Today, Jack introduces us to the very first “Tool-Tech Tip Tuesday” episode and will take us through the steps of removing a tail light from a 2015 Toyota Tundra pick-up truck. There is a twist though, as Jack will not be using a traditional tool used for light uninstallations. Instead, he is using a window wedge from Stuckey Tools that creates a gap in the window channel – but it works, so why not?
Once the tailgate assembly is lowered, Jack shows us that two torx screws hold the tail light in place. Once those are out, Jack explains that there are a couple of guide pins that actually require the light to be pushed out sideways rather than pulled out from the back (as seen on older models).
This is where the window wedge tool comes in. Because the tool is made from plastic, there are no worries about scratching the paint or damaging the metal while removing the light. As you can see, Jack simply pushes the wedge tool into the seam of the light and it pops out easily.
If you have any damage and want us to take a look at it, reach out to us on 605-250-1023. You can also request a call back by Clicking Here!
In today’s video, we take a look at some of the latest additions to our Paintless Dent Repair tools collection. We made our recent purchase on Black Friday and got some great deals. Although most of the tools we’ve ordered have come in, we are still patiently waiting for the new dent reaper rods.
One of the first tools we’re going to look at is actually from Blehm and it’s called the SHUTT-UPS. It is the first time we have purchased Blehm and we are excited to start using them. Something that sets these tools apart is that the SHUTT-UPS come with adjustable handles which means they can be used from any angle and easily. There are different varieties of the SHUTT-UPS and come with different levels of curve so that you can reach practically all parts of the panel.
The next tool is called the Daniel Gromm Balloon Tip tool which is also from Blehm and is great for prying two panels apart. Before the Balloon Tip tools were released, we used to use the Whale Tip tools to get out the damage from panels. However, the Whale Tips are a lot sharper than the Balloon Tips and the later ensures that the metal and the paint (if any) is not damaged while we push out the dents. Nevertheless, both the tools work extremely well. The Balloon Tip tools are available in various sizes which is great for working on all kinds of dents and dings.
Next, we take a look at the KECO K-Beam Bridge Lifter which is a powerful tool in the PDR industry. What it actually does is that the K-Beam is placed on the vehicle body using the rubber legs and a pull tab is connected to the central lever. The lever can be spun manually or with the help of a drill to pull the glue tab out along with the dent. The K-Beam Bridge Lifter is designed for bigger dents and larger damage.
This is the time of the year where people wash their vehicles a lot less and therefore they don’t notice the smaller dents that they would have noticed in the summer months. We have been getting a lot of calls from people who are backing out of their garages and denting their side fenders.
One of the jobs we have on our hands right now is a door dent which is on a 2017 Honda. The dent extends from the bodyline and also comes with a tiny chip in the paint. The customer was fine with us just doing a small touch up job as the car was a lease turn-in. The PDR job will help them avoid any major fines or fees. PDR will always be more affordable than what a body shop has to offer and the customer knows that which is why they chose to come to us before bringing the vehicle back to the dealership. A body shop would have repainted the entire panel and would have most likely even had to paint and blend the front fender as well. As you can tell, that process would have been more expensive and time consuming.
Moving to the hood of the car, there is also a small dent in front – most likely from the vehicle hitting a bird. You can actually see the extent of the damage in the PDR lights and how distorted the hood really looks. So, we’ll be taking out the door and hood damage and getting the car back to the customer so that they can turn it back into the dealer without having to pay the extra fines. This car is a perfect candidate for PDR as the damage can be removed up to 80-90 percent and a regular person won’t even notice the difference, this allows the customer to save money!
When we last discussed glue pulling tabs, we talked about the smaller ones that we use here at Sioux Falls Dent Repair. Today, we’ll be looking further and getting to know a little more about the crease tabs that we use in the shop.
There are all types of crease tabs, as you can imagine. Some with textured finishes and some smooth. Black Plague PDR was probably one of the first names to introduce the high quality pull tabs and we continue to use them today. The first generation of pull tabs from Black Plague PDR were actually all black in color but have now changed to green and black. The new tabs come with a cavity along the surface which allows us to apply the glue in a straight line. This helps us reduce the amount of glue being used and also gives us a precise pulling technique.
Black Plague PDR has all different types of pull tabs and in all different sizes. The second generation included a copper thread insert to stop the bolts from breaking off from the plastic body. Another commonly used tab is the Smooth Tabs Gang Green Edition and they work pretty well on almost all types of crease dents.
The newer tabs that we use and that are available in the market right now are from KECO Tabs. These are also being used now by body shops more often because of their durability. As you can see, one of the tabs actually has a number of slits in it. This makes it so that the tab is flexible and the technician can put more pressure on a certain area rather than the entire tab. Another ingenious tab from KECO is the Viper Modular Articulating Glue Tabs range which allows you to remove or add individual tabs according to the kind of dent you’re working on. Plus, the Viper Modular series can be bent into customizable angles for an even better PDR experience. Once again, we also use the Ice and Blue tabs that are used for different kinds of dent jobs and have different strengths.
