Damage to the car body is always painfully tolerated by vehicle owners. Not only is the car damaged, it also entails considerable material costs. Therefore, drivers are trying to have essential items in their arsenal that will allow them to independently repair a car and save money. One of the indispensable tools is PDR – Paintless Dent Repair. This is a unique equipment that allows you to repair a dent on the body. In other words, if there is damage on the surface, but the paintwork is not deformed, you can safely use the tool.
Basic moments
In today's world to repair car damage without deformation paintwork use the PDR tool. It allows you to quickly and efficiently return the car to its marketable condition, as well as eliminate the imperfection of any car model. The principle of operation of the tool is based on the vacuum method, thanks to which the presentability of the machine is restored in a matter of minutes.
PDR tool, paintless dent removal
The use of the tool is relevant when a car collides with buildings, another vehicle or a pole; on impact or hail. PDR is not afraid of dents of various shapes and sizes. If, when damaged, the paintwork has retained its original appearance, then it will not be difficult to repair the body. Otherwise, the application of PDR is useless.
The tool is based on many varieties of steel (from 8 or more). You can buy products in the car market with a variety of characteristics.
Technology principle
Repair of dents on the car body is carried out in two ways: from the inside or from the outside. PDR technology allows you to remove damage of any complexity.
To influence the dent from the inside, “hooks” are used, which have a different configuration and shape. The work is carried out according to the principle of a lever - there is an impact on the deformed area from the inside. As a rule, for repair it is not necessary to dismantle the casing or the damaged part. The process is carried out through the technological hole. Accordingly, the surface must be brought to its original state.
The process ends with surface treatment. This can be done using cores or polish the body.
Paintless dent repair
With glue
Sometimes it is impossible to work from the inside, then the process is carried out from the outside. In this case, the adhesive method of exposure is used. Using hot glue, the caps are glued various forms and squares. Using a special hammer or lifter, the dent is pulled out by the caps. At the end of the process, the hot melt adhesive is removed with a special solution. This method allows you to pull out the entire dent or most of its area.
For successful work, you should carefully calculate where to glue the caps. This will help the master, who previously performed this type of work.
Preparatory stage
All work that the owner of the car does on his own must be carefully considered and prepared for them. To begin with, you should carefully inspect the damaged area in a lighted place. It is important to examine the paintwork: it must not be damaged!
How to understand that the application of the PDR is impossible? You should pay attention to the following factors:
- Damage to paintwork.
- Old upholstery.
- Work is not possible with inside.
- The previous processing was done poorly.
- The presence of a strong crease in the metal.
Paintless car dent removal
If the above problems have passed the owner of the car, then he can safely make PDR repairs a tool.
What tools will be needed
Without special tools and lighting, it will be impossible to perform work using PDR. For better visibility of damage, contrasting illumination with parallel lines is used. It allows you to see the smallest details of the dent relief. If the surface has little damage, a portable option is acceptable. Otherwise, the backlight should be on the entire wall.
The main tools for auto repair using PDR are:
- Mushrooms of different sizes.
- High strength polymer mini lifter.
- Glue sticks.
- Scraper and heat gun.
- Kern.
- Primer or solvent for removing hot melt adhesive.
Reverse hammer body 2.3 kg
The owner of the car can purchase a ready-made dent repair kit.
The PDR set consists of special tools made from different types alloys with high strength. Glue is used from the manufacturer. It does not damage the paintwork, is easy to remove and has a high level of adhesion. Each kit comes with instructions that you need to read carefully.
The standard dent repair kit includes:
- Glue gun.
- Glue.
- Suction cups of various diameters.
- Bracket.
- Solvent.
- Damage removal tool.
There are kits of different manufacturers and configurations on the market. The cost of cases also varies significantly.
Straightening process
Step by step, the straightening process can be performed as follows:
- Repair begins with surface preparation. You need to free it by removing everything superfluous (handles, mirrors, etc.).
- The first step is to install the lamp. Good lighting is the key to quality work.
- After that, a lever is selected and pressure is applied to the damaged area from the inside. So that the metal is not transferred, the work is done carefully and calmly.
- With the help of a special hammer, the dent is brought to an ideal state.
- After completion of work, it is recommended to polish the car using an abrasive paste or a fine abrasive.
