Caution when going for PDR

[whiteice78]

Dear all,

Just to raise awareness of this procedure.

I bought my car used couple of months back. The rear quarter panel had been resprayed by the previous owner. Today, I brought my car in for PDR as there was a ding in the paintwork at that area. As that area was not accessible by tools from the inside, the guy sugguested using the external plug method. However, he told me as that part was resprayed before, there was a risk the paint would come off. I became cautious. But, he said by using tape, there shoudnt be a problem.

While we were talking , all It took was less than a minute of prepwork and with a loud "PONG", the dent was out, along with a chunk of my paint (slightly less than the size of a 5 cent coin) exposing the bare metal. :shock:

The guy was clearly more shaken than me as he had administered the "fix" so swiftly even before I gave him the formal go ahead to absolve him from responsibility. He kept apologising and handed me a name card for me to enquire on repainted the area. :whatthe:

Wanted to make my car more swee removing that single dent now end up having to spray the eintire quater panel.

So for all of you who think PDR is a brilliant idea, it is not without it's risk.

You have been warned...

For the benefit of all.

 

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

I have never experienced the external method - how did he do it again ?

Dear all,

Just to raise awareness of this procedure.

I bought my car used couple of months back. The rear quarter panel had been resprayed by the previous owner. Today, I brought my car in for PDR as there was a ding in the paintwork at that area. As that area was not accessible by tools from the inside, the guy sugguested using the external plug method. However, he told me as that part was resprayed before, there was a risk the paint would come off. I became cautious. But, he said by using tape, there shoudnt be a problem.

While we were talking , all It took was less than a minute of prepwork and with a loud "PONG", the dent was out, along with a chunk of my paint (slightly less than the size of a 5 cent coin) exposing the bare metal. :shock:

The guy was clearly more shaken than me as he had administered the "fix" so swiftly even before I gave him the formal go ahead to absolve him from responsibility. He kept apologising and handed me a name card for me to enquire on repainted the area. :whatthe:

Wanted to make my car more swee removing that single dent now end up having to spray the eintire quater panel.

So for all of you who think PDR is a brilliant idea, it is not without it's risk.

You have been warned...

For the benefit of all.

 

[whiteice78]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

It all happened very fast and the procedure wasnt explained to me. Was just told that it's the "wai4 mian4 la1" (outside pull) method. This was what I gathered, may not be 100% accurate

First, he stuck some duct tape to the dent, then he applied what seemed to be some sort of a clear adhesive over the tape. He then stuck a plug on the adhesive, waited like 10 to 20 seconds, before using a contraption to pull off the plug head. along with the adhesive , tape, and sadly my paint.

 

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

It all happened very fast and the procedure wasnt explained to me. Was just told that it's the "wai4 mian4 la1" (outside pull) method. This was what I gathered, may not be 100% accurate

First, he stuck some duct tape to the dent, then he applied what seemed to be some sort of a clear adhesive over the tape. He then stuck a plug on the adhesive, waited like 10 to 20 seconds, before using a contraption to pull off the plug head. along with the adhesive , tape, and sadly my paint.

I feel your pain dude ...........

 

[R335]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

Sorry to hear that..... i have tried external plug method on my current n all previous rides so far no issues..... i thk the problm is on the lousy paint work done previously that cause the peel off. better seek the right workshop to do the job.

 

[AC Schnitzer]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

I've used PDR on my rear right quarter panel on my E92 M3. Paint is still original from factory.

The guy didn't bother putting any tape. He applied adhesive directly onto the paint and stuck a suction cap. While not a 100% fix, I would say 80% of the dent was removed.

Unfortunately not all PDR are guaranteed. If surface has been repainted before, you really need to put a lot of trust in the panel shop's workmanship before going ahead with PDR.

A way that may help minimise paint from flaking off is to heat up the affected area with a heat gun to soften (not melt) the paint. Generally rule of thumb is that after heating up, you're supposed to be able to put your finger on the paint for about 2-3 seconds.

Please Note* I do not know how the adhesive will react to heat as I have never tried this method so don't take my words as gospel.

Back then when I was trying to squeeze in 255/45/17s Semi Slicks into my Evo I had to roll the fender. The area we applied heat rolled without any issues. This particular area where we forgot to apply heat cracked immediately once we started.

 

[Terry]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

Not the PDR's fault.. Its the sucky previous paintjob..

I have seen paintjob so bad that someone paste sticker.. Remove sticker , paint come off together..

