From Technician to Entrepreneur: Mastering the Art of Running a Paintless Dent Repair Business
Paul Whitehorn, Mdiv.
PhD Canidate, Liberty University
Introduction:
To succeed as a small business owner in the paintless dent repair (PDR) industry, entrepreneurs must develop a wide range of skills and knowledge, including defining their ethics and goals, understanding general business principles, and mastering various aspects of running a PDR business.
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Mastering Mechanical Leverage: The Critical Role of Mechanical Leverage in Paintless Dent Repair
Paul Whitehorn, Mdiv.
PhD Canidate, Liberty University
Mastering Mechanical Leverage: The Critical Role of Mechanical Leverage in Paintless Dent Repair
Introduction
In the paintless dent repair (PDR) industry, a comprehensive understanding of mechanical anchorage principles is crucial for achieving optimal repairs. This entails the mastery of the leverage system, including the control hand and push hand, and the use of appropriate tools and techniques for manipulating metal surfaces. By harnessing the power of leverage, technicians can efficiently repair vehicle dents without the need for paint or fillers, ensuring the highest quality outcomes for vehicle appearance. Read More…
The Evolution and Impact of Paintless Dent Repair Lighting on the Industry
Paul Whitehorn, Mdiv.
PhD Canidate, Liberty University
Introduction:
The evolution of paintless dent repair (PDR) lighting over the past two decades has revolutionized the industry by significantly improving visual clarity, technician safety, and overall repair quality. The introduction of LED lights, mobile tech shades, and color-changing technology has enabled technicians to work more effectively in various lighting conditions, expand their skill sets, and deliver outstanding results, ultimately transforming the PDR landscape and setting new standards for the future.
Over the past 20 years, the paintless dent repair (PDR) industry has undergone a radical transformation in terms of quality, primarily due to advancements in PDR lighting. No other tool has had such a significant impact on the industry, as effective dent repair relies heavily on visual clarity. In this article, we will explore how PDR lighting has evolved and why it plays such a crucial role in the repair process. Read More…
Overcoming Pricing Challenges in the Paintless Dent Repair Industry: The Role of Trade Associations
Paul Whitehorn, Mdiv.
PhD Canidate, Liberty University
Introduction:
The highly specialized field of Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) poses unique challenges for technicians, including setting prices while adhering to antitrust laws. This article explores the complexities of pricing in the PDR industry and its exemption from price-fixing through the ancillary restraints doctrine. It also emphasizes the importance of trade associations for legally collaborating on pricing strategies and fostering growth and development within the industry. The article provides steps for creating a legal trade association for PDR and highlights the need for overcoming isolation to promote inclusivity, diversity, and collaboration among PDR professionals. Read More…
The Necessity of Drilling Holes in Cars for Paintless Dent Repair: A Case-by-Case Analysis
Paul Whitehorn, Mdiv.
PhD Canidate, Liberty University
Introduction
Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is a popular technique used to fix dents and dings in vehicles without compromising their original paint finish. However, the debate surrounding drilling holes in cars for PDR continues to divide opinions. In this article, we will discuss the factors to consider when deciding to drill holes in a vehicle from a PDR perspective, emphasizing the importance of a case-by-case analysis to determine the best approach for both the customer and the vehicle. Read More…
Tackling Creases in Paintless Dent Repair: A Mathematical Perspective
Introduction
As a paintless dent repair (PDR) technician, one of the most challenging types of damage to repair is a crease. Creases are dents that form a linear or curved depression in the vehicle's metal surface, often as a result of an impact with another object. Repairing a crease requires precision, finesse, and an understanding of the geometry and mathematics involved in the process. In this article, we will explore the fundamentals of repairing creases and demonstrate how mathematical concepts can help explain the repair process in the absence of visual aids. Read More…
The Risks of Paintless Dent Repair on Repainted Vehicles
Paintless dent repair (PDR) is a popular technique for fixing dents and dings on vehicles without the need for repainting. However, it is crucial to be aware of the potential risks associated with performing PDR on a vehicle that has already been repainted, especially in cases of hail damage. In this article, we will discuss the challenges and dangers of PDR on repainted panels and the importance of consulting a PDR professional to determine the best course of action. Read More…
Navigating Hail Damage: Direct Repair Shops vs. Dent Repair USA
Introduction
Hail storms can wreak havoc on your car, leaving you with dents and dings that require immediate repair. When it comes to fixing hail damage, you might find yourself considering the options provided by your insurance company. One common option is a Direct Repair Shop. These shops are partnered with insurance companies to streamline the repair process, but are they the best choice for you? In this article, we'll explore the pros and cons of choosing a Direct Repair Shop and why you should consider using Dent Repair USA instead.
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What is Paintless Dent Repair?
