For a second there I thought about trying paintless dent repair as a side job, then I watched you bend into all different positions to attack that job, and my back started hurting just from watching! Ouch. Nice work on the video. Some people don't like commentary dubbed over these "how-to" videos, but I always appreciate any small tips a professional can share about how and why they are doing each task and info about the craft. Information like what you mentioned about the strength of aluminum compared to steel, the cost of paint versus paintless, temperature settings, different tools used, technique tips, importance of "releasing the metal" in some areas, etc. I like watching, but I would enjoy learning even more. Thanks again, and keep on keeping on! ✌👍
Thank you for the final camera angles showing remaining imperfections, incredible work and your end result keeping the original factory paint is way better than a repaint.
I have had 3 paintless dent removers tell me they cant do a paintless dent removal on my bonnet (hood) because it’s aluminium and close to the front (where there is a second skin) it’s way minor than the dent here, impressive work!
Got dang!!! That was bad ass Bro. You did that fast as lightening, l know because I got a similar problem with a half dollar size small uniform crater along the factor seal edge or lip of the outside passenger door wheel well of my 2007 white Charger sit-in on 22's with the limo tint. That's Right!!!. Your tools are much nicer and I appreciate you for showing them. But you ain't lying bout that factory seal. I've been on my hands & knees, on my back, sitting Indian style, lotus position, karate horse stance and using the most cutting edge hand forged tools. However, It ain't much better than a tool a crow could make to get some food from a tree trunk. It's been days and nights trying to move that small piece of metal and get it flush n uniform and not let the heat gun bubble up the paint. I am making progress Bro. You got me pumped dawg- its on!!! Today is my day, it's on n cracking~ I'm the Man!!! … (" C'mon Randy lets go!!! … " Aw Mom!!! I don't wanna take flute lessons at the Mall")
My 2020 jeep gladiator got side sideswiped luckily the paint is ok. took it to a paintless dent repair shop and they didn't want to take my jeep because it was aluminum. Any recommendations?
nice job!, pretty much a full day of work. compared to a body shop replacing the fender and a repaint, what would the cost savings of PDR be for this job?
If a body shop replaced the fender, they would end up blending the door, and hood. I would imagine you would save a decent bit. R&I bumper, flare, wheel, liner, headlamp, mirror, door handle, lower door molding, door panel, belt molding, sight shield, fender covers, windshield molding. About an hour and a half to uninstall. Hour to prep and paint fender. Recommend a few hours of paint resting before handling. Another 2 hours reassembly. ( I am the audi man at work against my own will lol )
Wow Chris that was nasty! What did it take at the end, 8 hours? Great repair! I am the same way, if it has potential and the price is right we can improve pretty much anything👍👊 Great learning experience!
It can be done for 2 main different reasons. One reason is to tap down where you got too aggressive in pushing the metal. The other reason is what separates your average dent tech from someone like Chris. It is to release the metal that has formed as a “crown” from the impact or a line that has formed from the panel folding onto the inner brace/structure. Releasing the metal allows you to continue to massage the dent back into its original position smoothly. Not doing so causes you to force it up by stretching the metal and leaves you with a much lower quality repair.
That's a challenging skill. Well done. I'm am curious as to why someone would choose to have PDR over the traditional auto body repair? If someone could tell me the benefits besides not having to use paint, or is that really the only benefit? Thanks
Too many advantages to PDR to name them all. Doesn’t diminish the value of your car like body/paint work. Faster, cheaper, less invasive, no harmful effects to the environment to name a few.
I have a problem maybe you will help me solve it I work for a Ford dealer therefore I fix a lot of trucks my problem is when I am buffing the area where I fix the hot one makes me a dent in the area that I fix and what temperature you recomend
Beautiful job. Scary how many new vehicles have this new alloy on side panels and even tailgates and roofs. Those type dents are a real pain getting them started until you eventually figure out every little minor point that is keeping it from wanting to move. Then it eventually acts similar to steel.
It’s time that we realise that the thing we just witnessed can be possible only if the repair skills meet YouTubing skills. Think about it ;) Love from INDIA
5-6 hrs labor x’s $60-$80 per hour = $400-$600 dent repair. How much is a new fender painted? You did a great job but the damage was in such a difficult place to repair perfectly. You can still see barely some imperfections on the lip.
I would imagine that repair in a body shop would be anywhere from $2,500-$4,000 for that car. And you would have a lot more than “tiny imperfections that are barely visible around the lip”.
I found if you push the metal to its max, temperature wise, it made aluminium easier to work with.. But I had a ton of panels I could test it on first 👌 love repair Edit lovely * repair 😂
I have a problem maybe you will help me solve it I work for a Ford dealer therefore I fix a lot of trucks my problem is when I am buffing the area where I fix the hot one makes me a dent in the area that I fix and what temperature you recomend
Depends on how much you values your time (i.e labour costs per hour) there is a profit vs repainting if you can provide that value to the customer. On a cheap economy vehicle not so much but any mid range or higher vehicle is likely to be much more expensive to source a new part particularly something more expensive to produce (like aluminium vs steel).
Not a brilliant finish. Plus you dropped the tool onto the wheel and caught the top of the wing. Also hours of that watch buckle rubbing the paintwork. A bit more protection maybe.
That's a decent for a wholesaler, however the service manager at Audi here wouldn't ever call you back if you ticketed that repair as finished. You or the company do not have the required skills and equipment needed to perfect repairs with. This will limit your prices and limit you to cheesy used car lot dealers.