Take a closer look at your car, and you will definitely see minor dents all over your car’s body. Most of the time, they appear after a hailstorm or are caused by those small pieces of gravel that fly around when you drive through rural areas.
Once you notice them, they become incredibly frustrating. However, do they really worth the hassle of activating your insurance and taking the car to a body shop?
In this article, we shall talk about Paintless Dent Repair (PDR), how it works and whether it is a way to save your time and money.
What is Paintless Dent Repair?
Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is a popular technique normally used by body shops to fix small dents and damage to the paint job, leaving the original paint intact.
It releases you from the need to replace, remove or repaint the whole affected part of the car’s body and then worry that the paint job will mismatch.
However, it is essential to remember that PDR is not a DIY project and can guarantee the best result only when done by an experienced professional.
Technically, PDR is a method of removing dents from vehicle sheet metal using specialized manual tools and carefully applied pressure. Unlike what many people think, it is a careful and graduate process, not “popping” a dent out with one hit of a hammer.
Can all dents be repaired with PDR?
Although PDR is a very popular and highly-efficient method to repair small dents, there are certain cases when it does not get you the desired result.
To be sure that PDR will work in your case, the dent should not have sharp ridges, and the paint job needs to remain intact. PDR is efficient, but it is not magic. If the paint is cracked or damaged, it will remain that way even after the dent is resurfaced. Sharp ridges will also remain visible and leave marks no matter how skilled your mechanic is.
Why should you never try PDR at home?
As we have already mentioned, PDR is not popping the dent back with one precise hit. It is a pretty complicated graduate process. Once done wrong, it can result in even more complex and costly repairs.
In fact, it takes years of practice to become a skilled PDR expert. Except for that, a person who does the procedure will need appropriate lighting and a whole set of tools that will allow them to return metal precisely into the original position, observing all the curves and texture of the vehicle’s body.
To do so, a mechanic will first have to carefully remove all the interior panels to get access directly to the body from inside the vehicle. Modern cars also have lots of detectors and electric sensors all over their bodies. Damaging them while removing the panels can lead to severe circumstances and compromise the safety of your car.
That is why you should always address a professional for the PDR service and make sure that they have sufficient experience providing it.
Are you looking for a reliable Body Shop with a team of skilled, certified mechanics? Contact OHS Body Shop today and visit one of our branches all over Montana’s Greater Flathead Valley, in Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Polson.
Learn more about the services we provide and get through consultation from our team to make sure that your vehicle gets the best treatment, whether you need an urgent repair or routine check-ups.
