Pulling a dent from fuel tank

[cee-b]

I was playing around on my trialler and dropped it (not unusual ) putting a dent in the fuel tank. It is not bad, but I'd prefer to pull it as the bike is quite tidy (it won't let me post a pic as they are too many MB).

I've got a hot-glue dent puller which has taken a far worse dent out of my Landie Defender door, but the glue just doesn't hold on the bare ali tank well enough to get a decent pull.

Has anyone come across this problem before and found a solution? I know I could send the tank away to get 'fettled' but it is a simple enough job if only I can find a way to get the hot glue to stick - or a better glue?

Edit: A bit more on what I did to prep before glueing:

I rubbed the area down with fine emery to de-gloss it. I then cleaned it with acetone - acetone actually removes hot-glue, so I finished it by cleaning with isopropanol.

[chaz]

by the very nature of Aluminium, it is an oily material which puts a barrier between the glue and the metal. if it does sick, you could try some gentle heat to help. when plating aluminium we need to etch have a look at https://www.metallographic.com/Metallographic-Etchants/Metallography-Aluminum-etchants.htm

[cee-b]

Thanks Chaz, I forgot to say that I was also pre-warming it with a heat gun.

I wonder whether I might be better off giving it a flash of paint, pulling it, then stripping the paint back off?

[Norton650]

Try filling it with water and freezing it worked on a oil tank

[Mike Farmer]

 

Now that's a fine idea. Does the dent just push out as the natural ice expansion occurs.

Well live and learn---brilliant site.

Mike

[cee-b]

Try filling it with water and freezing it worked on a oil tank

Thanks for the suggestion. I've done that on a gentle dent in an exhaust can, but the danger with that technique is that it swells everywhere There is a fair chance of splitting the seams or even the tank; I'm not prepared to risk it.

[ducati2242]

can you get a different glue stick . Something that will set harder maybe .