Thus, you can put your car in order yourself with minimal time and money.
Paintless dent removal using PDR technology
Thermal recovery
There is a body repair using heating. Of course, large dents cannot be removed, but a simple and quick method will help get rid of minor deformations. After installing the damage leveling using the PDR method, it is enough to heat the desired place using an industrial hair dryer. When heated, the metal expands and becomes more ductile, which makes it easier to restore the shape.
Any process should be approached thoughtfully, weighing every detail. In case of severe damage to the body, heat treatment is not applied, as this will only aggravate the problem and cause additional damage to the coating.
Direct mechanical action
The direct impact procedure is much more complicated than the previous one and involves the use of various tools (clubs, hooks). This method is useful in case of damage to bend elements or stiffeners. The implementation of the procedure is possible using the adhesive method. Using a tool, the dent is squeezed out from the inside until the metal returns to its original state. This method is laborious and requires considerable effort.
Direct mechanical action
In what cases is it worth doing such a repair?
You can decide whether it is worth doing repairs using the PDR tool by visually inspecting your car. In the place of the dent there should be no metal breaks, damaged attachment points and the paintwork should be intact. Dents in doors, roofs or fenders can easily be removed with a PDR tool, other damage needs to be carefully examined and a decision made whether to repair them.
It is almost impossible to restore the body after a serious accident.
Technology Benefits
By purchasing a body repair tool, the buyer has the opportunity to:
- save money and time for repairs;
- choose a nozzle for a specific type of dent;
- comfortable to work with the tool.
Car body repair without painting
The main advantages of working with this tool are:
- high-quality surface repair under normal conditions;
- no need to repaint or putty the car body;
- the possibility of repair in 70% of cases;
- economy compared to body repair in auto repair shops.
Due to the fact that the paint is not subject to changes, color mismatch after repair is excluded.
Making a minilifter
The minilifter is the main tool with which dents are pulled out. It can be made using the following materials: a small metal tube, pins (the first one is 20 cm long, two are 12 cm long, the other two are 8 cm each), nuts, a welding machine, rubber pads and brake pads.
It is necessary to cut a groove in a metal pipe, 3 cm high, 1 cm wide, below which a pin should be welded. 2 more pins are welded from below, thus, a handle is obtained. The body of the minilifter will be attached to the frame, it is made from old brake pads(the bottom of the product is glued with rubber pads). A tube with a nut is welded to the 20-centimeter pin and a cut is made on the part. Behind the pin, put on a spring and cut a groove in it at the height at which it will be on the tool body. The resulting product must be inserted into the middle of the body and fixed with a nut. A 12 cm pin is welded to the existing handle, completing the composition. The work is completed by collecting parts into a single tool.
Sooner or later, even the most careful driver will have dents on his car. What to do in this case is understandable. You need to drive the car to the service station, leave it there for a few days and get an already straightened “iron horse”.
But you can go the other way - faster, easier and cheaper. What? Do it all yourself with PDR technology.
Pulling out a dent with PDR Technology principle
Initially, it should be noted that PDR technology is applicable only if the damage is shallow, and painting can be dispensed with. To determine this, check out the classification:
- shallow dents up to 5 millimeters, rounded, without metal creases and damage to the paintwork;
- deep - from 5 to 10 millimeters, irregular geometric shape, with metal creases and damage to the coating.
If mechanical damage on your machine can be attributed to the first group, then the PDR method will save the situation.
Dents on the car are corrected with the help of special hooks. By pressing on the damage, the metal is straightened. The PDR set looks something like this:
The number of levers can reach up to 40 pieces or more. But such kits are already for professional auto repair shops.
In addition to special levers, a fixture in the form of a table lamp is required. This is necessary in order to accurately determine the extent of the dent and correctly straighten the metal. In general, it is not difficult to do such work yourself.
Preparatory stage
Before you start repair work to remove dents without painting, you need to carefully inspect the damaged surface of the car. Do it better in bright light. Also, when diagnosing, carefully inspect the condition of the paintwork. If it is severely damaged, then it will not work to straighten the metal using PDR technology. In this case, you should use the classic straightening method, followed by painting.
