Repairing dents in aluminum?

[chad801]

I just bought a older aluminum jon boat that has a couple of dents in the bottom of it. I was wondering if anyone knew if they could be pounded out? If so, is there a special procedure for doing this or do you just grab a hammer and go to town.

Thanks,
Chad

[Dutch Peter]

Chad,

Both approaches can be used, it depends on the depth and sharpness of the dent, the thickness of the material, spacing between the stiffeners.
It's safe to use the hammer approach when the dent depth is around 1/50 of the stiffener spacing and not sharp, if it's much deeper ask a pro for advice.

Good luck!

[Wynand N]

Hi Chad

Just remember the "dolly" as well when you off to town with the hammer.


Fair winds

Wynand

[Sean Herron]

Hello...

Go get yourself a non bounce urethane hammer (a 'soft hammer' - also called a dead blow) from a good machine shop supply store or hardware store - they are hollow and full of sand or other so they dont bounce...

Place a 'sack of sand' under the dent where you intend to bang about to absorb the shock and to better deliver the energy of the blow - also helps to grind one head of the soft hammer to a slight convex round...

Don't anneal the metal with any heat if you dont have to..

Have fun...

SH.

I have watched in amazement at a metal worker from the Ukraine take a torch with a small rose bud tip on very low heat, heat and wet rag cool. Remove any non sharp creased dent in 10- 20 minutes. Last inch across proved his abilities. Pointy or sharpedged dent- cut out, patch, sand smooth. Thickness made no difference to him. I don't have his present location.