 

[pengful]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

I agree with Terry. That will be the sucky paint job, not PDR's fault.

 

[whiteice78]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

Not the PDR's fault.. Its the sucky previous paintjob..

I have seen paintjob so bad that someone paste sticker.. Remove sticker , paint come off together..

Yes, I brought the car to my regular painter and he said the paint job was not well done previously. He also said the PDR guy is damn gungho to even try to use the plug method upon knowing the part had been resprayed.

So to all bros who have resprayed panels, it's better to avoid the plug method completely. No point taking the risk.

.

 

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

sorry to hear that..... I have tried external plug method on my current n all previous rides so far no issues..... I thk the problm is on the lousy paint work done previously that cause the peel off. Better seek the right workshop to do the job.

+1 ............

 

[ArmorCoatSG]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

Totally agree with Terry

 

[snowmanyee]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

at least they bother to keep apologizing and asked you to check how much the paint work.... Try checking out sone other workshops if they do that... Some might even looked at you and walked away insisting that the paibtwork already gone before he sucked out the dent etc...

 

[whiteice78]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

at least they bother to keep apologizing and asked you to check how much the paint work.... Try checking out sone other workshops if they do that... Some might even looked at you and walked away insisting that the paibtwork already gone before he sucked out the dent etc...

Sorry, but I don't see why I should be grateful that they "at least bother to keep apologizing". Isn't that the very least and basic thing the WS shd do in this case? Let's revisit the facts:

1) The PDR guy knew that the panel was resprayed.

2) His professional assessment made him attempt the repair, he is the expert here. It would have been a different story if I had insisted on the repair.

3) I did not give him the go ahead, he merely told me of the risk but said it shouldn't be a problem. I told him if the paint would really come off, i'll skip it. He reassured me by saying it shouldn't be a problem (twice) and before i knew it, the plug was on and the paint was out.

And if anyone is thinking my panel was really badly done up, let me add that I had actually driven to Ah Boon recommended by this forum. Even he said that the respray was ok, though not perfect and that I need not do a respray again, just an aggresive polish through will do.

If the guy had reacted the way you described, I would have taken it up with his boss all the way.

This post is not to put responsibility on anyone. I did not even mention the WS in question. I have already taken things in my stride and paid for the repair job but since the guy said it was the first time he had encountered this, I thought it was appropriate to share this with all the bros here. Hope it doesn't happen again becos trust me, you will feel somewhat shortchanged in my situation.

Anyway, in summary, If you know for sure, or am unsure (in cases of buying used rides) that your panel had been resprayed before, best is to avoid the external plug method of PDR.

 

[Red_Bean_Bun]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

I think snowman was just trying to tell you that it could have been worst - thanks for sharing your experience.............

Sorry, but I don't see why I should be grateful that they "at least bother to keep apologizing". Isn't that the very least and basic thing the WS shd do in this case? Let's revisit the facts:

1) The PDR guy knew that the panel was resprayed.

2) His professional assessment made him attempt the repair, he is the expert here. It would have been a different story if I had insisted on the repair.

3) I did not give him the go ahead, he merely told me of the risk but said it shouldn't be a problem. I told him if the paint would really come off, i'll skip it. He reassured me by saying it shouldn't be a problem (twice) and before i knew it, the plug was on and the paint was out.

And if anyone is thinking my panel was really badly done up, let me add that I had actually driven to Ah Boon recommended by this forum. Even he said that the respray was ok, though not perfect and that I need not do a respray again, just an aggresive polish through will do.

If the guy had reacted the way you described, I would have taken it up with his boss all the way.

This post is not to put responsibility on anyone. I did not even mention the WS in question. I have already taken things in my stride and paid for the repair job but since the guy said it was the first time he had encountered this, I thought it was appropriate to share this with all the bros here. Hope it doesn't happen again becos trust me, you will feel somewhat shortchanged in my situation.

Anyway, in summary, If you know for sure, or am unsure (in cases of buying used rides) that your panel had been resprayed before, best is to avoid the external plug method of PDR.

 

[whiteice78]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

understood bro... no offence to bro snowman

 

[ArmorCoatSG]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

So the best is to either do panel beating or putty over dent and respray?

 

[snowmanyee]

Re: Caution when going for PDR

I think snowman was just trying to tell you that it could have been worst - thanks for sharing your experience.............

Bro, thanks for explaining on behalf