Also note that the PDR method is not applicable if straightening has already been done in the area of \u200b\u200bmechanical damage and putty has been used. During the work, it will simply fall off.
There are such factors in which technology without painting is not applicable:
- if the damage is more than 5 millimeters, and there are strong metal creases;
- damaged paintwork;
- the car has an old lining;
- there is no possibility of carrying out work from the inside;
- Previous work has been done poorly.
In all other cases, this method can be safely applied in practice.
Removing a dent using the PDR method Straightening process
First you need to provide free access to the inside of the machine. It is necessary to remove everything superfluous: trim, mirrors, handles, etc. After the surface of the car is “free”, repairs can begin.
A special "lamp" is installed on the surface. As a rule, it is included in the kit:
Lamp from PDR kit Next is the lever optimal length. With smooth gradual movements, using the selected lever, pressure is applied to the metal from the inside in the dent area. This must be done very carefully and gradually, so as not to "transfer" the metal. That is why a special lamp is installed. Thus, the surface of the vehicle can be clearly seen.
Schematically, the repair process can be displayed as follows:
Repair scheme After the dent is “squeezed out” upward, the surface should be treated - to make it perfectly flat. For this, a special hammer and a plastic cone are used. The damaged surface is tapped. Thus, the metal is completely leveled.
If the scale of the dent is large, it is better to carry out such repairs in stages, alternating work with a lever and a hammer.
After the surface of the car is completely straightened, and there are no dents left, it is necessary to carry out the last repair work - to put the car in order. This can be done according to the principle of polishing the body.
The process of straightening with levers The final stage
For polishing after such a repair without painting, you will need:
- abrasive paste;
- fine abrasive.
By means of a fine abrasive, minor defects are eliminated after leveling. And with the help of abrasive paste, the body is polished, the car returns to its original appearance. Thus, having spent a minimum of time and money on repairs, you can put your vehicle in order without painting with your own hands.
Abrasive body polishing Technology Benefits
In this case, it can be said without exaggeration that the paintless PDR technology has no drawbacks. The only thing that can stop a car enthusiast is the price of a set of levers. But the cost of the PDR kit fully pays for itself.
What is PDR technology?
How does paintless dent removal equipment work?
Unfortunately, every car owner, even the most accurate, sooner or later faces such an obvious problem as a dent. It can be a dent from flying debris on the road, from careless parking, snow falling from the roof, or from natural disasters such as hail. Does not matter! The fact remains, there is a small dent, but I don’t want to paint it in any way. Yes, and they ask for a lot of money for this, and even paint the whole detail ... In general, some frustration.
But technology is developing, including body repair. So, imagine for a second that you can not paint a dent, but simply squeeze it out. Don't believe? Let me tell you the story of such an exciting technology for removing dents without painting called Paintless Dent Repair (PDR or PDR in Russian).
The history of the emergence of PDR technology
This story began in the 60s. Oskar Flyg and Henrich Nüssle were employees of the Mercedes factory. During the next exhibition, they repaired cars. which were damaged by visitors during the exhibition. Oskar Flyg squeezed out small dents with a hammer handle, preparing the car for painting, but he managed to do it so well that no further painting was required (up to this point, all body defects required painting). This was one of the first applications of this technology on painted elements and became the starting point in its development.
Of course, at the moment, technology does not stand still, and how the tools looked before and what the technology consists of now are two different things. So, what does the technology look like now and what systems does it include:
Hook system
The first system we come across is the (most obvious) hook system. When working with hooks, the dent is straightened by influencing the defect from the inside of the part (squeezing the dent).
Adhesive system
The next, most popular among beginners self-learning how to remove dents without painting is the glue system, one of the simplest. The glue system includes such components as glue, glue adapter, reverse hammer, minilifter, reverse hammer and many other auxiliary tools. In this case, the straightening of the dent occurs by influencing the part from the outside, in other words, gluing into the dent. One of the top tools in this system is cold glue, very popular among experienced craftsmen.
Restraint system
Of course, when squeezing and pulling out a dent, you may encounter the fact that bumps appear, peak pluses. The backing system is designed to remove these extra bulges. When upsetting, cores, stemmers, and blending hammers are actively used. The upsetting system works by tapping the pins, that is, the impact from the outside.
