"PDR Tools and Equipment:  Just the Facts....."

 Origins and History-

The PDR Tool Museum
 

PDR tools trace their origins back to pry bars, hammers and dollies, picks and other shaping tools from the auto body industry.  Many modern PDR tools are simply evolved designs, while some themselves are new.  Tool technology and designs have improved greatly in the last 5 years or so.  In the early days of PDR, which is about 15-25 years ago, most tools were primitive pry bars and picks made of cold-rolled steel.  Few tools were tempered by heat treating methods.  Most tools were made one at a time by hand grinding.  Most PDR techs had a handful of tools which were bend or twisted to make the desired shape to reach and push the dent out.  As PDR skills progressed, professional tool makers and machine shops improved tool performance by precisely machining, laser cutting or using high tech CNC machines to shape tools.

 Tool Designs and Materials-

 
Improved alloy materials expanded the functions of tools and dent repair access capabilities. Tools today are made from a wide variety of alloys including  high carbon spring steel, stainless steel and even titanium at times. Most tools today are heat-treated to give them a desired temper or specifically a Rockwell hardness rating. Heat-treating gives each tool the ability to flex a bit to reach a dent, but remain stiff enough to retain the drive or torsion needed to remove a dent. Most stainless steel alloys do not heat treat properly to allow the proper rigidity to push out dents, especially tools of smaller diameters. One exception to this general rule is PDR Finesse Tools. They are made from a quality stainless alloy and are precisely individually heat-treated to a specific proprietary Rockwell hardness. They drive a dent as well or better than heat-treated high carbon steel tools. The usual advantage of using stainless steel as that it maintains its shiny appearance almost indefinitely and will not easily corrode. High carbon steel tools are prone to rusting easily with any exposure to a technicians body sweat or moist/humid environments. Some tool companies have tried to slow this natural process by coating tools with nickel, zinc, or chrome plating or even gun -blueing methods. Some coat their tools with oils, waxy coatings or include steel wool in with the tools for removing surface rust. DentGear Tools have provided the best solution for high carbon spring steel alloys by industrially chrome plating their tools. This provides a long lasting mirror like finish that inhibits corrosion.

 Improved Technology- 

 As PDR skills and expectations have increased,  tool technology has had to keep up. Thin flexible tools with adequate drive are now available from a handful of tool manufacturers including DentGear, PDR Finesse, Ultra Dent and A-1 Tools among others. Tools with machined tapered shafts [shaved tools] are a necessity to reach tight accessed areas to repair dents without the need to drill access holes. Whailtail designs are now a must for a competent tech also.

Tools: Quantity vs. Quality

How many tools should a tech own?  This is a good question and involves some logic, available budget, type of market, and personal preference. Some techs like to own tools just to say they own lots of tools. Some collect tools. Others think that more tools will make them a better tech. As a tech with over 17 years experience , I will share my personal opinions with you. I have less tools today than I did 10 years ago. Why? Tool technology and quality has vastly improved. This means that a better designed tool will  replace 3-5 average tools. Less is more. Better tools mean fewer tools. I don't like looking through a huge pile of tools looking for one hidden tool. I have about 11 tools on my cart for doording repair currently. When I was a hail tech, I had about 15 tools on my cart. My custom designed 30 piece tool set will outperform other techs sets that contain 70 or more tools....it's really that simple. Additionally, the advent of glue-pulling technology and skills has further eliminated the need for more tools.  Anywhere where I can effectively use glue, I will. Enough said....

GPDR: Glue-pulling dents-

Another recent technology is GPDR or glue-pull dent removal . This is a unique process whereby plastic tabs are hot-glued to the vehicles painted surface. The glue is allowed to dry and the tab is then removed from the surface with a spring loaded device that pops or pries the tab off the surface causing the dented area to be pulled back to the desired flatness or contour of the panel. Glue-pulling is truly an art form like traditional PDR as has a learning curve of its own. GPDR is the future of PDR!! Automobile access designs, laminated windows, airbag and interior trim complexities dictate that GPDR be fully implemented.

Questions?

 Picures of tools, glue-pulling kits and lights are included on this website. Any questions you have about tools and equipment can be answered by contacting Tom Price at 815-341-6519. PDRCoach designs proprietary and custom tools for our customers. Our industry friends and contacts can solve your PDR needs. Visit our training page for honest advice on getting started in PDR. We can help you save thousands of dollars by utilizing our years of experience in this field. Call us before you regret wasting your hard earned money!