Tank minor dent removal?

What's the best practice for fuel tank dent removal? I'm talking maybe half dollar size at maximum.
I've thought about those little welder things that weld a pin on to the metal and then you pull with a slide hammer...but don't the tanks have a coating of some sort on the inside that would get ruin by that heat?
Any thoughts?
Also, can anyone recommend a good website or book that provides good up to date (how-to) info on modern automotive (gas tank) painting? I'm more of a do it myself kind of guy...but everyone you ask seems to have a different take on modern auto paint these days. It gets confusing fast. Acrylic Lacquer was much simpler...if not a lot of work.
Mike

 

Mike, if they are just small dents, you are probably better to just fill them, if you pull them out they will still need filler.
Paint, I use, 2 pack primer, basecoat & 2 pack clear coat.

 

You better off to fill them. Had one the size of half a golf ball and filled it up and I was ready to put her pretty again

 

Really? The dents are pretty small for the most part...I've seen way bigger and deeper dents filled on cars, I suppose it makes sense.
Mike

 

If you try a stud welder to pull those sents you run the risk of blowing holes through the tank. If you are good with filler just fill them with body filler or if you want to get involved more you might be able to get some body lead and fill them and just have a thin layer of plastic over the lead. Check the Eastwood Website.
If the tank is coated inside with redcoat or POR15 you would be better off keeping the heat away.
Painting your tank is going to be the biggest investment. You should do a base coat clear coat paint job on your tank. It will hold up best from fuel spills. The magic trick is the hardner for the paint. Its expensve and comes in quanities that would be enough to paint a dozen tanks. Unless you have alot of painting to do I would suggest to have a body guy that does work out of his garage paint it for you. By the time you buy the primer and base paint and the clear you'll have extra materials sitting around that could go bad before you could get a chance to use them up. Just my 2 cents

Good luck and lets see some pics of your project

MN

 

I filled mine with JB weld, let it dry and sanded it down. 2 coats of primer and you would never know it was there. I did strip the tank down first with aircraft remover.

My .02c

Rob

 

There is a technique called paintless dent removal. I don't know how hard it is to do and I would actually practice on junk first but it looks like something nifty. Here is a good youtube video on it...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjOjYvT0jEU
hit the mute button. it's really annoying music.
There is a lot of vids about this.

 

Thanks, but mine needs paint anyway...
MN-Maxims...Thanks for your thoughts on the paint too. I was thinking the same thing about buying the materials.
Mike

 

The video shows a good idea to try to get the dent out of a tank, IF you can get to the dent. I tried it but couldn't get the correct angle to push out the dent.
Another idea that's worth a try is to use dry ice. You have to empty the tank and rinse it out first. Then use dry ice (with some very thick gloves on) to freeze the area till it's frosty, then heat it and the dent will usually come out. Some just let it sit out in the hot sun after freezing it (hard to find that around here this time of year in Minn.) or just use a heat gun or good hot blow dryer. The paint should still be intact that way.

 

The paintless dent removal system is quite good. It is best left to those trained in the use of the tools. I've tried with limited success. They have a series of different shaped tools to access most inaccesible spots. The reflected lines tells the technician when the panel is straight. They tap down any high spots left by their prying with a nylon punch until the panel is almost perfect. Cost me $35.00 to have a door dent removed from my Mustang. Cheap and only took 15 minutes, no disassembly no paint.