Dent removal help!

I absolutely can't get a dent removed from a fender. Can see in the photo the area of the dent. It's about 1/16 - 1/8 inch low right now. I've tried to hammer and dolley it - the metal just won't move! I swear, hit it with a normal body hammer and it just won't smooth out any. Even hit it with a 2 lbs hammer, still doesn't budge. How do these guys on tv make it look SO simple? I've used torches to try and shrink it too, but doesn't seem to work real well. I heat up a small area - probably nickel sized - to a light red, cool with an ice water soaked rag. That has gotten rid of an oil canned area, but still just can't get it straight. What do I need to do??? I've literally spent hours hammering and it's minimally better then when I started.

Another photo

Are you using a pick hammer up against a dolly to shrink the dent?

Have just been using the flat side against the dolley. It's probably like ~ 1-2" dia.

Using the flat face of the hammer up against the dolly makes the metal thinner, which is why the dent won't go away. You need to shrink the excess metal so using the pick end of the hammer against the dolly would be a better plan.

Use a very light touch with the hammer and keep the dolly pressed up against the work area.

I'm no body working pro, but I have good luck removing door dings and such using this method.

Ok, I worked this thing like MAD with the pick and it's no better, if not worse! It seems like I'm able to flatten out maybe an inch or two, but as I start working from the outside in, I just "push" the metal into a huge dent. Do I just have junk hammers? Something wrong with the technique? Any help will be greatly appreciated, oh, and man my wrist hurts from all the hammering!

Is the dent small enough that you can try shrinking it with a torch at this point?

Are you trying to finish it with no body filler? Unless your a pro you might have to settle for getting it as close as you can and let the minor imperfections slide. I wouldn't get too upset with a small 1/16" low spot, especially if this is your first attempt at this kind of work.

Also you shouldn't be swinging the hammer with any real force. The weight of the tool is enough to do the job, especially the pick end.

I'll certainly use some filler, just wanted to get it as straight as I could before hand though. I haven't been hammering real hard, I just worked the metal for probably 2hrs straight is all. Sounds like maybe I need to do some dolly-off hammering from some other information I've found. I am going to try to shrink with the torch some more - have to go to a buddies house to do so though.

You have stretched the area, and will have to shrink a lot more of it. Try more areas around the edge of the bulge. Only heat an area once. after that, move over, going around the bulge, then working your way in.
They have those shrinking discs too, but from the pictures and description, it's too stretched for that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6rPdaZQ7_c

cut a slice in it, then hammer it out and weld it.

This looks like an A-body fender(?) Are there any buckles above the area worked? If so were they spooned as you worked the dent? It appears the upper body line is still driven in or nonexistent (flattened), this will dictate the damaged area. It also looks like the body line below the dent and forward of the bracing, is flat. What you have is a flat area where the body line used to be and a buckle below it. (see photo)
Is there damage to the edge and a 'V' type dent just forward of the edge? If that edge is driven forward then the panel may be 'short' in the area of damage, also adding to your frustration.

Yea it's a 70-72 A-body fender. The body line above the dent is bowed out a little. What do you mean by spooned? The upper body line is basically fine, maybe a 1" - 2" portion is raised. The lower line is damaged, it's a little better then where your line is drawn in, but it's rounded toward the front of the car.