I noticed a dent in the top of a guitar that I was working on this evening and did the old dent fix using heat and steam. The dent is history but it occurred to me that perhaps some folks would like to see a quick and easy method to fix dents.
Although my dented top was fixed before I had the idea to show how I did it I decided to recreate the dent and walk us though what I did.
Here is a scrap spruce top that I often use to test ideas. You need a soldering iron and having a flat paddle like thing (FPLT) helps distribute the heat and not make a new dent....... and works great too. I keep some distilled water in the shop at all times and we will use it here although distilled water is not a requirement. Also a straight edge, pencil, and a small, clean.... piece of T-shirt material and you are all set.
Attachment:
DSCN3116.jpg
Now we need to make a nasty dent so this should be fun to do....
Attachment:
DSCN3117.jpg
This looks nice and destructive.
Attachment:
DSCN3118.jpg
Since we will be covering the dent with a damp cloth it's a good idea to make some cross hairs so that you can correctly locate the soldering iron once the dent is covered with the dampened cloth. Make very light pencil lines and Bob's your uncle.
Attachment:
DSCN3119.jpg
Next I dampen the cloth with water and I want it moderately damp, not soaking wet, but with just enough water to help make some steam when heated.
The damp cloth is correctly positioned and the soldering iron is lightly pressed onto the cloth at the intersection of our cross hairs.
Attachment:
DSCN3120.jpg
With light pressure on the soldering iron and the paddle thing flat on the cloth I held heat for 5 seconds until I saw and heard some steam. I removed the soldering iron and cloth, checked the progress, and repeated this two more times.
Attachment:
DSCN3120.jpg
We now can see that the dent is mostly gone other than the dirt that remains from the screw driver.
Attachment:
DSCN3123.jpg
A quick, 10 seconds or so hit with the ROS and the dent is gone.
Attachment:
DSCN3124.jpg
To be continued.......
![[:Y:]](./images/smilies/smiley20.gif "Thumbs Up")
does that work just as good on finished wood?
![[clap]](./images/smilies/smiley32.gif "adulations")