We actually have so many tabs to choose from that we often don’t even use some and sit in the shop for months before we actually put them to use. As is with most tools, once you get used to certain tools and accessories, it is hard to move to another design.
If you want to know more about the glue pull tabs we use, go ahead an each out to us directly bycalling or texting us!
Today, we will be following up on the discussion we had a couple of days ago about motorcycle dent repair. We spoke earlier about the Motorcycle Tank Vice and the PDR for motorcycles, and today, we will be diving into the various tools that we here at Sioux Falls Dent Repair use to work on motorcycles.
All the tools showcased here are available on Ultra Dent Tools and as we mentioned in the previous video, if you are getting into motorcycle paintless dent repair, you should be buying all the tools and accessories. One of the biggest reasons for this is because motorcycle repair tools are actually a lot stronger than car repair tools.
One of the commonly used tools is the Soft Tip Wheel Lip which can be used practically anywhere on the motorcycle but is predominantly used to get out dents from around the gas lid/gas hole. The accessory that fits onto the wheel lip is also from Ultra Dent Tools and is called the adjustable T-Handle. It allows us to use the tool from any angle we need and get the dent out using as much or as little leverage as is required. There is also an extension rod that fits onto the end of the Soft Tip Wheel Lip and makes it longer so we can reach further and get to dents even better. All the Wheel Lips allow interchangeable tips so we can use different tips for different jobs without having to actually replace the tool entirely. Most of our interchangeable tips come from Edgy Tools and they work equally well on cars as well as motorcycles.
Going back to the point about buying all the tools available if you plan on getting into motorcycle dent repair, Ultra Dent Tools usually offers discounts during the holiday season and Black Friday where you can easily get about 10-15 percent off on their tools.
If you have any questions or queries call or text us directly by Clicking Here.
In today’s video, we are revisiting a job that we discussed a few days ago – the massive dent on a 2020 Volkswagen Tiguan. We will be looking at Glexo Cold Glue and how it works when it comes to removing dents from car panels.
Cold glue is exactly how it sounds. While almost all of the commonly used glues in the PDR industry require some kind of heat to help it adhere, the Glexo Cold Glue does not. How it works is that you simply apply a small amount to the pull tab of your choice and it adheres just enough so that the dent or damage can be pulled out without over pulling or extending the damage.
As you can see, the majority of the dent on the Tiguan has been pulled out but there is a lot of work that needs to be done before we can hand it over to the owner. In fact, almost 90 percent of the damage has been taken out with just cold glue and a slide hammer. We did knock out some of the crowns and do some blending as well. We also used a small amount of hot glue to get out some of the smaller dents, but it was amazing to see how much of the damage we could get out with only cold glue. We still have not removed the panels or pushed on the back sides of the cars yet and we have gotten rid of 90 percent of the damage.
If your interest has been piqued, you can get your hands on the Glexo Cold Glue from their website at www.GlexoTools.com. With the hot glue, we used the KECO K-Bar to get out some of the damage. The Glexo Cold Glue is definitely the best cold glues available for PDR and is something all PDR technicians must have in their shops. The Glexo tabs are also made of metal as opposed to the regular tabs that are made from plastic. They are also adjustable and lock into the slide hammer which prevents them from coming lose, falling to the ground, and collecting dust and dirt. One of the best things about the Glexo Cold Glue is that is the tabs are reusable and they come with an extra pack of glue for when the strength of the original starts wearing off.
To get the glue ready, all you have to do is work your fingers over it till it gets stickier. Then, all you have to do is put the pull tab on the damaged area and use the slide hammer to knock out some of the damage. It can be used again if needed but it usually takes about 2-3 pulls to get out a reasonably sized dent. We will continue working on the car and get all the damage out before the customer comes to pick up the car on Monday.
If you have any queries or questions about anything in this video get ahold of us!
PDR Light – A Must For Any Dent Removal Inspection!
Today, we are fixing a crease dent on the right side fender of a Dodge Ram pickup truck and discuss the importance of using a PDR light for not only repairs, but also for preparing estimates and carrying out inspections.
A PDR light allows us to see the actual scale of the damage – something a normal cannot provide. As you can see, under the store lights, not a lot can be distinguished in terms of the dent and the damage on the fender. It is relatively invisible unless the dent is pointed out. However, when the PDR lights are focused on the area, the damage becomes instantly visible. The entire length of the crease dent can be seen clearly.
Getting a dent like this out requires us to gain access through the headlight so we had to remove it before getting to work. Plus we noticed another small dent just above the headlight so taking it off would allow us to repair both dents easily. Something else that helps us see dents clearly is the ceiling in our shop. There are lines across the ceiling and the reflection of those lines gets distorted on the top-facing panels that we have to fix.
The owner of the car is one of our repeat customers and he has approached us on quite a few occasions, even with a different car. So, he’s just one of the many happy customers we have at Sioux Falls Dent Repair. We will be working on the fender and some other minor dents in the door before we get the truck back to him.
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