New PDR Forum

[Coitster]

Hey Everyone,
Jeff at Delta Kits has been kind enough to add a Paintless Dent Repair Forum for those of us who do PDR "Paintless Dent Repair" in addition to our windshield repair work. I really look foward to discussing PDR with all of you others that do it.
David
Coitster

[autocosmetics]

This is a great idea, I know alot of windshield repair techs do pdr and other add on services. I started with vinyl/leather repair and added windshield repair. I've been working on pdr--it's pretty tough! Coitster, how long have you been doing pdr? How long did it take for you to feel confident in your work? Did you go to pdr training?

Jim

[Coitster]

Hey Jim,
Well I have been doing PDR for a little over a year now. I went to a school for 6 weeks up in Kansas. 3 months after I got home from training we had a massive series of hail storms come accross Dallas and north Texas. I really havn't done many door dings exept hail work. Hail was a great learning experiance, I am still learning everyday. In all reality it took me about 6 months of constant work to feel comfertable with my repairs. Bigger dents I can't get to completely dissapear but I can come close and have learned how to blend them in. I would say it takes about a year to consider yourself decent at it, and at least 3 years to consider yourself good. Definetly a much harder trade to learn then windshield repair. Takes a lot of dedication...... how did you start learning PDR???
David
Coitster

[autocosmetics]

I had been checking in pdr for a long time, talked to alot of people who did it and who trained for it. It sounded like something I could add to my business, and it seemed like a challenge, but something that I really wanted to attempt. I set up the practice hood in my garage and bought some tools (that's a long story in itself!) and got a video. I was really good at the x and o thing, but when it came time to make a dent and push it out, it was really hard for me to find the center of the dent. So I called practically everyone that trains for pdr, and ended up going to Kansas for a week of training. Don't let anyone tell you you'll learn enough in a week or two.....I could have stayed home and learned just as much! I had been told to come to training for a week and get some good tips, then go home and practice, then when I get good at getting most of the dent out, come back for some intensive training to learn how to finish off the repair. I can get a dent out most of the way, but don't get it to where I'm satisfied with it.

[Coitster]

I personaly spent about 2 years looking into PDR as another source of income. I am very happy I got into, however boy does it take a lot of practice.
David
Coitster

[kdp]

Question...Guys.....

Does Practice Make Perfect????

Look forward to your replies!!

[Coitster]

I thought it was Perfect Practice makes perfect. If you keep practicing the wrong way, you will only be a hack.
David
Coitster

[kdp]

Got it right!!!

You must be a football fan, David?

Vince Lombardi was right when he asked the same question!

If you are not practicing right you will be a hack...... Well he didn't say "hack" but close enough!

[bling]

what do you consider a hack?