I have a dent in the bottom of the pan, check out the pics, no harm trying to get it out and re use the pan. my question is do I go big and heavy and try and smack it out (notice the crease/dent and how it goes into a curve on the pan....) or try and work it out a bit more gently?

 

Thats a soft dent the crease is not very sharp a hammer and dolly will do the job but since the gauge is a bit thick and it's in a corner it will take some muscle but once you get it close ot it's original shape it will be easy to smoot out. If you dont have a hammer and dolly a block of wood and a 3lb sledge or wide faced hammer will work too but be carefull with the bigger hammers. I would lat the pan flat against the crease ad hammer it out so you can use the ground as a dolly once you get it close use something smaller to re shape it .

 

thanks for the suggestions.....hard to see in the pic but is a very sharp, steep dent, almost "pointy" on the inside of the pan. Will this metal crack or maybe the drain bolt nut will pop loose if I smack it???

 

I'd use the end of a 2x4 and a hammer to form it as close to what it used to be.

 

i would put the pan on the gound, place a 2 foot long or so 2x4 right into crease and as mentioned a heavy sledge...should be able to make it look decent

 

also...heating with a torch first might help

 

...and if it cracks, then you can get a replacement. You can't lose by trying.

 

Replacements are about 60 bucks from summit for the 5 qt pan. But you should be able to fix it.