I've been custom polishing the textures of clear-coat finishes for 30 years but I just couldn't get a handle on the PDR thing. It has unbelievable earning potential beyond anything I've ever known in the trades. One PDR tech that I work with, is a guy who in the last 2 years has renovated his house, bought a stunning cottage, 3 new sports cars, a new Harley Davidson F150 and more ATV toys than you'd know what to do with. But this is because there are guys who have that natural ability, and there are guys that just get away with it. It's a really unique talent that I now associate with being able to play a piano with feel. Some kids will in time "learn how to play", and some kids will "naturally blow you away". From the 10 or so guys that I occasionally polish for, 2 are competent but only 1 is able to do the expected result every time without signs of distortion. The PDR coarse I decided to take myself consisted of a 1 month part-time in-class training period ending with a week on the road with a PDR tech, and I knew I was not cut out for it within the first few days. It did cost me $1,600 for the basic tool set and a $500 introductory training camp for a few days but I'm glad I took the introductory coarse because they were asking $3000 for the full coarse which I obviously decided to bail on before I lost my shirt. I now suggest to all of the young guns who ask me about PDR to do themselves a favor and pick up a few basic rods, hangers etc. (buy them used if you can) and set up an old hood in your garage and knock a few dents into it with a hammer including a few dents over the braces. Take a laptop in to the garage with you, watch and practice with the basic tutorials that are posted on YouTube. If you do feel that you are getting the hang of it, then the next step is getting into a training facility or hooking up with a pro that will agree to take you out on the road as an trainee/assistant. I've written this commentary in an effort to forewarn a few guys who may be aspiring to this trade, do your due diligence first before committing to the very expensive initiation fees that are inherent to entering this trade. It's a lot of debt to inherit if it it's not for you. Cheers
