straightening dents in side trim

[Drembo]

This is how I straightened the dings in the side trim strips of my Amazon.
First, I used 2 part putty, available on Amazon, to take an impression of a dent free section of trim. I placed the putty in a groove I cut into a piece of 2x4, and pressed the putty in so that it would go into holes I had drilled in the bottom of the groove at different angles, to lock the putty in place. Then, I pressed the dent free trim piece into the putty to make my mold. If you don't have a saw to cut the groove, you could add two strips to the 2x4 to make a groove of the appropriate size. The putty gets harder after curing for several days, at first it is probably too soft.
Then, I used a piece of plywood with a width that just fit into the back side of the trim piece. I shaped the contour of the plywood piece using a file and articulating paper. Articulating paper is essentially carbon paper used by dentists, and is available on Amazon also. Place a piece of articulating paper into the backside of the trim piece and slide the plywood piece along the paper. this leaves marks wherever the plywood touches the trim piece. Trim using the file until you have good contact all over the plywood piece, with no high spots.
Then, using a small hammer, place the trim piece into the mold, and tap out the dents with the plywood piece you just shaped.
I didn't take any pictures of the finished trim strip, but this worked pretty well.

[Burdekin]

Good stuff. I use a wooden lead chaser on my big leather sand bag and also works a treat.

[Derek UK]

For the 2 part putty you can use JB Weld. Sets quickly and is durable. Wax or lightly oil the strip before you clamp it down into the JB. Being stainless steel they can be smoothed with various grades of wet and dry before buffing on a wheel. Very rewarding when the result is good. For the less handy they are still available new at not too unreasonable prices.