The Craft of Car Ding Deconstruction and Restoration: 4 Major Factors of Paintless Dent Repair
No matter how careful you are, your vehicle is susceptible to dings, scratches, and dents.
Whether it’s from that runaway shopping cart smashing into the side of your car at the grocery store parking lot, the unexpected hail storm, or a swinging car door opening unexpectedly and hitting the driver’s side, those inescapable little dents and dings always come when we least expect it. That doesn’t mean that they are there forever! Today’s body shop techs are highly-trained specialists that have been trained in the ancient art of paintless dent removal or PDR. Ok, it’s not an ancient art, but it’s definitely an art!
The concept of PDR is simple, the craft is another matter.
What is Paintless Dent Repair?
The name provides much-needed information. One of the main characteristics of this repair method is the fact that it does not require new paint. So if there is no new paint involved, how does a tech repair the dent? The central component of this type of dent removal is the tools involved and the technique used, which involves going behind the area of the dent and messaging it back into place.
The Birth of the Auto Body Shop
Before we get to some of the nitty-gritty in the PDR industry, let’s dive into how auto body repair began and how it developed into an industry in its own right. The well-regarded sometimes controversial and rough-and-tumble (not to mention controversial) CEO Alfred P. Sloan played a role in not only the creation of modern corporations and the ascent of General Motors but was also involved in the way that car manufacturers looked at the aesthetic creation of their vehicles.
Sloan succeeded in stirring public interest towards the aesthetic features of the vehicles, keeping customers perpetually hungry for more and driving the idea of branding. Sloan merged engineering and art to create specialized products. He did this through a slogan of “a car for every purse and purpose,” therefore re-branded GM into several categories with the Cadillac being at the top to Chevrolet at the bottom. It wasn’t just about making cheap cars anymore.
Many say that this led to a split in the industry that separated how manufacturers focused on their vehicles.
The split looks a little like this:
Automotive repair industry:
- Engine work and innovation
- Chassis work and repair
- Electrical work in the vehicle
- Fuel systems and types
- Transmissions and axles
Auto body industry:
- Vehicle repair preparation
- Windshield and glass
- Alignment
- Retexturing
- Paint mixing, application, and buffing
- Dent repair
Factors That Make PDR Effective
While PDR may not be ideal for larger and move obvious dents, the technique has become the go-to for many professional auto shops when it comes to dents and dings that meet certain criteria. Here’s what you need to know about paintless dent repair:
Factor #1 — Ensure the Process Will Work For Your Vehicle
It is the least invasive way of dent repair, but it might not always work for your specific type of damage. PDR does not require a technician to mess with the existing paint or remove any of your vehicle’s components. This technique means that there is no need to mess with the bodywork of your vehicle, which can lower its value. If a vehicle has a custom paint job, PDR is the way to restore the integrity of the initial job. And yet, although the technique remedies many bad dings and unsightly impressions, several factors can restrict the technique. These factors include the size of the dent, the coating’s brittleness, and limitations of access to the dent.
Factor #2 — It is Less Expensive than Regular Dent Repair
It will typically be less expensive than regular car repair. Although it may vary in some situations, paintless dent removal will usually be less expensive because it does not require so many hours of labor and bodywork. At the same time, when worked on by a professional and experienced technician, the process is much faster. That means that customers get their vehicles back more quickly.
Factor #3 — Requires Specialized Tools Made for the Job
The tools of the trade are part of the craft. The process of paintless dent removal heavily depends on using the right tools for the job. The tools for this dent removal technique are made to provide access to the dents, and at a quick glance, appear relatively simple but offer a variety of shapes that allow technicians to reach difficult dents and dings in different locations of a vehicle.
Factor #4 — Requires an Experienced Auto Tech
The technician is half the battle. PDR relies heavily on specialized tools to complete the job, but the main component is having a well-trained technician that knows what they are doing. Because PDR requires that no bodywork is done, a route to find how to access the dent must first be determined. For example, if the damage is in the front-end or rear-end, the headlight and taillight assemblies can be removed to open up access for the tools. If the door ding is on the door panel, the tech can access the dent through water drain holes, wiring harness channels, reflectors, or other holes that the manufacturer established.
That’s only half the battle! Once the best route is found and the least invasive access is established, the technician must know how to properly massage and handle the dent to ensure its complete removal.
Get Rid of Your Dings and Dents With the Pros at C & D Dent Guys
Here at C & D Dent Guys, we are in love with the process of paintless dent removal. So much so that we have established our own PDR training institute. We train technicians year-round to learn the craft of PDR to help restore vehicles to pristine conditions.
Our technicians are always practicing and learning the new tricks of the trade, plus have access to the industry’s most precise tools. If you’re ready to see your car’s condition return to brand new, call us at C & D Dent Guys today!