Overview
Paintless dent repair (PDR), also known as "paintless dent removal", is a collection of techniques for removing minor dents and dings from the body of a motor vehicle.A wide range of damage can be repaired using PDR; however, usually if there is paint damage, PDR may be unsuitable. The most common practical use for PDR is the repair of hail damage, door dings, minor body creases, and minor bumper indentations. The techniques can also be applied to help prepare the damaged panel for paint. Such applications are referred to as "push to paint", or "push for paint". Limiting factors for a successful repair using PDR include the flexibility of the paint, and the amount the metal has been stretched by the damage incurred. Generally, the more shallow the dent, the greater the chance of paintless dent repair being a suitable option. Even dents with a several-inch diameter can be repairable with this method, as long as the dent is shallow and uncreased. Hence, often extremely sharp dents and creases may not be repairable - at least not without painting afterwards, although a very skilled master tech may surprise one with what he can get out.
Description
The most common methods of paintless dent repair utilize metal rods and body picks to push the dents out from the under side of the body panel. Additionally, glue and a specially designed tab may be used from the outside of the panel to pull the dents out. In either case, fine-tuning of the repair often involves "tapping" down the repair to remove small high spots , or shrink the metal, making the surface flat. Paintless Dent Repair may be used on both aluminum and steel panels. If a technician pushes too hard when creating these high spots, the paint will split and crack and the paint is ruined which means it will need to be touched up or the panel will now need to be painted. Master techs will not crack or chip the paint 99% of the time, although if the paint is not in good condition or the metal is cold it can crack and even the very best tech can not stop this from happening. When damage is too great, but it's still worth it to insurance company or tech, they will do something called "push to paint", which involves pushing it to be flat (paint almost always cracks in this situation). Because the body shop is going to repaint those panels anyway, this saves time and money. Quality technicians can use high spots (note that with a quality tech there should be no high spots that are readily visible) that are barely visible to match the texture of the paint. Fluorescent lighting, or in some cases a reflection board, is used to see the shadows created by the deformation of the dent. This is an important aspect of the repair process. Without a Paintless Dent Repair board or reflector board, the fine detail of the process is unseen, and technicians cannot locate their tools specifically and cannot remove the damage accurately. Moving the tool under the panel allows the rod to be seen. While this is true with beginning techs a true master tech does not need much to know where his or her tool is. Most techs who have been in the business for a few years do not use a reflector board. The process of Paintless Dent Repair requires a technician to specifically push exact locations of metal to a precise height, which can only be witnessed with use of a PDR reading instrument, such as a Paintless Dent Repair reflector board or Paintless Dent Repair light. Paintless dent removal takes years to learn; it is more of an art than a specific set of skills. The ability to successfully remove dents and dings is learned through trial and error with some common know how. An untrained individual can actually damage a dent if attempting a repair without the correct skills and knowledge. There are many training centres around the world that provide training. Typically, the paintless dent repair course teaches the skills required for the various aspect of the trade such as pushing, glue and pull techniques, and the quotation process. Some courses offer more advanced additional components such as the requirements in setting up a paintless dent repair business. Most courses range between 20 to 45 days up to several weeks or even months. Nevertheless, upon completion of courses, it is common place that graduates are encouraged to pracice the skills frequently, even daily if possible. Although statistics in the industry are not readily available, it is suggested that a high failure rate is commonplace if such a routine of regular practice is not adopted. Some of the common reasons of failure for graduate technicians to progress into the industry is not having the time due to work commitments, insufficient funds to change careers, and inappropriate planning.
Paintless dent repair (PDR), also known as "paintless dent removal", is a collection of techniques for removing minor dents and dings from the body of a motor vehicle.A wide range of damage can be repaired using PDR; however, usually if there is paint damage, PDR may be unsuitable. The most common practical use for PDR is the repair of hail damage, door dings, minor body creases, and minor bumper indentations. The techniques can also be applied to help prepare the damaged panel for paint. Such applications are referred to as "push to paint", or "push for paint". Limiting factors for a successful repair using PDR include the flexibility of the paint, and the amount the metal has been stretched by the damage incurred. Generally, the more shallow the dent, the greater the chance of paintless dent repair being a suitable option. Even dents with a several-inch diameter can be repairable with this method, as long as the dent is shallow and uncreased. Hence, often extremely sharp dents and creases may not be repairable - at least not without painting afterwards, although a very skilled master tech may surprise one with what he can get out.
Description
The most common methods of paintless dent repair utilize metal rods and body picks to push the dents out from the under side of the body panel. Additionally, glue and a specially designed tab may be used from the outside of the panel to pull the dents out. In either case, fine-tuning of the repair often involves "tapping" down the repair to remove small high spots , or shrink the metal, making the surface flat. Paintless Dent Repair may be used on both aluminum and steel panels. If a technician pushes too hard when creating these high spots, the paint will split and crack and the paint is ruined which means it will need to be touched up or the panel will now need to be painted. Master techs will not crack or chip the paint 99% of the time, although if the paint is not in good condition or the metal is cold it can crack and even the very best tech can not stop this from happening. When damage is too great, but it's still worth it to insurance company or tech, they will do something called "push to paint", which involves pushing it to be flat (paint almost always cracks in this situation). Because the body shop is going to repaint those panels anyway, this saves time and money. Quality technicians can use high spots (note that with a quality tech there should be no high spots that are readily visible) that are barely visible to match the texture of the paint. Fluorescent lighting, or in some cases a reflection board, is used to see the shadows created by the deformation of the dent. This is an important aspect of the repair process. Without a Paintless Dent Repair board or reflector board, the fine detail of the process is unseen, and technicians cannot locate their tools specifically and cannot remove the damage accurately. Moving the tool under the panel allows the rod to be seen. While this is true with beginning techs a true master tech does not need much to know where his or her tool is. Most techs who have been in the business for a few years do not use a reflector board. The process of Paintless Dent Repair requires a technician to specifically push exact locations of metal to a precise height, which can only be witnessed with use of a PDR reading instrument, such as a Paintless Dent Repair reflector board or Paintless Dent Repair light. Paintless dent removal takes years to learn; it is more of an art than a specific set of skills. The ability to successfully remove dents and dings is learned through trial and error with some common know how. An untrained individual can actually damage a dent if attempting a repair without the correct skills and knowledge. There are many training centres around the world that provide training. Typically, the paintless dent repair course teaches the skills required for the various aspect of the trade such as pushing, glue and pull techniques, and the quotation process. Some courses offer more advanced additional components such as the requirements in setting up a paintless dent repair business. Most courses range between 20 to 45 days up to several weeks or even months. Nevertheless, upon completion of courses, it is common place that graduates are encouraged to pracice the skills frequently, even daily if possible. Although statistics in the industry are not readily available, it is suggested that a high failure rate is commonplace if such a routine of regular practice is not adopted. Some of the common reasons of failure for graduate technicians to progress into the industry is not having the time due to work commitments, insufficient funds to change careers, and inappropriate planning.