Blending
Blending is a subsystem of upsetting, the impact on the dent from the outside by the method of upsetting the pins at a distance, due to which the dent rises.
Surge system
The next system is the surge system. It includes trowels and counter supports, or cushions for lifting. It works by hitting the tangential surface of the metal with a trowel, creating a stop on the inside of the dent.
Accessories for PDR
For comfortable work, of course, one cannot do without the widest component - these are accessories. This includes such important and indispensable equipment as various fasteners, tape winding, stops, puffs, screens, nozzles, plugs and much, much more.
Paintless dent remover
An innovative solution when working with cars with a large area of small damage, for example, after a hailstorm, was the device for induction impact on a dent. The Swiss-made THOT Box induction device has established itself as the most reliable and convenient to use. The principle of operation of the inductor consists in a magnetic head and point heating of the metal, due to which the dent is pulled out. The main advantage when removing a dent with an inductor is the absence of reinforcing work, since the impact on the defect comes only from the outside of the part.
Dent removal light with PDR technology
And last but not least, one of the most important components of a paintless dent removal kit is, of course, lighting. Why? Everything is very simple here, if you do not see a defect, then you do not repair it. At present, a breakthrough in the light direction has become German manufacturer by Nussle, namely a six-lane lamp with an innovative diffuser and a well-thought-out tripod and control system. With reliable and professional light you will see and eliminate even the smallest defect.
Main advantage technology is the fact that the dent is removed without painting the part, which means that when reselling, no one will be able to see that you had a dent, the car does not go into the status of a bat.
Second important point this repair speed and cost. On average, the repair of one dent takes 15-30 minutes, which is much faster than even local painting. And the cost of repairs is many times less, since practically no consumables.
No risk of color mismatch, smudges and a thick layer of putty.
No special boxes required and a big place. One box is enough for the entire tool and for repairs.
Paintless dent removal technology is a new opportunity in body repair with a huge number of advantages for both customers and craftsmen.
Even masters of traditional body repair will be able to find a lot of interesting things for themselves to facilitate their work and speed up work during painting work.
In our center we are ready to offer you a full range of services in the field of paintless dent removal.
Here you can pick up a decent tool with the longest quality guarantee, of course, repair your car and learn innovative technology. Masters come to us from all over Russia and cities such as Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Krasnodar, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don ... and from all over the world: CIS countries, Israel, England, USA, Canada , Estonia and many, many others. And for the duration of the entire training, we will provide you with accommodation;)
We are waiting for your visit!)
Did you have a dent in your car after careless parking? Or did the hail pass and leave damage on the roof? According to the classical technology, puttying is necessary for leveling, and then painting the repaired part. Or even a replacement of a tin element with an inevitable subsequent coloring. Although in this case it is likely that the price of the car will decrease by secondary market, because there will be traces of repairs. At least in the form of a thicker paintwork, which, in our time, is easily checked with a special device.
But it is possible to repair the PDR, and painting is not required. The advantages are obvious - there will be no traces of repair, neither in the form of a thickened layer of paint (and putty), nor at the joints of parts. At the same time, the total time spent on repairs will be lower. After all, you do not have to wait for the drying of paint materials. And you can use the car immediately after the repair "to its fullest." Because no gentle maintenance is required while the paint is fresh.
The essence of technology
The essence of PDR technology is to straighten damaged parts to their original state, without destroying the paint layer. The technology itself looks quite simple - using a special tool, the deformations simply bend back. But this simplicity is apparent.
With glue
Although a number of so-called "slammers" or dents from the outside to the inside outside the bends and stiffeners can be straightened without even disassembling anything in the car. For this, special clips and caps of various sizes are used, which are glued with specialized glue to the conditional center of the dent.
It is necessary to correctly and accurately determine where to glue the piston. And this is not the geometric center of the dent at all. Here everything depends on the stresses in the metal, and the ability to determine the correct place comes only with experience.
And the very nature of alignment requires no small skill. After all, you can’t just pull the piston and return the original state. It will take a series of actions, gem quality. Otherwise, the elongated metal along the edges of the dent will bulge somewhat, which will not have a positive effect on aesthetics. The metal must be "carried out" along the path of obtaining a dent in the opposite direction. Only in this case there will be no traces left. In this case, the paintwork must not be damaged, because otherwise the repair of dents according to the PDR principle is already useless. Therefore, often, a seemingly simple dent is straightened in several steps. But from the outside it all looks simple and akin to magic.
