Automotive Appearance Institute: Episode 9: From PDR Newbie to Industry Icon with Jack Bucknell
All Access Podcast: Jack Bucknell’s Journey from PDR Newbie to Industry Leader
Join us for this episode of The All Access Podcast with the Automotive Appearance Institute, featuring Jack Bucknell—a recognized leader in the paintless dent repair (PDR) industry. Jack shares how he started in PDR, the challenges he overcame, and the secrets to building a standout reputation. Whether you’re a PDR technician or a car enthusiast, you won’t want to miss his expert advice.
Plus, test your knowledge with our Tech Trivia game—how many PDR-related questions can you get right? Tune in for valuable insights and a little friendly competition.
-Thanks for having me on the show Gene and Dylann it was great getting to chat with you both and discuss my journey into the wonderful world of PDR!
Do you want to get into Paintless Dent Repair?
Looking at getting into dent repair and struggling with glue pulling like I did when I started? Fast track your way to the finish line by signing up for Automotive Appearance Institute’s – Intro to PDR Through GPR
This course teaches the fundamentals of Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) using Glue Pull Repair (GPR). Designed for beginners, it covers essential techniques such as:
How to use GPR for minor dent repair
Reading and using PDR lights for precision
Panel preparation and knockdown techniques
Troubleshooting common repair challenges
Tool selection and practical application
Students gain lifetime access to course materials and can learn at their own pace! – CLICK HERE!
– I WISH I had access to this type of contact when I started, I use to HATE glue pulling dents now I love it!
Interested in Advanced Training?
Are you already familiar with GPR and want to learn more? Be sure to check out their Master Class covering EVERYTHING GPR!
Designed for PDR professionals, this course teaches expert-level glue pulling methods, proper tool selection, and real-world applications. Improve your repair quality, expand your services, and grow your business. Unlock new income opportunities and become a GPR expert today!
The GPR Masterclass includes:
Comprehensive training on Glue Pull Repair (GPR) techniques.
13+ hours of content with modules on equipment, lighting, and advanced repair methods.
Live repair demonstrations and real-world applications.
Strategies to improve shop efficiency and profitability.
Designed for auto body technicians and shop owners, with lifetime access to the course.
“Die back” in automotive paint refers to a phenomenon where the color of the paint appears to lighten or become less vibrant after the paint has dried. This can occur when the paint’s solvent evaporates too quickly, which causes the pigments to settle and spread unevenly on the surface.
Die back can also be caused by improper application techniques, such as spraying the paint too far away from the surface or not applying enough paint in each coat. Additionally, environmental factors like temperature and humidity can affect the drying process and contribute to die back.
To prevent die back, it’s important to use high-quality automotive paint and to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application. This may involve using specific tools, such as a spray gun or a particular type of brush, and applying the paint in multiple thin coats, with sufficient drying time between each coat. It’s also important to ensure that the surface being painted is clean and free of debris, and to control environmental factors like temperature and humidity as much as possible.
Body filler, also known as “Bondo,” is a type of automotive repair material that is used in body shops to repair dents, scratches, and other imperfections in car bodies. It is a two-part substance that consists of a resin and a hardener.
To use body filler, the damaged area of the car is first cleaned and prepared by sanding away any paint, rust, or other debris. The body filler is then mixed according to the instructions on the package, and applied to the damaged area in layers using a plastic spreader. Each layer is allowed to dry before the next one is added.
Once the body filler has fully cured, it is sanded down to create a smooth surface that is flush with the rest of the car’s body. The repaired area can then be painted to match the rest of the car.
Body filler is a common tool in automotive body shops because it is relatively easy to use and can effectively repair a wide variety of cosmetic damage. However, it is important to use the correct amount of filler and to properly prepare the surface to ensure a high-quality, long-lasting repair.
What Are Some Downsides To Having A Body Shop Fix Your Dents?
Here are some downsides to having a body shop fix your dents:
Cost:
The cost of repairing dents at a body shop can be quite high, especially if the damage is extensive. The repair cost may include labor charges, replacement parts, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Time:
The repair process can take a considerable amount of time, depending on the severity of the damage. This means that you may have to go without your car for several days, or even weeks, while it is being repaired.
Quality of Work:
The quality of work done by body shops can vary widely. Some shops may not have the necessary skills or equipment to do a good job, which could result in subpar repairs.
Paint Color Match:
If your car has a custom paint job, tri coat or pearl coat or a rare color, it may be difficult for a body shop to match the paint exactly. This can result in a noticeable difference in color between the repaired area and the rest of the car.
Hidden Damage:
Sometimes, there may be hidden damage that is not immediately visible, and a body shop may not discover it until they start the repair process. This can result in additional costs and delays, this is actually very normal because there are so many parts and pieces in todays vehicle the full estimate cannot be wrote up until the vehicle is completely disassembled.
Insurance:
If you are filing an insurance claim to cover the cost of the repairs, your insurance company may require you to use a specific body shop for your first estimate or inspection, they may only cover a portion of the repair costs if taken to another shop for repairs that is not in their network. This is not necessarily a bad thing, often times in order to become a “certified” insurance shop you have to abide by the insurance pricing guidelines and rules. This can often times leave things to be left off of the repair bill in order to satisfy the insurance company. It is illegal for an insurance company to tell you that you HAVE to take the vehicle to a specific shop.
In today’s video, Jack takes us through a hail damage estimate for a 2015 Honda Fit that came into the Sioux Falls Dent Repair shop. As you can see, the damage is quite severe and even caused the paint in the roof to crack in multiple spots.
For the customer to claim their insurance, we needed to take photographs and even mark off the severely damaged areas. The car itself, as you can see, is covered in “oversized” dents which are indicated with “X” marks. In terms of size, an oversized dent is any dent that is larger than a half dollar coin.
The roof and hood were written as replacement pieces because of the severity of the damage and that is what we used to write up our estimate. The dents are all across the body of the car and has even caused the paint to crack in many spots. In some spots, the glass will also have to be removed and reinstalled once the job is complete.
Unfortunately, once the estimate is made, the car is going to be a complete loss for the customer and they will have the option to either get reimbursed or buy it back and get it fixed afterwards. The customer also has a tow hitch attached to the front of the vehicle which means that it will have to be removed and will be included in the eventual cost. We also came across a hairline dent between the side mirror and the frame of the vehicle which will need work. Also, there are signs of previous PDR work on this car, but it isn’t complete and isn’t a good job either.
So, that is how we at Sioux Falls Dent Repair go about writing up an estimate for hail damaged car. We mark off the larger dents and any extreme damage, we take to a body shop for repair or replacement.
Watch the whole process here:
If you have any hail damage that you want us to take a look at, go ahead and call or text us at 605-250-1023.
