enough pressure difference to crumple it like a soft drinks can.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Big Pete]

[jay12329]

Go to busters order a micron stainless can. Pay £99 and ted is very sore indeed!
J

[Bikay]

I've had a look at a few dent removal kits that involve glueing a rod into the centre of the dent. Once the glue is set the rod is pulled on. In theory the dent is removed and the glue is diossolved with an appropriate solvent.
Anyone have any experience of these kits?
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[Big Pete]

I have done similar things to car bodywork, but the puller is normall hooked thro a small hole drilled in the dent, or to a screw welded to the steel. I doubt that glue would be strong enough (especially on stainless), and I don`t think it would flex enough.
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Trust me, I`m an engineer
GarageOfPower.co.uk

[ZRX61]

Drill the end plate rivets out, remove end plate, straighten it, reinstall. sorted. Any questions?

[ZRX61]

[Big Pete]

[Big Pete]

the pullers I used were like this
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Trust me, I`m an engineer
GarageOfPower.co.uk

[Bendy]

[ZRX61]

This:
https://www.prospot.com/shopping/images/featured-pr2pic.gif
It's a combo welder/slide hammer. You touch the tip to the panel, pull the trigger & it welds itself to the panel, pull on the slide hammer to pull the dent, twist it 90deg to break the weld & all ya have left if a really small pimple instead of a bloody great hole.
Details:
https://www.prospot.com/pr2/index.shtml

I can't honestly believe any course would teach people to drill holes in the panels, thereby creating even more damage to be fixed No prob using the slide hammer you showed with the bendy bits for getting around the edge of wheel arches etc tho.

[swampy]

My old man (35+ years as a mechanic/ fabricator) always pulls dents out by the method used by Big Pete, so it ain't that rare.....

And wouldn't you have some problems welding the rod to a stainless steel end pipe ??
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[Big Pete]

As a tool junkie I have to say that that is a particularly fine gadget, I`ve not seen one of those over here at all, even in some pretty fancy bodyshops. In the pics I put up you can just see sone pointed ends, they have a threadform like a self tapper so they are easy to use, the hole is only 3-4 mm, 5 or 6 for a hook tool. Lots of places dont even weld up the hole they just skim over the top with P38 /40.
____________________
Trust me, I`m an engineer
GarageOfPower.co.uk

[ZRX61]

[Big Pete]

[ZRX61]

[swampy]

[loply]

If you buy a slide hammer, drill a tiny hole in the dent, put the slide hammer into the hole, and gentle hammer it out.

Slide hammer is a bit like a backwards hammer, and is the thing illustrated above.

[ZRX61]

[loply]

Bang it out with a slide hammer, weld it up again? Whats wrong with that?

[ZRX61]