Bent Control Panel, what to do?

Zud

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So how do you fix a bent control panel? It does not have a hard crease in it. It almost looks like it was made this way, but it wasn't. I was thinking of stripping the controls off and and rolling the back side of the panel with something smooth? :confused: What are your thoughts? The art on the control panel is in great shape by the way.
 
rubber mallet? Why not call a body shop and ask them?
 
Heck bring it with you and stop by to ask them in person, you might get lucky and they'll bang it back into shape for free just for the novelty of it.

Oh and lead hammers work good too if you hit it from behind where scratches won't matter.
 
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Put it between some really thick wood - like 2x12s, one the area you want flattened, and then drive a front car wheel over it. (Homemade press)

I'm being serious. I have used a car as a press to straighten many things, many times. Might have to park it like that for awhile. Just be careful about how everything lines up / make sure there is clearance for the other bends in the CP.

Or... Buy a press from Harbor Freight, fix the panel, then return the press. :rolleyes:
 
be careful to protect the overlay whatever you do. I know I was looking at a system 1 cp one time that had a bent corner. The seller tried to bend it back and caused more damage to the cpo.
 
I have a dead blow hammer for stuff like that. It's a tough plastic hammer filled with loose lead shot, they're commonly used for assembly and alignment on tight tolerance parts where a conventional steel hammer would damage the assembly.

It's also great for t-molding, and generally knocking the crap out of bent coin doors and control panels without causing nicks in the paint. Harbor Freight sells them, along with most large home improvement stores.

The main advantage a dead blow hammer has over a rubber mallet is there isn't any rebound with a dead blow hammer, by design. It's a very nice heavy, solid blow when struck.
 
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