Paintless dent repair tools?

1. 1. PDR lights and PDR Boards.

1. 1. PDR rods and Hand Tools.

1. 1. Knock Down Tools.

1. 1. Glue Pulling Tools.

1. 1. Support Tools.

Lets break each of these down some.

1. 1. PDR LIGHTS/BOARDS

      

      • PDR LIGHTS. PDR lights are specialty lights developed and improved by
         the dent removal industry that produce a “soft” glow across the damaged panel and allows techs to “read” the orange peel or paint texture. 
      • PDR BOARDS. PDR boards are specialty plastic boards that have a “fade” printed on them and/or lines that produce a soft glow or lines that break across the damage that allow the techs to read the orange peel or paint texture.

1. 1. PDR RODS and HAND TOOLS

      • • PDR Rods. PDR Rods are spring steel like rods with different angled heads, different lengths, and different tips. Each is used with a taught or learned appropriate technique to massage the dent out from the back side of the damaged panel while observing the damage and active repair with a PDR LIGHT or BOARD.
      • • PDR Hand Tools. PDR Hand Tools are spring steel like hand tools with different heads, different lengths and widths. Each is used with a taught of learned appropriate technique to massage the dent out from the back side of the damaged panel while observing the damage and active repair with a PDR LIGHT or BOARD. The hand tool typically only allows a tech to repair dents withing arms reach.

1. 1. KNOCK DOWN TOOLS

      • • KNOCK DOWN. Knock downs are plastic or metal pencil/dowel shaped (with a tapered tip) that are used in conjunction with a hammer to tap the high areas of a damaged panel.
      • • HAMMER. Hammers within the paintless dent repair industry vary. There are blending hammers, knock down hammers, and others. Blending hammers are used directly on the painted panel to “blend” damage. Knock down hammers are used with the knock down to tap high areas of the damage. Knock tools are important paintless dent repair tools….

1. 1. GLUE PULLING TOOLS   

      • • MINI LIFTER. The Mini Lifter is a tool used in conjunction with glue tabs and PDR glue. Once a tab is place on the dent or ding with PDR Glue, the tech uses the mini lifter to “snap” the tab from the vehicle.
      • • SLIDE HAMMER. The slide hammer is a tool also used with glue tabs and PDR glue, but this tool has a slide that is pulled up the shaft quickly while the head is holding the attached tab. The motion of the slide causes the tab to snap off the vehicle while moving the dent out.
      • • PDR GLUE TAB. Tabs come in many different shapes, sizes and materials. Depending on the needs of the technician. A lot of hail tech have small tabs, while many route techs and retail techs use larger tabs.
      • • PDR GLUE. There are several auto specific PDR glues available. They vary based on temperature outdoors, humidity, type of pull needed, etc.

1. 1. PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR SUPPORT TOOLS

      • • Door trim removal tools.
      • • Power tools for removing parts.
      • • Door/window wedges.
      • • Door/window protection shields.
      • • Rags and Cleaning supplies.

Every technician that performs paintless dent repair will likely have different tools in his/her case and or on his/her tool cart. I’ve personally been repairing dings and dents since 1994 and have gun cases full of extra tools as I upgrade or find better tools for the job.

Here’s a list of links to a number of paintless dent repair tools manufacturers:

Anson PDR Tools. Both a distributor of others’ tools and their own. Typically have a lot of inventory.

DentCraft Tools. Both a distributor of others’ tools and their own. Don’t use often anymore.

BLEHM PDR Tools. This company has been making tools (original owner of A-1 tools)

ProPDR Solutions. Great lighting products.

Stucky Tools. Love the lights, they also have other proprietary tools.

Using any combination of the listed will typically get you a complete kit for pdr tool purposes. IF you are looking for training schools or trainers, GO HERE.