And upon successful completion, the glued piston must be removed. For this, a special solvent is used, which acts only on the glue, without affecting the paint. The same solvent removes traces of glue.
Thermal recovery
Another option for repairing PDRs for some types of damage is simple heating. Of course, not all types of damage can be eliminated in this way, as a rule, these are ordinary dents with a small degree of deformation.
But the process itself is simple. After the specialist has established the possibility of leveling the dent in this way, the damaged area is simply heated with an industrial hair dryer. The metal, expanding from temperature and increasing its plasticity, itself restores its shape.
However, here, too, knowledge and experience are necessary for success, otherwise, on the contrary, the problem can be aggravated. For example, if you heat an area that is more seriously damaged and is not suitable for thermal recovery, then additional damage to the boundary layer is produced. It's harder to fix this later.
Direct mechanical action
Everything is not so simple here. This method is used when deforming stiffeners or bends of elements. Usually the impact is made from the inside, sometimes even with partial disassembly of the car interior.
It differs from the first technology in the use of many different devices, in the form of hooks and sticks. In this case, it can also be combined with the adhesive method. With a special tool, the dent is squeezed out from the inside in several steps. Repeating the path of the metal when receiving deformation, only in the opposite direction. Because dents can be serious, and when the shape is restored, a trace may remain at the edges, then even “bending” in the opposite direction is used, followed by a return. This method achieves the return of the metal along the edges of the dent to its original state.
Of course, this procedure is already longer and requires a sufficient amount of effort from the master. But it is still faster than classical technology.
Also, in some cases, pulling is used. This is typical when power elements with a complex shape are damaged. It is effective to return them to their original form by stretching.
What tools will be needed?
PDR dent repairs require special tools and a dedicated room.
A tool anyhow, where you can’t buy for a penny. For it, special alloys with high strength are used. After all, it is often necessary to carry out a significant effort with a thin twig that crawls into the technological hole. Yes, and the glue used is branded, which is compatible with paint coatings used in the automotive industry, has high adhesion and can be easily removed using branded materials. That is why such a set costs about 90 tr. Yes, and they are produced only in the USA and Germany.
The room for repair should also be specially equipped. After all, only a special contrasting illumination with parallel lines will help to accurately see the relief of the dent. By their reflections in the dent zone, you can accurately see the relief. In small areas, a portable option is also sufficient, but for repair, for example, a roof, lighting throughout the wall is needed. Moreover, the contrast lines must be strictly parallel and equidistant from the observation point.
In addition, it is unlikely that it will be possible to simply purchase tools and start making repairs with your own hands. It will take quite a long time to comprehend the basics of technology with your own experience, so that at least something starts to work out. Professional training is required. And it is expensive.
How to choose a master
According to the reasons described above, the presence of special tools and a trained master in the technical center does not yet give any guarantee of high-quality work. After all, the experience of a professional plays a significant role here. The process of such repair is complex, requires patience, a lot of knowledge and experience.
Therefore, the main selection criterion is which master will perform the work. Here it is wiser to use the recommendations of friends and acquaintances who have already done repairs with a master. The rest of the arguments are unconvincing.
In what cases is it worth doing such a repair?
The ability to restore the former shape depends on the degree of damage. And both the metal itself and the paintwork. The metal in the damaged area should not have breaks. Also, the fixing points (spot welding or gluing) must not be damaged. If there is damage on the paintwork that cannot be eliminated by polishing, then the point in carrying out repairs according to the PDR principle is lost. The paint must not be damaged.
That is, ordinary dents on the roof or doors, or wings are not a problem, if the paint is intact. Of course, if they are not extensive and not fatal (the metal is whole). Such damage is corrected.
Another thing is if the blow fell on a bend, corner or junction of elements. It all depends on the nature of the damage and is determined by the master individually. In any case, the specialist, before starting the repair, will examine all the damage and issue a verdict - what can be fixed and what cannot.
A serious obstacle is the deformation of the power cell of the car body, made of high-strength metal with increased thickness. In some cases, these elements are not subject to recovery using this technology. In this embodiment, it is already necessary to apply classical repair methods. Therefore, recovery after a serious accident using PDR technology is unlikely.
