PAINTLESS DENT REMOVAL GLOSSARY

CERTIFIED PDR TRAINING PROGRAM

Know your dent gloss!!

ACCESS - No Paintless Dent Repair is possible without an open path to a dent. Problem areas include double panels, bracing, panel edges, etc.
ACCURACY - The most difficult PDR fundamental. The technique of locating a tool tip precisely where it is needed.
BLADE TOOL - The sharpest PDR tool available, designed to bring up a sharp low spot.
BLUNT TOOL - A very soft, rounded PDR tool, designed to bring up a soft, gradual area.
BODYLINE - A contour of a panel (often sharp) that when dented requires special care for a proper Paintless Dent Repair
BOW TIE - A term which describes the beggining technique of light reading, and how the light moves with added pressure
BRACE - A section of a vehicle panel which is usually designed for structural rigidity and safety. Bracing can block or inhibit tool access within a panel; usually doors.
BRACE WIRE - A thin PDR tool designed to access dents within a braced area of a panel
COLOR SANDING (WET SANDING) - A process where clear coat is removed to reduce visual evidence of stretched metal, and increasing the overall quality of a Paintless Dent Repair
COMPOSITE TIPPED TOOLS - Tools designed to: A) Speed a Paintless Dent Repair. B) Create a more realistic orange peel result from a Paintless Dent Repair.C)Eliminates any inner panel scratching that may lead to corrosion.
CIRCLE READING - A proprietary method that we developed for our PaintFree Dent Repair method used to remove sharp, deep damage
CREASE - A long, sharp-centered dent that requires advanced PDR skills to remove (vertical crease, horizontal crease, or outward crease created from a tool slip)
CROSSING - Reading a dent from two, 90 degree directions to ensure complete removal
DISPERSEMENT - A proprietary method that we developed for our PaintFree Dent Repair method used to spread sharp, deep damage outward, releasing the center of a dent and improving results dramatically
DOOR JAMBER - A tool used to firmly hold a door open while a repair is conducted
DOUBLE PANEL - A term used when a panel has two layers of sheetmetal either sandwiched together or very closely layered, complicating or blocking access.
DRAGGING - A beginning PDR technique used to locate the general vicinity of a PDR tool tip
EDGE READING - An advanced reading technique used to specifically locate a PDR tool tip location
FLAG TOOL - A PDR tool resembling a brace wire, but with an extended tip, used for unique, limited access situations
FLAT BAR - A Flat PDR tool usually (but not always) used for window access door repairs
FINISHING - The term used for completing a Paintless Dent Repair to 100% completion
FOG BOARD - A reading instrument with a hazy line designed to pick up subtle tool movements, most beneficial for sharp dent repairs
GLUE CUTTING - The process of moving or cutting glue in braced areas- usually doors, but often roofs or roof rails
GLUE PULLER - A tool used to pull a dent out rather than push it, like traditional PDR. Best used when access with PDR is not available.
GRADIENT BOARD - A reading instrument with a series of thin lines, or rows of dots designed to pick up subtle tool movements, most beneficial for sharp dent repairs
HACKING - What you dont want to do! Term used to describe bad Paintless Dent Repairs
HAND TOOL - Technically, all PDR tools are hand tools, but usually in reference to short tools used for close access, i.e hoods, panel edges, etc.
HEATING - Process of using heat(torch or heat gun)in : Freezing weather to prevent frozen paint from cracking, and in warm weather to prevent clear coat spidering with extreme-sharp dent repairs
HIGH SPOT - Term used to describe a point of metal raised beyond level.
LIGHT PINCH - A term which describes a beggining technique of light reading, and how the light reflection narrows with added pressure
LOW SPOT - A portion of a dent that needs lifting to finish
MASTERTECH - A term which describes a PDR Technician who has received additional PDR education and possesses skills beyond that of an average technician
MASTER TOOL - A tool used to remove smiles and bring down high spots
ORANGE PEEL - A soft, bumpy pattern which is seen in most paint finishes resebling the skin of an orange, and desired to be recreated during most Paintless Dent Repairs
PADDLE TOOL - See WHALETAIL
PAINTFREE DENT REPAIR - A series of proprietary techniques invented by us to improve on the dent repair process
PAINTLESS DENT REPAIR - The process of massaging dented metal to its original form using pressure with special hand tools. Originally implemented on the Mercedes Benz factory assembly lines and later brought to the United States.
PANEL POPPER/CLAW TOOL - Tool used to remove interior trim pieces, Usually for door access, or hail repairs.
PICK - Standard term for a PDR rod. Originally from the term pick and file from the early 1900's
PRESSURE - A fundamental part of Paintless Dent Repair referring to proper gauging of necessary strength when removing a dent
RAT - A tool tip which is an industry standard, medium shaped tip, used for most Paintless Dent Repairs
READING - Describes the techniique of locating the tip of a tool and at the same time determining proper pressure via use of a special instrument (light, board, reflection, etc)
REFLECTOR BOARD - A reading instrument designed to pick up subtle tool movements (see GRADIENT BOARD and FOG BOARD
RETAIL CUSTOMER - refers to a customer who is a private individual, not a dealer, or wholesale business customer
S-HOOK - hook used for tool leverage, usually for hoods, trunks and roofs
SHRINKING - Term used to reducing damage via slow, steady PDR movements
SMILE - refers to a raised, crescent shaped section of metal on the perimeter of a dent-usually large
SPIDERING - term that describes initial clear coat cracking due to: very sharp or deep dent; oxidized paint; frozen paint
STRESS RELIEVING - term that describes a proprietary method that we developed for our PaintFree Dent Repair method used to release peripheral stress of a sharp dent
TAP DOWN - Tool used to remove high spots and smiles(see high spots)
TRIMMING A PANEL - term that describes how to finish a dent completely by moving a reading instrument far away from the damaged area, thereby highlighting subtle remaining low areas or wavy-ness of an otherwised finished repair
VOLCANO - What is left from an inadequate sharp dent repair when the center is never raised, only the perimeter
WHALE TAIL - A flat tipped tool used to gain access in flat, tight brace areas (usually hoods and trunks, but often beneficial in doors and more)
WHOLESALE CUSTOMER - refers to a customer who is a business customer, such as a dealer, auction, rental or other professional customer
WINDOW PROTECTOR - A very thin piece of plastic that is placed in the top of a door prior to inserting a tool into a door for a paintless dent repair. Eliminates window scratching and breakage
WINDOW WEDGE - A wedged shape of plastic that is placed in the top of a door prior to inserting a tool in for a paintless dent repair.

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