Collision Repair Supplement - 0820 - 15

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

Dent Fix Equipment
MAXI DF-505/220V

The quick setup won over this tool reviewer.
by Kayla Oschmann, Assistant Editor

The Dent Fix Equipment MAXI DF-505/220V is a
220V, single-phase steel dent pulling station that
provides the technician with the power they need
to shrink, pull rocker panels, hail damage, creases,
dents in hard-to-access areas, and repair all types
of metal damage. According to the company,
the tool's efficiency increases productivity while
producing a cleaner, better repair. With the
addition of the Magnetic Key Electrode, the MAXI
can now weld flat or twisted keys tightly together
for a more controlled pull. Users can expand their
pulling arsenal with the optional Bridge Puller (No.
DF-505BP) and Ding Massager (No. DF-505DM).

THE REVIEW:

S

etup time can make all the difference when selecting which
piece of equipment to use
for a job. This holds true for Jack
Thornton, autobody technician at
Brennan Bodyworks in Orlando,
Florida. Although he has another
dent pulling station in the shop, he
prefers the Dent Fix Equipment MAXI
DF-505/220V because it's easier to
set up and easier to maneuver around
the shop.
"[The MAXI] doesn't come with a big,
bulky station," Thornton says. "The other
one we have pretty much does the exact
same [work], but it's a lot harder to set
up and speed-wise we obviously want to
be efficient."
The setup time was just minutes,
Thornton says. It's a matter of unrolling
the cord, plugging it into the wall, and
once the metal is cleaned, the machine
is attached and ready to go. Once the
metal work is done, technicians then
sand it down and start on the filler
work. Thornton noted that sometimes
he didn't have to do filler work because
the machine pulled the dents out nicely.
Brennan Bodyworks is a collision
repair shop that specializes, and is certified, in Audi and Porsche. Thornton
has used the MAXI on most, if not all,
Audi's that have steel panels, as well as
Porsche. "I've used it on any steel panel
that you can repair; it's very versatile,"
Thornton says.

He did note
that there are
guidelines to follow from manufacturers to
know what can
be repaired versus what needs
to be replaced.
For example,
if there is a
kink in a
rear body
panel that
has been
dented but
is in a certain crush
zone, that
panel needs to
be replaced,
he says. If
it's a couple
of dents that
are pushed in a
bit, then he will use the
MAXI to pull them out.
His favorite feature is
the handle. He likes how he
can use the lifter bar and attach
a welded rod (included) to pull out dents
with leverage off another adjacent panel,
or wheel, without causing any damage.
In addition, Thornton noted the MAXI
has different settings that can be adjusted
depending on the job and that it comes

with several attachments that can
be easily changed.
Instructions were included.
Although, he said the machine
was easy to understand and that
he was able to figure it out. He
did read the precautionary items
for safety.
"It's an advanced tool,
but at the same time
it's a simple tool," he
says. "It's pretty selfexplanatory."
He made one slight
adjustment to the unit.
He switched out the
magnet on the grounding
clamp with a magnet that he
is able to turn on and off. The
original magnet collected metal
shavings and with the replacement magnet, he can drop the
metal shavings easily.
"That's the only thing I
changed on it, but that was just
my preference," he says. "The
magnet was fine."
According to Thornton,
the Dent Fix Equipment MAXI
DF-505/220V is a great tool, and he loves
having it in the shop.
"Once you learn how the tool works
and the settings [necessary for each job],
it's a 'grab and go' tool to get your job done
efficiently and effectively and still put out
quality work," he says.
August 2020 I Collision Repair I 15
Collision Repair Supplement - 0820

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Collision Repair Supplement - 0820
