Safely Secure the Bonnet Panel
In this video, I’ll talk about how to safely secure your bonnet panel. As we are out on a road to fix dents using Paintless Dent Removals. So we need to secure that bonnet panel to allow optimum leverage and accessibility when we fix dents.
Let's take a look at this example where I am using some very cheap plastic A-frame style stand. You can invest in a specific bonnet panel stand and for this example, we're using these stands.
Securing the Bonnet Panel
I have my ratchet strap from TDN tools where I have the hook going into a hole in the rear of the bonnet panel. I threaded the cord underneath my stand so that is part of holding the bonnet panel down to the stand. And then from the back, I've got my ratchet strap going around to the front section of the bonnet panel. Now on one particular panel, I've got an open section with a brace. So I've threaded it through and I'm making sure I keep it nice and even.
On the other side, I go underneath the stand. I've got this side of my ratchet strap hooked in again to the back section of the bonnet panel. So once you've got it set up you pull the slack through the ratchet with some tension. The most important thing is to make sure that your bonnet panel is secure.
No Movement in the Panel
What you're looking for here is that there must be no movement in the panel. And once you start pushing from the underside it should stay to that stand. So once again I have the hook through the rear of the bonnet panel. So on the back end of the bonnet panel, I’m threading it under the stand right through to the front back out. And again to the back and by going front to back or back to front. It helps and gives me a nice secure panel to start practicing on.
Now let's take a look at it in a real-life example in Paintless Dent Removal. So using our training car I’ve got an adjustable bonnet prop on that front panel. Now, these adjustable props are brilliant to allow you to work at the optimum height and level. Using that same ratchet strap I've got it connected from the bonnet panel down to the front panel. Here you can see where I've got that hook going through the lock hole on the front panel. Make sure that that rope is nice and tall and holding some tension in my panel.
Double Check for Safety
In repairing damages using PDR you need to be careful about where you place your ratchet straps and your bonnet prop. You're looking to have tension on the panel to prevent movement. It's very important to make sure that it will not slip and damage the panel or the car that you are working on.
Once you're set-up, double-check that there's no slack in that rope and that your bonnet is nice, safe, and secure.
I hope this will help new trainees out there especially on how to set up your practice panel.
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