If you have a minor dent or ding, for your car door dent repair, you may be eligible for a more substantial discount on your vehicle repair than you might have expected. The best-kept secret of automotive dealerships, rental agencies, and body shops since the mid-1980s, paintless dent repair may be right for your vehicle's outer shell reconditioning. The best way to find out is through sending a few images to a certified Paintless Dent Repair technician.
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Dentology: Rules For Mapping Microdynamics
What is Dentology?
Dentology is a scientific method of removing dents from the painted surface of a vehicle. It is a branch within the auto body industry, with the goal of bringing a vehicle back to its original state using paintless dent repair tools and theories. Auto Dent Repair, saves bodywork time, lowers repair costs, and preserves the original paint of the vehicle, which is extremely valuable since the advent of CarFax and how auto body procedures have negative impacts on the price of a vehicle. It primarily deals with the removal of minor and major noticeable pressure blemishes or upward bracing pushes to the metal of a vehicle's surface: you would typically identify these in unsightly hail dents, door dings, creases, or other movements that disrupt the original version of a vehicle outer shell.
These are truths that are set in the heart of every dent. Just like music theory uses scales, auto body paintless dent technician's use dentology.
Mathmatics and Dentless: Dentfix and Hail Dent Removal
“Of all the regular curves, spirals and helices are probably the most common. They are found throughout the natural world, in many forms, at every scale of existence….. It is clearly one of natures favorite patterns”
Wade, David. Symmetry the ordering principle, Bloomsbury, 2006. Pg28.
Pressure Sensors And Paintless Dent Repair
History of Automotive Sensors
[Update: I Do Retract My Original Version Of This: My research is based upon a very limited understanding of the Authors that I have read. Im certain that my assessment that side impacts do not save lives, is not entirely true. In fact, I am drawing those conclusions from only 7 papers. Again, Im certain that I missed much, but my goal is to keep people alive. If it helps even .00001% of the population, it is worth it 100%. I apologize for that comment.] Paul WhitehornThe first patent for an airbag system in the U.S. was issued to J.W. Hetrick on August 18, 1953. It wasn’t until 1970 when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tried to make laws surrounding restraints and airbags. There were several messy court battles spanning almost two decades with the Nixon and Regan administration, which prevented airbag safety laws. It wasn’t until 1995 that congress finally passed a bill requiring airbags.
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Never Purchase Dent and Ding Protection
Should You Purchase That Dent Or Ding Shield Program?
Hello, I'm a Paintless Dent Repair technician and I've "closed out" thousands of repairs, from all of the major dent and ding policies. Notice that I didn't say, fulfilled, I said: "closed out". That is because over 80% of those making claims are being denied for two main reasons.
- One, it's not in the tech's best interest to fix the dent (No fiscal motivation to repair or deal with the paperwork).
- Two, the guard plan, does not cover the damage, even for small dent repairs. Don't purchase a product that you don't need, from a third party that doesn't fix dents, for something you cant use if they did. Here are several major carriers to avoid:
No, You Are Not Painting Over Your Dent Cheaper
"Perhaps your value structure needs some serious retooling. Perhaps what you want is blinding you to what else could be. Perhaps you are holding on to your desires, in the present, so tightly that you cannot see anything else—even what you truly need." Jordan PetersonAttempting to compare a repaint to a paintless dent repairs value is no contest, it's not even the same sport. Repainting a vehicle is never cheaper than getting a paintless dent repair, even if the body shop quote is cheaper. Luxury items, like getting a minor dent repaired on a car by highly skilled artisans, don’t fall into the typical commodity category either, because there are varying skill levels with very different results. Like hiring a portrait painter, you can get a cheap stick figure drawn in pencil or a detailed oil painting — the prices will differ. So when looking for a paintless dent repair, choosing the right person for the repair is more important than a price point.
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Paintless Dent Repair Limitations On Bumpers
Paintless Dent Repair Limitations On Bumpers
Although paintless dent repair is amazing for many minor dents and dings, it does have limitations. Bumpers are one of those limitations. We do not fix most bumper issues.
How To Deal With Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) Technicians to get the best repair at the cheapest rates
How to get the cheapest rate for Paintless dent repair near me, when dealing with a retail dent on your personal vehicle.
Ok so you come outside from the grocery store and you notice that you have a dent or ding on your vehicle. The most natural thing to do is start calling every single Paintless Dent Repair company in the phone book frantically, trying to get someone to give you a price for repair services. You start searching to find out, "does paintless dent repair work?" You see amazing photos of before and after on hail damage repairs, small dents, and several large dents. But the question remains, "how much does it cost to repair my dent?". So you keep calling: Immediately you find some resistance, so you keep calling anyways, asking anyone who will just give you a price over the phone.
Five Reasons Paintless Dent Removal Says, "No!".
Although Paintless Dent Repair can significantly improve and totally eliminate most dents and dings. It does have its limits. Here are five major examples of when dentless isn’t an option for your repair.
