A trucker’s investment in aluminum toolboxes can be pretty significant. High-quality aluminum toolboxes can run you upwards of $500 or more. The last thing you want is an accident that leaves dents in one of your truck trailer tool boxes. But things happen.
A. What do you do if a toolbox is dented?
First, don’t panic. There is a possibility that you could remove dents easily and without any further damage.
The following post provides a suggestion of how you could possibly fix a dented aluminum toolbox. Bear in mind that Mytee Products offers no guarantee that this procedure will work 100% effectively or that you will still be able to use your toolbox afterward. Also, please bear in mind that you need to be extremely careful when you are trying a quick fix to get a dent out and you have no other options. Otherwise, you might have to look for a suitable replacement. Read on to find out how to fix dents on tool boxes made of aluminum.
B. How to Fix Dents on Aluminum Trailer Tool Boxes?
i) Apply Heat and Force Method
Aluminum is a very pliable metal that is easily dented. A wayward forklift or a poor backing job can easily dent a toolbox in seconds. The keys to getting the dent out are heat and force.
If you search online, you may come across recommendations that include pounding away on the tool box with a hammer. You do need the force of a hammer, but what you don’t need are brute force and to keep hammering away at the trailer tool box to repair it. A few strokes of a hammer could do the job quickly if the dent isn’t deep.
ii) Step By Step Guide of Heat and Force Process
1. If the dent is too deep for a hammer you could make your life a lot easier, if you heat the metal with a blowtorch for as little as 2-3 minutes. Heating the aluminum will also reduce the chances of breaking welds or cracking the metal at the site of the dent.
2. Take a blowtorch and gradually heat up the metal at the site of the dent – and maybe a half inch all the way around. Once the metal is hot, begin gently tapping and with a hammer to see how it responds.
3. Gradually increase the force of the hammer until you start pushing the dent out. You may or may not have to continue heating as you hit the metal. It all depends on how severe the dent is.
Note: Before we proceed any further, we want to reiterate that you need to be extremely careful while following this method of fixing a dent. You do not want to damage your tool box.
iii) Things to Keep in Mind to Repair Trailer Tool Box Dent
A. What you absolutely want to avoid is continually heating and cooling the aluminum. This will cause unnecessary stress that could make the problem worse.
B. It is better to keep a low flame going while you are pounding out the dent than having to reheat the metal numerous times.
C. Once the dent is out, you’ll need to inspect the metal for any cracks or broken welds. Depending on how serious a broken weld is, you may have to take the box to a welder for additional repairs.
D. If the break is minor, you can use a brazing rod to repair it. Brazing rods also do wonders for cracks occurring at the site of the original dent.
C. Why to Fix a Dent of Aluminum Trailer Tool Box?
Now that you’ve read our simple procedure for fixing dented tool boxes, you might have two questions at the back of your mind;
a) As a supplier of tool boxes, why would we want to offer a solution and
b) Why a trucker would bother to fix a dent over just buying a new one.
Well, it comes down to a few things; firstly, we want to offer our customers solutions to make their life on the road easier.
Secondly, being on the road constantly doesn’t give truck drivers to option of just making a pit stop in the middle of the road and buying a new box that fits perfectly. Last but definitely not the least is space. The amount of storage on an 18-wheeler is limited to the number of available toolboxes installed on the rig.
Truck drivers have to fill their tool boxes with an endless supply of items ranging from bungee straps to tarps to hand tools and spare parts. Any experienced truck driver will tell you that there never seems to be enough storage space. Seeing that space is at a premium, truckers cannot afford dents in their toolboxes as it results in wasted space.
A small dent or wear over time may be fine, but larger dents that prevent the trucker from storing items they absolutely need to be there are no good.
