PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR
Just like many other great ideas, paintless dent repair, or PDR, has been around for many years. It was originally put into use in the mid-30s on the auto assembly lines. It was used to fix the dinged doors and banged up
fenders before they were put on the vehicles. They couldn't let perfectly good parts go to waste because of a little bump here or there. Just like many other great old ideas, it also didn't gain in popularity until recently.
PDR utilizes pusher rods and puller hooks to flex dented metal and work it back into its original shape, all the while minimizing the amount of body filler required for the repair. The process itself has also earned it the occasional title of the push-pull method. Heat can be used to make the metal more flexible, but you have to be careful to make sure that the paint doesn't blister. Although it has limits to what it can accomplish, it can be used be used to repair unsightly door dings, large dents, minor creases, and even hail damage. If the PDR is handled poorly, the metal in the dent or crease can suffer from stress fractures, where the metal is flexed too much or too rapidly. If it is done well, it is a beautiful thing to watch.
A well-trained technician uses the technique less as dent repair and more as an art form. The push bars and puller rods are worked by a master's hand in a delicate ballet, caressing the dent out of your vehicle. A reflective light is shined upon the dent as he works, giving him a visualization of the height of the metal. This gives him insight into making sure that he never works the metal too far.
The process has gained popularity over the years as technology in polymers has increased the flexibility and durability of the paints used, but the technician himself is the human element that ensures the quality of the performance received.
Why should you consider PDR? What is the greatest benefit behind paintless dent repair? One of the biggest benefits of it is the quality. The most common way to patch a dent in the past has always been to use a filler to cover the dent. A filler is a puddy that adheres the metal until it can dry and harden. Once it has hardened, it is then sanded down to a smooth finish and coated over with a paint that matches that of your vehicle. A patch done in this way could take weeks to complete and, even then, it will eventually give you some unforeseen problems. Dents that use this method will, eventually, have the filler begin to shrink and crack as it goes through temperature differences. You will also have to match the paint to that which is already on your vehicle when using a filler. Over time, the weather can cause your paint job to fade ever slightly. Even using the original color will not completely hide that the area has been repainted. Since paintless dent repair uses the original materials, there is no risk of shrinkage to the repair. The process also keeps the same paint, so you don't have to worry that the repair won't be able to match the color just right. Paintless Dent Repair is the only method you can use in which you are still able to keep the original paint that was used on the vehicle. This is an extremely important factor when considering dent removal for antique vehicles. Paintless Dent Repair will help you keep the classic paint so that the market value of your antique is not decreased.
The second benefit is that of your time. It is said that time is a man's most valuable resource because it is always fleeting, no matter how it is used. As mentioned already, using the filler method of dent repair is a time-consuming process. If done well, the puddy must be set and given time to dry. this process is repeated until the area has been completely faded to its natural contour. Once this has been achieved, the area is smoothed and polished to remove the gritty texture of the puddy. All this work just takes time and can't be rushed if a professional look is desired. Paintless dent repair doesn't have to allow for the same drying times that the filler requires. Most paintless dent repair can be completed in just a few hours and still maintain the most professional quality repair you could hope for.
The time saved leads us to the third and final greatest benefit. This benefit is one of the greatest benefits to many of us. That benefit is cost. The time required using a filler puddy means a costly endeavor to repair the dents, be they a major dent from a collision, a ding from the market, or just a few minor pops from the weather. Paintless dent repair doesn't have the length of time to complete. It doesn't require the costly effort of matching paints or filling and sanding. These differences are reflected in the cost between the two processes. In truth, most paintless dent repairs cost between a third or half the cost of the filler method of repair. There is another financial benefit of paintless dent repair that few consider, although it a completely optional benefit. Depending on the depth and severity of the dent repair, there are many times where the cost of PDR is far below that of the insurance deductible. There are many times where our clients decide that the low cost of PDR is worth taking care of the expense themselves and not worrying about having the insurance company take care of the payment. They feel as if the cost benefit of not having the increased premium outweighs that of paying for the PDR.
Obviously, there are a few more questions you probably have regarding the process. One that people often wonder: does the dent come back. The answer to this is no. PDR is a completely permanent solution to the problem of dent removal. Once the dent has been removed through paintless dent repair, it is gone for good. Most small dents can be taken out completely, with no telling trace that they were ever even there to begin with. Even very large dents can be patched using the PDR methods, as long as the metal and paint have not suffered too extreme stretching damage from the impact. Deep, sharp creases are much harder to remove, however even those will either be removed completely or you will be amazed by the end result. In such situations as these, our qualified technicians are well trained in combining the two techniques to still save time and money by using PDR to remove the majority dent prior to implementing the filler method. The combination of the two is a method know as the push to paint method.
Will PDR increase the value of your vehicle when you attempt to sell it once more? Although we can not make any guarantees that it will ultimately increase the value of your vehicle, you must ask yourself which you would rather spend your hard earned money on. A vehicle that has minor dings throughout the body give the appearance that the vehicle has been poorly taken care of. A vehicle that remains dent free indicates great care has gone into its maintenance. The right image for the vehicle is the best way to give you the greatest return on the investment. After all, most people will be drawn to the appearance before ever considering any other factor.
Our technicians are experts in the field of dent repair. We are able to take care of the minor dents that can easily be repaired through the paintless dent repair process. We are also well versed in the art of handling the push to paint in those cases where the dent is too severe for the standard PDR. No matter which method is best for the damage you need to have repaired, we are here to help you. Contact our professional staff with any questions that you may have. Our technicians are also able to give you an estimate for the repairs. You will be amazed by just how affordable it is.
