So in this video, I'm going to show you exactly how I remove this dent using hot glue and paintless dent removal techniques. This dent is a perfect example for a discussion about PDR vs BodyShop (and why I switched) in the first place. Years ago, when I worked in a body shop, repairing a dent like this involved a lengthy process—sanding, filling, priming, painting, lacquering, and blending into adjacent panels. Now with PDR, I can remove this same dent without damaging the original paint or spending days on the repair.
Why I Switched From the Body Shop to PDR
The small dent in question is on the rear wheel arch panel. The paint isn’t broken, which makes it a perfect candidate for PDR. Back in the body shop, this job could easily take 2–3 days, considering all the steps and drying times involved. By contrast, paintless dent removal allows me to remove the dent in under an hour—no filler, no sanding, no repainting, and no need to remove any trims.
Step-by-Step Paintless Dent Repair
The dent is shallow but includes a small crease about 1 inch long, right near the panel edge. To start the repair, I’m using a small tab from Black Plague PDR that fits perfectly into the crease. With a few light pulls using my slide hammer, I begin to move the metal.
After the first pull, there's a slight high spot, but most of the dent is already coming out nicely. I continue with a few more glue pulls and tap downs to even out the area. With each step, I check the surface reflection to see the progress and read the remaining lows and highs.
Results and Time Comparison
The original crease has now almost completely disappeared. There’s a slight low spot remaining, which I tackle with a smaller tab for the final glue pull. A bit more tapping down completes the process. In total, the repair takes about 15–20 minutes, keeping the factory paintwork intact.
How You Can Learn PDR Too
If you want to learn how to fix dents like this yourself using hot glue and paintless dent removal, check out my PDR training foundation course. Just head over to LearnPDROnline.com or click the link in the description below this video to get started today.