Below are some auto body terms which may be of help in understanding paintless dent repair (PDR) and body repair:
access
The basis of paintless dent repair. Access is getting the tool behind the auto body metal panel in order to push or massage the metal out for successful dent repair or dent removal. Dents in areas where access is blocked may not allow paintless dent repair (PDR), for example dents in double panels, braced door areas, or the edges of panels.
Also known as: dent repair access, dent removal access, paintless dent repair access
accuracy
Another paintless dent repair (PDR) basic. The paintless dent repair technician must know the exact spot of the tool in order to push or massage the metal in the right location. Accuracy comes from reading the metal with a paintless dent repair (PDR) reflector board or fluorescent light.
blade tool
The sharpest type of paintless dent repair tool, used to push out a sharp low spot.
Also known as: paintless dent repair (PDR) tool
blunt tool
The rounded paintless dent repair tool for massaging a gradual auto body dent.
Also known as: paintless dent repair (PDR) tool
brace
Auto body safety reinforcement which can prevent access for paintless dent repair, such as in auto body doors.
crease
A sharp, long dent. The crease is difficult damage in paintless dent repair (PDR), taking highly skilled dent removal.
Also known as: sharp auto body dent, sharp dent, sharp dents
crossing
A technique that reads the auto body dent from views at right angles to make sure the dent removal is perfectly done.
Also known as: paintless dent repair technique, auto body technique, body repair technique
double panel
Doubled auto body metal which makes paintless dent repair (PDR) access hard or impossible.
dragging
A technique for getting a first sense of the paintless dent repair tool placement.
Also known as: paintless dent repair (PDR) technique, auto body technique, body repair technique
edge reading
A technique for finding the exact placement of the paintless dent repair tool.
Also known as: paintless dent repair (PDR) technique, auto body technique, body repair technique
finishing
Final completion of the paintless dent repair, putting the auto body surface back in its original state.
Also known as: dent removal
hacking
Bad paintless dent repair (PDR). This is the result you don’t want, but one that can easily happen with technicians who are not skilled at dent repair and removal. Good paintless dent repair takes long practice: a poor technician makes the dent worse, and you will be behind from where you started.
high spot
A point of auto body metal that has been pushed out past the flat plane.
Also known as: paintless dent repair (PDR) process
low spot
A point of auto body metal that has not yet been pushed out to the flat plane, that still needs massaging out.
Also known as: paintless dent repair process
master tech
A paintless dent repair (PDR) specialist, one having extra training and skill.
Also known as: paintless dent repair master technician, paintless dent repair (PDR) expert
orange peel
The goal of good paintless dent repair is the restoration of the orange-peel-like surface of the original auto body finish.
paintless dent repair (PDR)
A cost- and time-saving way of pushing or (less commonly) pulling auto body metal back to its original shape. The paintless dent repair method was pioneered by the Mercedes Benz company.
Also known as: paintless dent removal, auto body work, body repair
paintless dent repair (PDR) methods
Specific techniques used in paintless dent repair. Metal picks and rods are usually used to push dents out from the inner side of the auto body metal, although sometimes dent repair may involve pulling the damage out using glue or a special tab. Perfecting the dent repair comes from tapping out the high spots for a smooth finish. Good paintless dent repair (PDR) technicians have learned over time how to create the high spots without breaking the paint and ruining the dent repair.
Also known as: paintless dent repair techniques, auto body techniques, body repair techniques
pressure
The basic process of paintless dent repair (PDR), the very exact massaging or pushing out of auto body metal to restore the original contour.
Also known as: dent repair, dent removal, auto body repair
reading
The paintless dent repair technique of reading the tool position and necessary pressure using a light or reflector board
Also known as: dent repair technique, dent removal technique, auto body repair technique
reflector board
A paintless dent repair (PDR) reading device for showing small exact movements in the dent removal process.
Also known as: dent repair reading device, dent removal reading device, auto body repair reading device
shrinking
Dent removal by slow steady massaging.
Also known as: paintless dent repair technique, auto body repair technique
tap down
A paintless dent repair (PDR) tool for taking out high spots.
Also known as: dent removal tool, auto body repair tool
trimming
A technique used late in the paintless dent repair process. Trimming reads areas at the edge of the damage to find any small remaining problems with dent removal flatness.
Also known as: paintless dent repair (PDR) technique, dent removal technique, auto body repair technique
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