176 Section 2 Nonstructural Repairs
One way to raise a low spot is to use a pry pick. Pry
pricks are often used in confined areas or areas with
limited-access, such as the inside of a door or fender.
The pry pick is inserted from behind the panel to raise
the low area. The pick needs a surface to rest against
for leverage. Be sure this surface is strong. Figure 8-25
shows how this process works.
Sharply pointed picks can easily pierce or stretch
metal. Be careful. Round picks are less likely to pierce,
but they can still stretch the metal since the force is
concentrated in a small area. A pry pick is effective for
raising small low areas.
One difficulty in using the pry pick is positioning the
pick to raise the correct spot. This requires good eye/
hand coordination, because when the pick is placed
inside the panel, it is hidden from view. Unintentional
raising of an undamaged area will cause stretching. To
test for the correct location, insert the pick and slightly
raise the metal. Watch for movement on the outside of
the panel. Adjust the location of the pick as needed to
raise the right spot. Carefully push the metal out with
the pick.
Gradually restore the crown, starting at the ends
and working toward the center of the damage. Raising
a single point from the center of the low area can cause
problems on a high-crown panel. See Figure 8-26.
Another way to raise metal is to use welded-on draw
pins. This method does not require access to the back
side of the panel. In this method, the low area is stripped
to bare metal. Draw pins are then welded to the low area
as shown in Figure 8-27. The pins can then be raised
Dolly
A
B
Corrective
force
Figure 8-24. When leveling with a hammer and dolly,
tap on the highs and lows to vibrate the metal.
Outer
panel
Normal
contour
Inner panel
Pry pick
Figure 8-25. A pry pick can be used to raise low areas.
The pick uses the inner panel for leverage. This setup
can easily stretch metal, so raise the low area gradually.
A
B C
Figure 8-26. Raising the panel at point A will not restore
the crown. Instead, raising at point A will tend to form a
straight line between point A and points B and C. This
may raise point A to the proper height, but it will not
restore points B and C. To restore crown, raise points B
and C; then gradually work toward point A. This requires
some stretching of the metal.