Do you happen to be a car enthusiast? And do you love tinkering with cars? Then it would also be reasonable that apart from actually knowing all the parts of the

car, from its engine to its body, you should also have a clear idea on a few of the instruments that are used when fixing your vehicle. Apart from the typical wrenches and screw drivers that you use for all the nuts and bolts, as well as the occasional pliers for when you have to deal with wires, you should have a slide hammer.

What is it for?

Despite the name, the slide hammer is an instrument that is made not specifically for pounding things. Technically, this tool was created in order to pull out hard to pull bearings and bolts in the car. It can also be used in fixing car dents. It has four basic parts: the handle, the weight, the thread, the nut, and the screw or hook tip. The handle naturally is for gripping and it is equipped with a rubberized grip so that it will not slip when in use. The weight starts from 2 pounds and the bigger the slide hammer goes, the heavier the weight becomes. It is also equipped with a thread or a rod where the weight is inserted. On the other end, opposite from the grip is the nut, which is used to allow changing of the size of the removable tips, and the screws or hooks that are used to latch the instrument to the car or dent.

How to use the tool?

The slide hammer is typically used in removing a car dent. Though it seems quite easy, there is a simple step by step process you may need to follow in order to be successful in using this power tool. To help you, here are some simple tips:

Create a small hole on the different parts of the dented are of the car. If the dent is huge, then drill one hole in the middle and a few more on the surrounding area. Make sure that is big enough to accommodate the hook on the slide hammer. Now, using the screw on the end of the instrument, latch on the holes you have made on the dented part. If you are using a screw tip, turn the hammer a few times to make sure that it is properly latched on to the hole.

Placing one hand on the rubberized grip and holding the hammer firmly, slide down the weight towards the car. And in one fluid motion pull it as hard as you can. Repeat the process several times until you get the dented part to straighten out.

The same process should be repeated on the whole area of the car dent, pulling on each hole that was drilled on the surface. Once the dent is completely smoothened, then patch up the holes and paint the area where the dent used to be.

Apart from pulling dents, the slide hammer still has a lot of practical uses. It can be used to pull stubborn bolts that have been stuck or release car locks. However, because of the weight of the instrument, it should be used with utmost care in order to avoid any physical danger as well as any more damage to the car. You can purchase slide hammers and other car repair tools online here.