But most minor damages, in case of small contact accidents, troubles in the parking lot or when objects fall on the roof of the car, are solved without problems. But it is precisely such injuries, according to statistics, the majority. In addition, after such a repair, no traces of it remain. The car seems to have never been damaged, which has a positive effect on the value of the sale.
There are a lot of reasons for the appearance of dents on a car without damaging the paintwork: a riot of elements, say, hail or a storm, a snow canopy or melted snow that fell from the roof of a neighboring house, a slight blow by the door of a neighboring vehicle in a tight parking lot, kicks and hands of strangers and sometimes not quite appropriate people.
Almost every car owner has experienced such damage, but not everyone knows that such damage can be easily repaired without resorting to standard body repair, followed by straightening and painting the part. In general, everything and as we are all used to.
Nine out of ten such damage can be quickly repaired with a unique paintless dent removal technology PDR (Paintless Dent Repair). The main condition for performing such a repair is an unbroken paintwork of the car body in the place of the dent.
This technology was invented in Germany, at the factory Mercedes-Benz, back in 1952 and is now ubiquitous in both Europe and the United States. Finally, our craftsmen got to it!
To remove dents, small levers of different configurations and lengths are used. With their help, pressure is exerted on the inner part of the metal through the technological holes of the machine.
If it is impossible to reach the dent with reverse side iron, then special suction cups (fungi-pistons) are used, as well as special adhesive compositions and levers - called microlifts.
The PDR technology itself
Using the example of the photos and drawings below, I will try to simply talk about the complex - one of the ways to remove a dent without painting.
So, to straighten a simple dent, for example, on the hood, you need a hammer, a plastic cone, a tool in the form of a poker, an emphasis in the form wooden block, a plate with contrasting lines and of course good light.
The photo below shows how the master outlined the approximate radius of the dent and installed a plate with contrasting lines (black and yellow) on the suction cup. She is needed for better control process during straightening, focusing on the change in the reflection of these bands in the repair area.
Having set the “poker” on the stop and using it as a lever, the master begins to squeeze the dent upwards.
The figure below shows that any dent has a shape conditionally similar to a volcano or a crater, i.e. not just a dip down, but outward protrusions are formed.
Having squeezed the dent a little upward, you should knock on its perimeter from above with a light hammer and a plastic cone that does not cause severe damage to the paintwork.
Thus, acting alternately on the dent from below, and then, tapping its radius, in the end we should achieve a perfectly flat surface of the body part.
Having achieved the desired result, you should remove the traces left over from the repair, namely, carry out the work that is usually done when polishing the body after painting.
To do this, you need a fine abrasive, approximately P2000 and abrasive polishing paste. By grinding we remove minor defects that have arisen after tapping, and by polishing we return the original shine of the body part.
In this video, you can watch one of the methods of work of a specialist with PDR technology - repair with the help of "mushroom caps".
Body dent repair without painting is the only advantages in the theoretically absolute absence of disadvantages. There is no need to leave your vehicle for several days in the workshop, car repairs are carried out quickly, the work usually takes from 30 minutes to 4 hours, in the most advanced cases.
In most cases, repairs using this technology will cost several times cheaper than with a typical body repair. On the vehicle the factory paintwork is preserved, and your car does not automatically go into the category of “painted”, and this can quite strongly affect its price when selling in the future.
However, there is one practical, very significant drawback - this is of course the cost of tools and consumables for such repairs.
The price of the basic set is about 70-80 thousand rubles *. An example set can be seen in the picture below.
And this is a special device called a microlift. With its help, caps or fungi glued to the surface of the dent pull the metal out. In some cases, resort to the help of a special reverse hammer.
But even here craftsmen figured out how to save money.
Making consumables and accessories from improvised means purchased in hardware stores.
In general, if you decide to do minor body repairs using paintless dent removal technology PDR, then you should first of all familiarize yourself with the tools, of which there are a lot, as well as with the very technique of removing dents using these tricky tools.
I consider this article as an introduction. I think that this technology (PDR) of body repair without damaging the paintwork will continue to develop.
* Prices are in rubles at the time of writing.