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The True History Of Paintless Dent Repair
Repousse and Chasing
Although Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) can tie its origins to Repose and chasing, which in antiquity can date its origins back to the 3rd Century BC with Gold, Silver, Copper, and Tin. We don’t see our current techniques being used until the 1300s in Florence. Respousse which in French means to “lie to rest”, “put back, or to restore” from Florence in the 1300s which was thought to have originated.
Single Solution Theory
Single Solution Theory (SS)
Each dent is seen as a unique problem and the least amount of steps to solve that problem would qualify as a perfect repair. The single solution theory (ss) states that there is one perfect paintless dent repair (pdr) for every contingency within a dented structure. Read More…
Paintless In-House Guide
How to Go in-house with Small Dent Repair for Your Auto Body Shop or Dealership
Is My Organization Ready To Go In House To Lower Dent Repair Cost?
120,000$ is the minimum you should be spending on your current car door dent repair vendors, before even considering an in-house option. If your totals are not at least close to this figure, stop reading and close this article. It is a hard truth, but those that attempt to push past this fact almost always end in failure within the first two years of implementation. As a Business mindset, you're looking at this and thinking, "I can have cheap dent repair near me, by doing what I always do. This would be especially great for hail dent repair!" You're not wrong, but think clearly before just diving in.
*I can hire someone for 35,000$
*Send them to Paintless Dent Repair Training for 15,000$
*Purchase tools for 7,000$
*Then have a 35-50k, in house operation for my Paintless Dent Repair needs.
First Movers Guide To Never Build Your PDR Company Past The First Stages
Paintless Dent Repair Companies beyond the Infancy State isn't tenable or a wise investment in the retail market.
The hard truth about trying to expand your small dent repair company and services. The natural progression of a technician in the infancy stages is to add players to reach a larger area of operations.The truth is, that there is a very good reason that most auto dent and ding operations never leave the infancy or adolescence stages. It's like trying to capture lightning in a bottle. Unlike other types of services or duplicatable services, the idea that mobile Paintless Dent Repair can be controlled, contained, and managed outside of the commercial realm may be a fallacy of the highest order. Wasting resources, time, and more importantly, growth in the areas that should be given priority, for future financial freedom. That is, assuming the “first mover’s” goal in this whole endeavor is financial freedom.
3 Tactics Insurance Agencies Use To Cheat You On Auto Hail Damage
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN — let's face it, accidents happen every day. Chances are, if you have been driving for 17.9 or more years, you have made at least one auto insurance claim (US Average). That means that if you were licensed around the age of 16, by the time that you are 34 you will have experienced at least one crash: at 100$ a month, you will have given your insurance company 21,480$ per accident. Insurance companies may sell you protection and make you feel that you are getting low rates, but they don’t make profit by paying for your accidents. They do so by getting you to pay for your accidents —in advance. There is nothing wrong with this model, after all it is the American way. However, when it comes time for them to write a check, they are built to reduce its size and impact on their losses, not yours. Here is how they do it with Auto Hail claims, assuming you have comprehensive. Read More…
Types of Paintless Dent Repair Technicians
Rough Draft: These were just my notes for the video
Understand that there are different types of Paintless Dent Repair Technicians. This will help you determine what you need and why the pricing that your getting is going to vary so much.
It should also be noted that the general development path for each of these categories
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How Does Paintless/ Dentless Dent Removal Work?
This is how Paintless Dentless Dent Repair Really Works
1. '''Direct leverage'''. Gaining access to the metal with direct force on the dent, from behind. This can be done behind your factory bracing, through sound dampening pad, and on body lines. This method traditionally requires removal and reinstallation of parts or the creation of access
and it works on metal, aluminum, and HHS.
2. '''Indirect leverage'''. Gaining access within the recess of a panel and using a bridge to affect the surface by creating a fulcrum.
3. '''Glue pulling'''. The process of pulling the surface of the damage with specially formulated hotmelt glue in conjunction with hardened plastic or metal tabs. Once the glue and tab are attached to the surface of the painted surface, it is either lifted with a slide-hammer or a mini-lifter. Typically, a slide hammer shocks the metal with a very strict upward jab, while a mini-lifter provides a more direct and slower progress upwards. The results will vary based upon the size of the tab, the type of glue that is used, and they type of puller used.
4 '''Tap downs'''. There are a variety of tap downs, but the most common are sharp to medium acrylic, which leaves light traces once the panel has been struck, but can easily be polished out. Medium aluminum which is used for more specific work. Sharp steel, which is used to slightly crush clear less that .5 of an MU which can be wet sanded out.
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Will Paintless Dent Repair hurt the paint on your vehicle?
The short answer is no, but the long answer is somewhat, but not any more than giving your vehicle good compound or wet-sand or washing your car when its really dirty.
Autobody Metals and How it Affects Paintless Dent Repair and Pricing
This is rough draft material that I used as a general guide. I will update and clean this material up at some point. Right now my main focus is getting the many videos that I need out.