In today’s video, we are going to check out some of the hail damage tools that we use here at Sioux Falls Dent Repair. We will be looking at some of the pushing tools or hail rods that we use to get out all kinds of hail damage. While most of these tools can be used for all kinds of dent repair, they have twin tips which is specifically designed for hail damage repairs.
As you can see on the first tool, we can attach two different sized tips so that we can take out all the damage from a panel without having to change tools constantly. The tips are interchangeable and all depend on the size, depth, and severity of the dent itself. The bigger tip is the R4 from DeadDentTools.com and we use a Cherry Hard Tip on it to get out the initial damage. On the other side of the hail rod we have a sharper tip that is available on EdgyTools.com and is used for fine tuning and completing the job. There are companies that have even taken it even further and produced a four sided hail rod for holding four different tips but we haven’t gotten around to using one of those, yet.
The next rod is not only one of the first ones we got, but it is also one of the best ones we have in the shop. It is called the 36-inch Hail Interchangeable Tip Rod from DentCraftTools.com and it is all made form metal and is extremely durable. Going up from there, we also use the 60-inch Hail Interchangeable Tip Rod which is exactly the same – just bigger.
Tools Made From Carbon Fiber?!
The first rod that we saw is made entirely from carbon fiber and is available on CarbonTechPDRTools.com. The one we use is the Hail Rod and it comes in three separate pieces at 12-inches, 26-inches, and 46-inches. When we put the rod together, it measures 7-foot and gives us access to all parts of a damaged panel with ease. However, they do sell extensions to make the rod even longer. While it might not make sense for most to have a 10-foot hail rod, it is actually extremely helpful when you’re looking for extra leverage on larger vehicles.
Carbon Tech also has some grips on offer which are made from aluminum and make using the rod easier. Another great handle option from the brand is the T Handle which allows us to use both hands for some of the more stubborn dents that we have to deal with. We also use the T Handle to twist and push out the damage from tighter spaces where the entire tip head will not fit. Also, when dealing with tight spaces like truck beds, the twin tip head can be replaced with a single tip head – also available from Carbon Tech.
Another attachment you can get is the Single Bend Pick Tool and is used for taking out the smaller dents. There is also a Double Bend Pick Tool and they are great for getting under the roof of a car and pushing out any damage. Lastly, we also have a Whale Tail extension that lets us get out dents from tiny spaces.
If you have any queries or questions give us a call or text at 605-250-1023 we’ll be happy to chat with you.
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!
See one of the tools we use to help us inspect vehicles for damage. It also makes for a faster inspection. This tool is the Wedge Light from Edgy Tools. This tool allows us to wedge the door upper channel open and then turn the light on and shine it into the door cavity from the top window opening.
How Does This Help
This tool helps speed up the estimating process so we can see where the damage is located in relation to the internal bracing and sound deadener in the door assembly. Prior to this tool we would have to use a separate wedge and spread the door open then use a smaller flash light and shine it in the door opening. Doing this worked ok, but the wedge light illuminates the entire door in one shot. So now we only need one tool instead of 2. Also the wedge light has an amazing battery and is rechargeable through a USB port. We pulled this out of the box when new and used it for over 9 months without recharging! Now that is awesome!
This video was originally shot LIVE on our Instagram page on 9-8-2020, be sure to follow us there to see more content: https://www.instagram.com/sioux_falls_dent_repair
Have questions about dent repairs, tools or would you like to schedule a repair?
There has been a lot of debate on how professional paintless dent repair is better than any other method of repairing dents, such as taking to an auto shop or doing it yourself with your repair kit. While attempting a DIY fix up is admirable and could save you some money in the long run, looking for a professional to get the job done is the most recommended way to go. This is because the pros outweigh the cons by a country mile. Here are some of the reasons why professional PDR is better.
PDR Is Insurance Approved
One outstanding benefit of seeking a professional to perform the PDR for you is that most of them are covered by insurance. This way, you do not have to worry about the burden that comes with the repair costs. In addition, in case the technicians do more damage in the process of fixing, the costs of repairing these new damages are solely upon them. This wouldn’t be the case if you chose to go with a DIY kit. For starters, you cover the cost of everything, and secondly, in the event of further damage, insurance wouldn’t cover the cost of repairs.
Saves You Time
Paintless dent repair is simple and easy for professionals because it is what they do day in and day out. Bearing that in mind, you can always trust them to complete a repair within the shortest time possible. You can drop your car off in the morning as you go to work and pick it up at the end of the day on your way home. It wouldn’t be that easy if you opted for a DIY toolkit. You will have to sacrifice some of your own time, that you would have otherwise used it to do some other constructive activities, to complete the repair job.
It Is Less Costly
DIY kits can be costly to buy, and you will not use it as much to get value for it because not every day your car will have a dent that needs repair. Instead, why don’t you take it to your local PDR shop? The technicians over there have access to state-of-the-art equipment that they use every day for paintless dent repair jobs. On top of having the latest equipment, they do not charge extremely high prices, and you are sure of getting value for your money.
Further Damage
If you decide to skip professional PDR and try to take a swing at it yourself with a DIY toolkit, you risk causing further damage. This is because you do not have the experience, expertise, or appropriate tools to efficiently get the repair done. A professional, on the other hand, bears all these things, which puts them at a better place to assess the damage and fix it as they see fit.
Do not risk a DIY operation that may blow up in your face. Get a professional today.
Call or text Sioux Falls Dent Repair for a free quote at 605-205-8865.
The back side of our TDN Tool cart is filled with more paintless dent repair tools. These are tools we might use slightly less but are still needed very often. Starting from the left hand side we have an entire tool tray full of Dent Craft whale tails. These tools work specifically between bracing. This tray features multiple different lengths and widths of whale tail style tools.
On To More Tools
Moving to the next tray this one has our go to door tools on it. These are made up of PDR Finesse tools with their ratchet style handles. Featuring a shorter door tool, a longer version (not shown) and a flag style tool seen with tessa tape on the tip. We also have a PDR Finesse double bend tool with an interchangeable tip. The tip on this tool is available from Dead on Dent Tools and it features a red cherry cap available from Dent Craft.
But Wait There Is More
Finishing up on this tray is the Ultra Dent Tools and their Pick tools. These are sharper tools that have and work especially great on Aluminum panels.
