Paintless dent repair
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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.[1] 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. Hence, often extremely sharp dents and creases may not be repairable - at least not without painting afterwards.
[edit] History of Techniques
The technology of PDR has been around for many years, and has become popularly adopted for such purposes as lease return, auction preparation, rental car maintenance, and increasingly, consumer vehicle repair. Consequently, consumer-level awareness of the techniques has increased in recent years.[2]
[edit] Methods of Repair
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 the repair is ruined. Quality technicians can use these high spots 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. 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 time to learn; it is more of an art than a specific set of skills.[2] The ability to successfully remove dents and dings is learned through trial and error. An untrained individual can actually damage a dent if attempting a repair without the correct skills and knowledge. Paintless dent removal technicians can be located throughout the country by searching for their services online, or through the non-profit Trade organization, www.NAPDRT.org
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door before the dent has been removed
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door after repair
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Dent Repair
