Kc Dent & Ding

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paintless dent repair (PDR), also known as "paintless dent removal", is a collection of techniques for removing minor dents and dings from the body of a motor vehicle. A wide range of damage can be repaired using PDR; however, usually if there is paint damage, PDR may be unsuitable.
The most common practical use for PDR is the repair of hail damage, door dings, minor body creases, and minor bumper indentations. The techniques can also be applied to help prepare the damaged panel for paint. Such applications are referred to as "push to paint", or "push for paint".
Limiting factors for a successful repair using PDR include the flexibility of the paint, and the amount the metal has been stretched by the damage incurred. Hence, often extremely sharp dents and creases may not be repairable - at least not without painting afterwards.

Vale Training Solutions[1] has developed an objective skills based certification process.
A not for profit trade organization, The National Alliance of Paintless Dent Repair Technicians NAPDRT was formed in 2006. Its' mission is to educate consumers and encourage industry standards through mutual accountability and third party certification. Other schools have also attempted to raise the bar in Paintless Dent Repair. The Superior Auto Institute Paintless Dent Repair Training was formed in 1991 to provide a selective curriculum that would allow Paintless Dent Repair Technicians the opportunity to learn process via real hands on process. To date however, a industry wide certification process does not exist in the Paintless Dent Repair industry.

Methods of Repair
The most common methods of paintless dent repair utilize metal rods and body picks to push the dents out from the inner side of the body panel being repaired. Also, glue may be used from the outside of the panel to pull the dents out. In either case, fine-tuning of the repair often involves "tapping" down the repair to remove small high spots, making the surface flat. Paintless Dent Repair may be used on both aluminum and steel panels.
Fluorescent lighting, or in some cases a light-reflection board, is used to see the shadows created by the deformation of the dent. This is an important aspect of the repair process. Without a Paintless Dent Repair light board or reflector board, the fine detail of the process is unseen, and the technician cannot locate their tool specifically and cannot remove the damage accurately. The process of Paintless Dent Repair requires a technician to specifically push exact locations of metal to a precise height, which can only be witnessed with use of a PDR reading instrument, such as a Paintless Dent Repair reflector board or Paintless Dent Repair light.