In the TV show Wheeler Dealers there was in one episode a fancy device in use: a computer calculating dent straightening machine, or whatever it would be called, working by measuring the dent, showing by laser or similar some spots on it - and the mechanics was then to weld a thin pin on each of those spots, connect the machine to the pins - and it would then push and drag as needed until the dent was gone. Does anyone here know about this - or a similar - machine? Would it work on a tank from a lamp? And, as the machine was apparently quite expensive, is there a chance that someone has a machine and can take orders on using it on the dented tanks? Just wondering
If it was a dent around the right side of the front of a car, then I believe it was this type of dentremoval you saw Jørgen . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcKx2ZqhlcU This link above wont Work on a a lamptank, at least not a brasstank. I dont recall the laser, so I might be wrong here. Claus C
It was something like this yes, and I am not sure about the laser, to be honest. But I do remember it as a bit more automatic than what is in your video, however, using the same kind of washers. It was a while ago... Why doesn't the concept work on brass?
It wont Work on brass because they make a point-welding and that might be possible to do on aluminium and steel but apparantly not brass. The best suggestion I have seen here on the CPL is this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vAM8_BEz7g I think the only limit here is the iron-ball you have to get in the tank. I did contact this Company and sended them a Picture of a dented tank so they could see what they were up against, but I still didnt hear from them here 5 days later. Well I just cheked my mail and they did respond this "Claus Eric Satterlee sells the magnetic dent removal system. You can find out the information by googling Magnetic Dent Removal System." Claus C
Very interesting! It looks like dent removal is a big business - there must be one of those methods that will work for a small fuel tank
Very interesting... Wonder if you could make something like this on your own? It seems if you could find the right size ball bearings and a good strong magnet you could make your own dent puller.
It must be so that the smaller balls one have the bigger magnet one need. Our tanks openings sets a limit for our balls. And our tanks are a bit thicker than a tubas material. I think using more small balls will make the dentremoval more difficult to control. It must be so, that under repair, a single ball should only touch a single point, unless the magnet has precise shape of the tank. I also think the magnet needs to be pretty big because of the tanks material thickness. Maybe this strong: Claus C
Looks quite powerfull! If the tank is pressurized it should get easier and require a less powerful magnet?
Ah KlogeJørgen - I didnt think about that, but you are absolutely right. The pressure in a tank is even considerable, just look in the bottom of many Tilley 246's Claus C
Maybe way of the mark but would pressurising the tank and applying moderate heat in the area of the dent work? Or would your dent become a bubble instead? Might give it a try some time and find out.
Sounds plausible, but with a tank such as those from Tilley, having various things soldered to the inside, I would be afraid of it all falling apart when heating the tank.
I would be careful heating a pressurised tank, as heating it will increase the pressure in an uncontrolled way and may cause the tank to burst.
How about going the middle way - with everything: Moderate pressure, a moderate size of steel ball and a moderate amount of magnetism from a device that would also provide a moderate amount of heat...? That would be the essence of what I have learned from living 10 years in Sweden: "lagom är bäst"... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagom
To prevent parts from Falling of when you heat, then it is also possible: Pump up the tanks pressure, hold the tank under water just not the bulge and then heat up the bulge Little by little. Depending on the bulge/dent's shape, it will pop out and Again depending on the former shape it will sometime leave sharpe edges around. Thats where this magnet comes in and will Work - I hope. BTW Critics of dentremoval says removing a dent will create a area potential giving stress-cracks. To eliminate this, it is possible to fill the tank with water - leave a Little bubble inside and move the bubble to below the dent. Then heat up around the dent to app. 350 Celsius with a blowlamp and voila. Work slowly and be carefull with nickel and chromed area. Claus C
On CCS side we had discussion about same subject: http://www.spiritburner.com/fusion/showtopic.php?tid/38919/ Maybe those techniques work for lanterns also...
Interesting ideas! I would never have thought of putting the tank into the freezer, but sounds plausible, and maybe the original paint can be saved this way. For a Tilley tank I would just be worried about what damage the ice could do to the inner parts. The pulling method (by soldering a screw to the tank and then pull it) is very much like the idea that started this thread, just more on the low-tech side, but I guess that it is a logical and fool-proof way to do it, it is practical and does not require a lot of special equipment - and it obviously works.
