On Fri, 24 Jun 2005 22:00:19 -0700, Kevin McMurtrie
<mcmurtri@dslextreme.com> wrote:

>In article <C71ve.2077$Q27.477@trndny02>, "Jason" <none@none.invalid>
>wrote:
>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I've got a 2002 CRV and a small dent from a softball in the hood. Any idea
>> how I could get this out myself?
>
>It's harder than you think so don't practice on a highly visible part of
>your car. The catch is that the metal will be very slightly stretched
>if you simply push the dent out. It will have ripples or stick out a
>bit too far. The dent has to be worked out gradually and evenly so the
>metal is compressed back to its original form.
>
>If a fender ever gets crushed you can practice on that and then throw it
>out.

Right. Just pay the $99 and take it to the Dent Doctor or similar
place. They have ways to get at the back side of almost everything
and "massage" the dent out without hurting the paint and clearcoat.

The small dent with the softball might be the exception, If there are
no sharp creases -- i.e., if it left just a smooth crater, you might
be able to apply a (industrial-strength) SUCTION CUP to it and pop it
back out.
Ron