Having dents and dings on your car can be frustrating and make it look unappealing. Pops a dent claims to be a quick and easy solution to remove minor dents and dings from your vehicle without the high cost of professional dent repair. But does it really work? Here we will examine how Pops a dent works, its effectiveness, pros and cons, and alternatives to help you decide if it’s right for your needs.
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What is Pops a dent?
Pops a dent is a DIY dent removal product that uses a dent pulling system to remove minor dings and dents from body panels on cars, trucks, and other vehicles. It consists of a specially formulated adhesive on a pulling tab that sticks to the center of the dent. The other end attaches to a slide hammer that uses leverage to pull the dent as the tab is pulled. This creates suction that pulls the dent outward until it pops back into place.
How does it work?
Pops a dent works using the principals of suction and leverage. Here are the basic steps for how to use it:
- Clean and dry the area around the dent thoroughly.
- Clip the slide hammer into the pulling tab.
- Remove the adhesive backing and stick the center of the pull tab securely over the middle of the dent.
- Attach the slide hammer and ratchet it to slowly pull the tab up and out until the dent pops out.
The adhesive is very sticky and attaches tightly to the middle of the dent as you pull up. This creates suction that pulls from the center of the dent to pop it out gradually without damaging the paint or metal. The leverage provided by the slide hammer gives added force to help pull out even stubborn dents.
Is Pops a dent effective?
For minor, shallow dents, Pops a dent is generally effective at removing dings and small dents without damaging the vehicle’s finish. According to most customer reviews, it works best on newer vehicles with thinner metal panels. Many report it working well on door dings, hail damage, and minor body dents between 1-2 inches wide.
However, its effectiveness depends on several factors:
Dent type
Pops a dent is designed to work on minor dents, not deep dents or creases. Shallow dents with defined edges respond best to the suction and pulling method. Deep or wide dents are harder or impossible to pull out using this technique.
Dent location
The tool works best on flat or gently curved panels like doors, fenders, hoods, roofs, and trunk lids. Dents on body lines or complex curves and angles are harder for the adhesive tab to attach to and pull out.
Metal thickness
It works better on thinner sheet metal on newer cars than thicker panels on older vehicles. Very thick or high-strength steel requires enormous force that this simple suction tool cannot generate.
Paint condition
The paint and finish have to be in good condition for the adhesive to bond properly without damaging the paint. It may not adhere as well to cars with clearcoat damage, oxidized paint, or paint overspray around a dent.
User skill
Getting the best results takes practice and patience. Following the instructions precisely and carefully pulling the tab straight up improves results.
Pros
Here are some of the main benefits and advantages of using Pops a dent:
- Low cost – It is an inexpensive option compared to professional dent repair.
- Quick – Minor dents can be pulled out in less than 10 minutes once set up.
- Easy to use – The tool is simple to use with no special skills required.
- No painting needed – It removes dents without harming the paint so repainting isn’t required.
- Mobile – The compact kit can be used anywhere on a vehicle.
- Adds value – Getting rid of dents can increase a vehicle’s resale value.
Cons
There are also some downsides and limitations to consider with Pops a dent:
- Not effective on all dents – Large, deep or complex dents are often too difficult to pull out.
- Works best on newer vehicles – Thicker metal on older cars resists dent removal.
- Potential for paint damage – Pulling too aggressively can damage paint.
- Temporary bonding – The adhesive may not hold well in all conditions.
- May not remove dent fully – It might not get a dent 100% back to flush.
- Damage risk – Attempting to remove a dent incorrectly could worsen it.
Types of dents it works on
Pops a dent is designed for minor dents, rather than deep body damage. Here are the general types of dents that it works best on:
Door dings
Door dings from other car doors opening into yours are a prime target. These rounded shallow dents are ideal for Pops a dent’s suction technique.
Hail damage
Small hail dents that have not creased the body panels can often be pulled out, saving the cost of repainting the whole car.
Minor fender benders
For minor low speed accidents that left shallow dents and did not bend or crack the underlying structure, Pops a dent may remove dings caused by the impact.
Shopping cart strikes
Dents and scrapes from loose shopping carts in parking lots are annoying but shallow enough for Pops a dent to attach to and remove.
Types of dents it won’t work on
There are limitations to the types of damage Pops a dent can correct. Here are situations where it likely won’t be effective:
- Large dents – Deep dents wider than 2 inches are often too big to pull out.
- Sharp creases – Jagged or sharp creased dents indicate panel damage it can’t repair.
- Multiple dents clustered together – There needs to be flat space for the tab to adhere to.
- Punctures – Actual holes or puncture damage cannot be removed with this tool.
- Body line damage – It has trouble gripping dents on body lines and contours.
- Aluminum panels – It doesn’t work well on thicker aluminum body panels.
Before and after pictures
It’s helpful to see before and after photos of actual dents repaired with Pops a dent. Here are some examples of successful uses on real world car dents that show how well it can remove minor damage:
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Reviews
Reviews from customers provide real world feedback on how well Pops a dent performed for them. Here is a summary of reviews from major retail sites:
Amazon – 4 out of 5 stars
Based on over 3,000 customer ratings, Pops a dent earns 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon. 73% give it a full 5 star rating, with 16% assigning a 4 star rating. 9% give only 1 star rating.
Positive reviews mention it worked perfectly for removing shallow door dings and minor dents without harming their vehicles’ paint. Negative reviews mostly cite issues with it not working well on deeper dents.
Home Depot – 4.2 out of 5 stars
The product earns 4.2 out of 5 stars based on over 100 Home Depot customer ratings. 82% give it 5 stars, while only 7% give it 1 star.
Favorable Home Depot reviews mention it being easy to use and working quickly to remove minor parking lot and hail dents from body panels. Negative reviews report issues with thick older car body panels resisting dent removal.
Walmart – 4.4 out of 5 stars
Pops a dent receives an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from Walmart buyers. The vast majority give it a full 5 stars, while only 6% give it 1 star.
Positive Walmart reviews praise how well it works for shallow dings and hail damage on metal body parts. Critical reviews complain about adhesion problems in hot weather and on textured finishes.
Alternatives
While Pops a dent works well for minor dents, there are alternatives to consider for more extensive damage:
Professional dent repair
For large dents, creases, or complex damage, professional dent repair may be required. Experienced body shops have specialized tools to massage out dents combined with paintless dent repair techniques.
Suction dent pulling kits
Other suction-style dent pullers work similarly to Pops a dent. Brands like YooBee Dent Lifter, AES Industries Dent Fix, and Eagle Operational Dent Puller use suction to remove shallow dents.
Stud welder dent pulling
For deeper damage, a stud welder can weld a stud to the center of the dent to attach a slide hammer and pull it out. Requires grinding studs off and touch up painting after.
Dry ice dent removal
Applying dry ice can make a shallow dent pop out on its own from contracting the metal. Works best on newer cars, but there’s risk of damaging paint.
Paintless dent repair (PDR)
Professionals use specialized PDR tools to massage and push dents out from behind body panels using the flexibility of metal without repainting.
Conclusion
For minor dents under 2 inches wide and shallow without creases, Pops a dent can provide a low cost, quick, and easy fix. It allows handy vehicle owners to remove dings, door dents, small hail damage, and minor blemishes without expensive professional dent removal or repainting. But it has limitations on severely dented and thicker metal panels. Following directions precisely and carefully is key to getting the best results.
Considering its affordable price and ability to remove some mild dents, Pops a dent can be worth trying before resorting to expensive body shop dent repairs. But for extensive damage it is unlikely to provide a complete fix. For large dents or complex damage, professional dent repair or repainting may be required to get a flawless factory-quality finish.