PDR
- Thread starter JT20
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No, real PDR is not learned on a youtube video. You can attempt to do it but you will oil can the panel. Real PDR techs are artisans almost like metal fabricators of days gone past. PDR requires alot of practice to get it right along with some very specialized tools, real PDR is a craft or artistry, and when properly executed the results are phenomenal.
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This! It is not easy. I have a friend who owns a quality based autobody shop. He made the investment and sent an employee to a 2 schools. Six months later he figured out much cheaper and better results to hire out THAT guy who only does this! Great results. It is an art.
I might want to bring my Subaru around. Maybe I'll DM you a picture of it after it gets its JDM engine. It is a large dent but it appears "fairly uniform." I would have no problem paying for it in 2021. This will be a lean Christmas for sure.
Lately, I've been liking to compare and contrast YouTube with real life. We all know the guys that go around with the camera, basically looking for confrontations, aren't really "rational" people.. similar to this, YouTube has videos of people showing you everything from headlight restoration (Project Cars has the best video on this, IMHO. He uses a buffer wheel though) do cleaning rims (careful use of Awesome on a hot rim works best for me) to.. PDR.
I wouldn't say fake BUT you have to understand that steel has a "memory" and will go back to its formed shape IF you know how and can finesse it . If you dont you'll oil can the spot or crack the paint, its all done by feel, which can only be done after tons of practice. It's a skill set that takes time and experience, along with the right tools and technique.
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Sorry brotha, I didn't write my post as clear as I should have. My friend owns the autobody shop. He invested in the training and tools to pull small dents like the video demonstrates. In theory it was a good decision but in practice, it was a skillset not readily learned by a tech that will not be performing the task daily. At least not on a professional level. He now subcontracts out to a talented professional who can pull a large number of dents without causing paint issues. I don't know his business name but it's a great retirement job!! Only overhead is a van with his tools and business insurance. He travels to you! Pretty cool setup IF YOU HAVE THE TALENT!
Yeah, I'm scared because every person I've ever seen that worked out of a car (one exception on my old Honda) but in terms of body work etc.. nope! SCAM ARTISTS! One of our cars still has brush marks visible on the quarter panel. Its still a fine car but.. should keep it in the family forever for that.
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Key is to make sure that guy is established and used by many autobody shops in your area. That guy won't disappear if there is an issue.
ls1mike
$50 Site Donor 2025
I bought a kit from Ebay and was able to get door dings out with ease on all 4 of my cars, but all were smaller than a quarter. Those were easy.
When the Caprice got hit and run I took it to a PDR guy. It was too big and I didn't want to try it. Before and after. A good PDR is worth the money.
When the Caprice got hit and run I took it to a PDR guy. It was too big and I didn't want to try it. Before and after. A good PDR is worth the money.
Forget sending your kid to college, send him to PDR school. There is a local guy around here that goes to many of the dealers and bodyshops in the area and supposedly makes $50K a month. He has a couple of guys work with him so if they average 10-15 cars a day at $100 a pop, it seems right.
Depends on what you mean by "it"...
Is it that easy to get most of a nice big smooth dent with relatively little distortion around the edges out and make it look a lot better and even approaching repaired on camera.
Yes, it actually is that easy, I've done it many times with nothing more that a quality suction cup and a tug...
I PROMISE you, if you know what you're looking for (and perhaps if you don't) there will be significant detail work that needs to be done to make it 100% and like every thing else the last 20% is the battle...
Quality PDR work takes a ton of patience and skill...
As others have said no. That’s why PDR can be more expensive in some cases than just replacing and repainting the panel that is dented. The good ones are artisans that can save your car from the paint booth.
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