- I'm looking for information on car dent scanners. 

- The phrase 'car dent scanner' may not be the exact term used to
describe the actual device. It could be called something similar or
very different.

- It is a device/process used to electronically count the size/number
of dents left on an automobile after a hail storm.

- The device may vary in size but my interest is in those that are
handheld and can be used by one or two people.

- The device would largely be used by an automobile smash repairer to
effectively quote the repair of a hail damaged vehicle. Or, by an
insurer for the same purpose.

- Specific information that I am looking for is what is available on
the market. I would like as many variations of this product found. How
much they cost? Who manufactures/sells them?

If anything else is required, please do not hesitate to ask.

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 01 Sep 2006 22:01 PDT

Eggz,

Where and when did you hear about this product?

Can you give us additional details?

Thanks, 
Bobbie7

---

Clarification of Question by eggz-ga on 03 Sep 2006 19:24 PDT

Hello,

To clarify my initial question.

- Im looking for any portable electronic device that can be used to
scan large surface areas for variation in height.

- The device would use some kind of laser technology to achieve such a task.

- I dont have any specific information about a product that does this
other than that the technology does exist.

If there is any else, do not hesistate to ask.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 04 Sep 2006 12:50 PDT

eggz-ga,

Interesting question, but most of the surface scanning equipment I've
seen uses ultrasound, and you've specifically asked for laser-based
scanners.

Is there a particular reason for specifying lasers?  

Also, how portable were you thinking?  Even the portable scanners
available typically have large scanner elements that aren't quite
put-it-in-a-shoulder-bag size.


Here's an example of one such ultrasound-based portable scanner:


http://www.ndts.net/htm/maus.htm



I don't think this is what you're looking for, but perhaps you can let
me know how far off the mark it is, and why.

Thanks,

pafalafa-ga

It is an interesting concept, but I'm not sure it really has a
practical application.  I have operated a body shop in Gainesville FL
for 30 years now, and have dealt with lots of hail dented cars.
Whenever I estimate a job with numerous small dents I don't bother
counting them, because I'm not dealing with them on an individual
basis.  Even a car with no visible dents can have a tiny dent "show
up" after you "make it shine"!

When I see a lot of small dents on a panel, I add an hour or two per
panel for the additional body work required.  The repair process is
like this:

You sand the entire panel down with 80 grit paper. Then you metal prep
the bare metal spots.  The paint will be left in areas that are
dented. Body filler is wiped on each of these areas: many small dents
are really easier than one big dent! You sand it down and prime it.  I
often use 2 different colors of primer, or use a cheap can of black
spray paint lightly dusted over the primer, so that when I sand the
primer down again it will show up any low spots that I missed the
first time.  When the panel sands off "clean" the dents are all gone!

There is also a product called "sandy" that is a spray-on filler. It
will fill shallow imperfections.

I HAVE used a laser tape measure to project a straight line down a car
to spot body damage.  The line will "waver" over a bad spot.  I'm just
not sure a precise "dent census" would be of that much use, since at
some point a lot of small dents are the same as, or even easier than,
a single large dent on a body panel.