okay, so a not-really trusted friend decided to impress me with his knowledge of dent removal. he said that the best method for removing SMALL dents (say, from an idiots door parked next to you) was to heat up the dented area with something very warm (he suggested a blowtorch, but im thinking maybe heating pad?) and then applying something very cold to the particular area (he suggested dry ice, which i think would be fine, wrapped in something of course). what are your thoughts on this?

I'd say you're looking at a heart break. The idea behind it is that the hot and cold will expand and contract the metal. But, I don't know if I'd be putting a blow torch anywhere near my paint. Unless of course I was driving a hooptie and then I probably wouldn't care.

We have a place called Dent Terminator'* here and it'* amazing what they can do. Someone left a shopping cart out and it hit my car and put a dent in my passenger side door I thought would never come out. I took it to these guys and you'd never know it was ever there. IMO, I say leave it up to the pros when it comes to things like this. They have the skills and the tools and it only cost a few bucks.

I never heard it having to be that hot before, most of the time just the heat from sitting in the sun is enough.

its an OLD body trick from before Bodyfiller ever existed and metal finnishing or lead was the only options at hand, if oy udid that you WILL have to repaint also metal is alot thinner these day so it would likely warp to $hit, the paintless dent guys can work wonder...that why i dont like them (im a autopainter for those that dont know)

hm. upon reading the results, i think im gonna have to nix it until i try it on my brothers car.

That method can be used to shrink metal, It was taught up at Wyotech. But on small dings you can get paintless dent repair which is using picks and such from the inside of the panel. If the car will be painted anyway, a good hammer and dolly set will take care of those pesky little dents.