Paintless dent repair, or PDR, is a form of art. It is the most effective and least invasive method of automobile body repair and is great for removing body line dents, creases, door dings, hail dents, and more. It is also much quicker and less expensive than work from a traditional body shop.
A master of PDR needs to have a high level of hand-eye coordination. He or she can make dents disappear from the body of your vehicle while maintaining the original factory paint and structural integrity. All of this is done without grinding, sanding, or repainting the car. A talented PDR technician can remove damages on steel, aluminum, and high strength steel panels.
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The PDR Process
The paintless dent repair process may seem simple, however, it is more challenging than it looks and requires a skilled technician for it to be performed correctly.
Let’s take a look at the main steps involved in the PDR process.
1. Damage Assessment
Proper damage assessment is a critical first step in repairing any damage. The PDR technician will need to take a close look at a variety of factors that could apply to your specific dent. This includes:
- Size of the dent: How big is your dent? Is it the size of a baseball, watermelon, or larger? Larger and sharper dents will need more expertise and skill to repair.
- Location of the dent: Where is the dent located? Is it on the body line? Is it on the door or near the door handle? Dents in certain areas require special knowledge and skill to repair correctly.
- Type of vehicle: What is the year, make, and model of the car? Is it an older or newer car? Is it a luxury car? Luxury cars are more complex and require special attention to small details.
- Type of metal: Is the metal aluminum or steel? What type of steel is it? Is it regular or high strength steel? Aluminum and high strength steel panels are more difficult to repair.
- Access to the dent. Can you access the dent from the backside of the panel, or does it require you to remove panels to gain access?
- Paint surface: Is the paint intact or does it need additional detailing like buffing or touch up?
2. Selecting the Right Tools
There are many different paintless dent repair tools and choosing the correct tools will make the repair process run a lot smoother. These tools come in all different shapes and sizes depending on the type and location of the dent.
Rods are perfect for open and easily accessible areas like hoods and quarter panels. Hooks are useful for doors and for getting behind door braces.
3. Gaining Access to the Panel.
This will vary based on the type of repair being done. With some dents gaining access can be much more difficult.
4. Setting Up a PDR Light Board.
PDR light boards are uniquely designed to help you navigate and see the tip of your tool behind the door. This light helps you see every tiny imperfection.
5. Massaging the Dent Out
Now, the PDR technician will start applying pushes. It is important that the pushes are directly in the center of the dent, otherwise, you will end up with a volcano effect. A volcano effect is when you push everything around the dent but miss the center. This process requires patience and time.
When you get dents where getting access is tough, the repair will require other methods such as glue pulling, blending, or heat magnetic induction.
PDR Techniques
There are four common techniques for paintless dent repair. Your PDR technician will choose the one that works best for you depending on the type of dent.
Pushing Technique
The pushing technique is the traditional way to repair dents and is done by using hand tools such as rods, picks, hooks, flat bars, and more. PDR technicians will gain access to the backside of the dent and use these tools to apply pressure and massage the dents out.
This technique works best on sharp dents and for finishing larger dents. It allows for good control and precision when you need it.
Heat Magnetic Induction
Heat magnetic induction is the latest and most advanced method of PDR. It is designed to work on small and shallow dents. It is not effective on larger or sharper dents.
Glue Pulling
The glue pulling technique is great for when you can’t get behind the damage with a tool. This method can be time-consuming because it is not as precise as the pushing technique. It usually takes multiple pulls and knockdowns before you get perfect results.
This method also has its limitations. It is not recommended to use this technique on repainted panels because if the paint is not original, then there is a good chance of pulling it off the vehicle.
Blending and Knockdown Techniques
This is a new method of dent repair that uses a special blending hammer with polished tips.
It works by using the blending hammer to knock around the dent to create vibrations. These vibrations cause the metal to move back to its pre-accident condition.
The blending method is great for small and shallow dents and is also useful for finishing larger dents.
Benefits of PDR
There are many benefits to using paintless dent repair over traditional body repair. Let’s break down some of these benefits further.
- Keeping the original paint: With PDR you don’t have to get your car repainted. Skilled PDR technicians are able to massage the dents out without damaging the paint on your vehicle.
- Maintaining original parts: Typical body repair shops will often replace damaged parts. With PDR, you can save the original parts and restore your vehicle to its pre-accident condition without the need to replace parts.
- Fast turn-around time: Paintless dent repair is typically much quicker than a traditional body shop. Many PDR technicians can get your car back on the road the same day you drop it off.
- Environmentally friendly: PDR is the cleanest and most eco-friendly way of removing dents. PDR doesn’t use any paints or chemicals that are toxic to the environment.
- Saving money: Since PDR doesn’t require any paint or bodywork, it typically costs 50-75% less than traditional bodywork.
- Better for your vehicle: Paintless dent repair is the least invasive way to repair minor auto body damages. Since this method doesn’t involve any grinding, sanding, filing, or painting, it is better for your vehicle’s overall health.
PDR by the Pros
Does your car have dings or dents that you are looking to take care of? At JM Dent Repair we offer affordable services with quick results. Our technicians are so good you probably won’t be able to spot where the dent was originally.
Contact us today to learn more about how our paintless dent removal services will help you keep your paint pristine and restore your ride to like-new condition.