DENTS IN METAL HOUSING

[David Lyga]

Please tell me the best way to tap dents so that they are, at least, lessened. I recently bought a beautiful Minolta SR-T 201 for $25 and it is nearly pristine except for a dent near the film counter corner (about 1/4" deep, maybe less).

I regularly remove tops from SLRs to clean prism areas, etc and removing the top from SR-T models is rather easy. But what do I need for this project? I heard that a rounded piece of stick (wood) is probably best. On other bodies I tried using an old screwdriver but ended up getting tiny bumps that don't make the body look any better. Auto repair shops could probably help with this one. - David Lyga

[paul ron]

It's like doing auto body work, tap outside n back it with a dolly... and a light toutch is key. Start by using a blunt dolly to get it to "almost there shape," then work it out as needed to finish. You are working on a rounded corner with flat sides, so a round rod of an appropiate diameter is needed to tap it to finish. Also be careful since you are woking on thin aluminum or brass, it is maliable and will stretch as you hit it repeadily.

http://www.google.com/search?q=auto+...2&ved=0CEcQrQQ

as an idea of what I am talking about.

.

[bdial]

Keep in mind that the metal is already stretched to get from flat to whatever shape it has now. And the more you shape it the harder it becomes due to "work hardening". Depending on the shape, getting a dent out that deep entirely will be difficult if not impossible by cold-working, but reducing it, or making it look a little better is probably feasible.

[David Lyga]

Thank both of you gentlemen. I knew that this would not be easy but the key seems to be 'slow, careful, and rounded' (to conform with the shape of the dent). - David Lyga