We believe that paintless dent repair is both an art and a science, making every skilled PDR technician an automotive healer in their own right. The history of paintless dent repair is actually quite fascinating. If you read through this article you will learn why we are advocates of skilled technicians in this industry being equated to healers and artists.
PDR is the cure for dents and dings
It is my belief that all quality PDR Master Technicians truly are the automotive healers of our industry. It really is just an abstract concept and yet there is so much truth to it.
If this is true in an abstract sense, who is the PDR Dent Surgeon General if you will? When and who began the whole dent removal process? Here’s where your education begins on the history of paintless dent removal.
How old is paintless dent repair?
There are three major events in the PDR timeline that should be noted. The first is the fact that this process is a refined and polished practice that evolved from repoussage and chasing. This is a form of metalworking where metal is shaped and designed by hammering on the reverse side.
I may surprise you to learn that many famous pieces of art have been sculpted from this metalworking technique.
The earliest evidence of this is known to have existed since the third millennium BC with many artifacts coming from the Middle East.
Who was the first to officially start paintless dent removal?
If there is one person to pinpoint the official genesis of PDR it would be Frank T. Sargent. He became the OG dent healer of the industry in 1931 by publishing a revolutionary book titled “The Key To Metal Bumping” (for those of you that don’t know, OG stands for original gangsta).
The book that Franky boy published details how to predict the movement of metal. He also lists the tools that could be used, and how to use them. His illustrations were explicit on the movement of metal. This is how he became an iconic legend in the history of paintless dent removal.
Who made dent removal popular?
The third major event that made PDR well-known was the International Motor Sports Show” in New York, 1960. A man by the name of Oskar Flaig is on record for being the first person to publicly demonstrate PDR. He showed how effective the PDR technique could actually be for dent removal.
As most car dealers know, many cars sustain small dents and minor damage during car shows. Mr. Oskar Flaig was just another Mercedes Benze employee. He was in charge of painting the dents at night so the cars would be ready for display the next day.
To avoid using filler, he was pushing out dents with the handle of a hammer at the trade fair. He noticed that in many cases, he didn’t even need paint because the dent was almost as good as gone.
After the trade show, he worked on similar methods experimenting with different tools, which allowed him to refine the technique. As is common with performance above and beyond the status quo, he was promoted within the company.
Oskar began training programs, as PDR became an official process of dent removal for Mercedes. He is a testament to the term dent healer.
How do you choose a dent mechanic that’s right for you?
There are a lot of companies out there to choose from which can make your decision on a PDR company a little confusing. At the end of the day, you want to make sure you’re going with a company that has a lot of good reviews and will give you the service you need when you need it.
And here it comes…
Magic Dent is truly one of the best dent removal companies you will ever work with and is among the first PDR companies in Toronto.
If you don’t believe us, ask our clients. We would be happy to give you a long list of referrals. You could also read our reviews-they’re absolutely stellar.
Give us a call, or better yet, save yourself 10% and fill out the PDR cost estimate form. We’re happy to come to you and would love to reverse your dents as if they never happened!
