Removing dents with a steel ball and a magnet

[SteveW]

Was flicking tv channels yesterday and caught an old episode of The Repair Shop.
Guy was fixing dents in the tube of a vintage telescope with a ball bearing probably in excess of an inch diameter on the inside and a large magnet on the outside.
He said the magnet had a pull of 26kg and he slowly massaged the dents out by working the ball over the dent with the magnet.

Wonder if this would work on fuel tanks, exhausts etc. I appreciate the metal is probably thicker but might be worth a go.

[taysidedragon]

I saw that Steve. I'd like to try that. The magnet looked quite small for the power, was it an electromagnet?

[SteveW]

No, just a permanent magnet.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I guess you are still left with the other problem of stretched metal to hide.
My 500 has a nice crease on the left hand front where the front fork looks as though it has met the tank - also the old column had the bent lock stop. Not sure if they are related.

In the 1970s lead filler would have sorted it - it was great stuff to work with back in the day but not on fuel tanks!

[Trigger]

Any dent removal is down to the type of metal, the thickness and the access to the rear of a dent. 

[Moorey]

  Was the telescope tube brass and non ferrous.

[taysidedragon]

  Was the telescope tube brass and non ferrous.

Yes.

[Moorey]

   Then I would think most of the magnetic force would be lost to the tank and virtually no control over the bearing inside. Try it on a biscuit tin.

[Rozabikes Tim]

Also thin walled and relatively soft?