A question on fillers

[martha24]

A question on fillers as we have a few seams and things that need filling. Someone had mentioned on one thread using Bondo brand wood filler. I’m not quite sure what they meant by that, but in doing a search on the internet I came across these Bondo products: Bondo glass & Bondo fiberglass resin jelly. Has anyone ever tried these and how do they work?
On some car forum, I forget which, they seemed to like them especially for the first couple of under layers. I have never worked with epoxy before and for patching it didn’t seem worth buying a whole bunch the way regular fiberglass products come. I’m using CPES, but the rot doctor’s filler material seems too expensive so I didn’t buy it. Or is just regular Bondo the best to use for the filler? On their web site they seem to have a ton of different types of that as well.
We are at the point that we need to decide what we are using, but I don’t want a patch material that will crack. Any help will be appreciated.
Martha

[Keith B]

I used West System epoxy w/ filler additives, no glass...however, my seams were VERY tight.. pretty much just filled holes, leveled and faired, etc. seems to have worked great.

[Geron]

Martha,

This has been one of the most frustrating aspects of this build for me. The first time I skinned with Al and no problem.

It seems one needs a degree in Rocket Science to apply epoxy/filler/cpes/paint. I've not been able to get "straight" answers from the forum/venders/tech people/jack of all trades, etc.

I Feel your pain. It seem that mixing different "brand names" seems to be the problem. Each vendor tells your "ours wont work with theirs" BUY OURS.

So, on the safe side -- stay with ONE vendor/product/brand name?????

Then maybe, just maybe the whole TD won't turn into a pile of mush in your driveway/garage/. Some vendors have even suggested that if I used someone else's product mixed with theirs the TD would EXPLODE throwing shrapnel several miles distant throughout the neighbor, town, county and state.

Just trying to be helpful.

Currently I've decided to coat mine with the infamous "Georgia Red Clay" That stuff sticks to anything and stays forever. Heck, It makes a good filler too. Dirt Dobbers build their houses out of the stuff!!

"Georgia Red Clay" for those that don't know is the Red Dirt we have here in Georgia.
g

The wife read this and suggested I box the stuff and sell it on the net. Guaranteed to be red and stay red -- forever.

g

[toolferone]

I use Bondo all the time on wood projects I am going to paint over and have had no problems. I don't think it would look good stained. and clear coated.

[doug hodder]

Geron...sorry if your experience has been frustrating...a lot of this type of thing really requires a hands on type training, and is very difficult to do via a forum. You do bring up a good point...pick an epoxy system and use compatible fillers and catalysts...read their users manuals. The same type of information goes for paints...as there are going to be specific reducers, catalysts etc...for them also. Not everything will cross over from system to system and the reason they call it a system is that they will have everything necessary to complete the job through all it's stages. I just jumped in when I did my first boat and learned everything the hard way. Everything I've built since then has been a lot better. Just don't get confused between different vendors products...what one may do, another might not. This type of construction/body finish technique isn't for everyone...It is much more expensive and does require additional tools that not everyone is going to have in their typical homeowners garage, not to mention more time and patience. Just my thoughts...Doug

[Geron]

Geron...sorry if your experience has been frustrating...a lot of this type of thing really requires a hands on type training, and is very difficult to do via a forum. You do bring up a good point...pick an epoxy system and use compatible fillers and catalysts...read their users manuals. The same type of information goes for paints...as there are going to be specific reducers, catalysts etc...for them also. Not everything will cross over from system to system and the reason they call it a system is that they will have everything necessary to complete the job through all it's stages. I just jumped in when I did my first boat and learned everything the hard way. Everything I've built since then has been a lot better. Just don't get confused between different vendors products...what one may do, another might not. This type of construction/body finish technique isn't for everyone...It is much more expensive and does require additional tools that not everyone is going to have in their typical homeowners garage, not to mention more time and patience. Just my thoughts...Doug

Sorry if it appeared I was complaining. Just trying to be humerous. Emotions are difficult to express in written word.

Love all you guys. Couldn't have built w/o you. For REAL.

g