What is PDR?
Paintless dent removal, also known as paintless dent repair is a method of using specialised PDR tools to repair the dent. These specialised tools are used on the exterior back of the panel where accessible and massaged to the panel’s original bodywork.
There is a large variety of damage PDR can repair. Yet, the damage does need to be PDR qualifying in the first place for paintless dent removal.
How is PDR done?
A dent removal usually involves the same process for each repair. The procedure tends to stay the same, but with different dents, different approaches are often required.
For instance, the dent can be small or large. The dent location can be accessible or inaccessible. Moreover, the make of the car, the structure etc. can all impact the whole dent repair process.
So, how is PDR usually done?
Assess the Damage
Firstly, before anything else is done, the dent master has a good look at the dent. He will find any problems that may appear and figure out how to deal with them. In general, this helps your dent specialist find the best approach to repair your dent.
Gain Access
For a successful dent repair to take place, a good entry point should be found. With a good entry point, the repair is faster, easier and cheaper. However, a poor entry can completely slow down the process itself and become more expensive for you.
Repair the Dent Damage
Lastly, special PDR tools are utilized to massage the dent from the exterior back of the panel. This process can take anywhere from 30 mins to a few hours. Also, high spots can form from the persistent massaging which then need hammering down. The combination of hammering down and massaging is generally used by all dent specialist.
Advantages of PDR
Many advantages come with paintless dent removal. Like most professions, the advantages that come with dent removal are in parallel with the skill of the dent master. In other words, an excellent dent master will save you much time and money. Whereas an unskilled dent master will your time and money and even worsen the quality of your vehicle.
Here are some advantages of dent removal.
Save on huge expenses
It is a well-known fact that the maintenance of the appearance of your vehicle can be both time-consuming and expensive. In particular, super frustrating and without PDR can cost you hundreds. Luckily, PDR removes the need for a trip to a Bodyshop saving you a fortune.
Save Time
With dent removal, you save lots of your precious time. Other methods of repair such as bodywork can take days to complete. Alternatively, PDR can take less than an hour or up to a few hours, putting your vehicle back on the road the same day.
No paint or fillers needed
No paints and fillers mean your vehicle stays new. That being said, when paints and fillers are used, no matter how well done, your vehicle will devalue.
Dent removal ensures that the damage is repaired with no trace of the dent itself and your vehicle stays new.
A Convenient Service
Getting your car dents fixed can be done at your home, your workplace or wherever is more comfortable for you. This makes PDR a more convenient service for you as a trip to the Bodyshop will waste your time and money.
Disadvantages of PDR
As you may have guessed, there are also some disadvantages to dent repair.
The Expertise of the Dent Master Matters
The result of any repair is wholly dependent on the skill of your dent master. In other words, an experienced dent master will give much better results. A less experienced dent master can cause more damage than there initially was.
Its recommended that you do your research and find the best dent master in your area.
It's not Auto Body Collision Repair
PDR does not embrace itself in fixing scratches or more serious collision damage. That's the job for your local auto repair shop. What PDR does embrace is a wide variety of dents ranging in all different kinds and sizes.
Can't Repair Inaccessible Damage
In some cases, dents are not accessible with various PDR methods. Dent removal requires access through the exterior back of the panel for the repair. So, if this is not possible then dent repair may not be possible. However, an expert dent master can usually find an entrance point where for another, it seemed impossible. Even so, there are some cases where such repair is genuinely impossible.
TIP: If a dent master tells you your dent is irreparable, check with other dent specialists, all dent specialist have varying expertise.
To Summarise
To conclude PDR is a desirable method of repair. It outweighs the disadvantages and can undoubtedly produce excellent results for your vehicle. To get the top quality service be sure to research your local dent masters in your area as a failed repair can do more damage than good.
