Why fill the screw heads?

[asianflava]

I started filling the screw holes and gaps tonight. I mixed some 407 filler with the epoxy to get to ketchup consistency. Tomorrow I'll find out how hard this stuff is to sand.

I got to thinking, is there any reason to fill these holes? The Henry's glue will kind of fill the holes and gaps. The aluminum skin will cover everything else, why should I bother?

I was just wondering.

[Joseph]

I got to thinking, is there any reason to fill these holes?

No reason I can think of.

Joseph

[mikeschn]

I don't see a need to fill screw holes for a Teardrop that is going to be covered in aluminum.

I filled my screw holes with epoxy putty on the Baja Benroy which was painted.

And Steve built the Lil Diner without any screwholes on the outside.

Mike...

[Sonetpro]

I filled mine. I guess it would depend on the thickness of the aluminum. I didn't want the holes to telegraph through the alum if somebody leaned on it.

[cnicoll1]

I know in the flooring trades or in making countertops the screws heads are covered over to prevent dimpleing. I have also seen a few screw heads pop up thru tile or counter tops....I guess if the aluminum is thick enought it wouldn't matter....My thought...better safe than sorry..

[john]

I used Henry's and covered with aluminum. I filled the holes to keep the aluminum and screw heads from reacting. The screws were recessed so the aluminum wouldn't touch them, but I felt better filling the holes anyway. I didn't know if the reaction could still take place with the screws only an 8th to a 16th of an inch from the aluminum.

[halfdome, Danny]

I recessed & bondoed my screw holes as it is common practice as a Cabinetmaker and to prevent electrolysis. Danny

[Steve Frederick]

I laid a vinyl floor in the bathroom..didn't fill the dimples from the nails. I used flooring adhesive. That stuff drew the flooring down, over time, so that you can see some of the nail holes that were left un-filled.
I don't know if that can happen with the aluminum, but why chance it?

P.S. Rocky, Im sad to see the wood get covered! I always loved your T/D just the way it was!!

[asianflava]

Believe me, it looks 50/50 good. It looks good going 50mph or from 50 feet away. I supposed I could put another layer of ply down to cover the pencil marks and screw holes. I really like the aluminum look though. A Hodder Hybrid may be a possibility for the next one......Wait, did I just say that?

[Gage]

I filled all of mine because my skins are floaters and didn't want the possibility of dimpleing where the screws were. I also filled in my seams so I wouldn't see them a year or two down the road. It'll amaze you what the wind bucking against the tear will do over a period of time. I'm not talking about the wind that you run accross while camping but the buffeting caused by traveling down the hwy.

Have a good day.

[doug hodder]

So Rocky....how did they sand out? you need to let the epoxy and filler cure pretty good or it will ball up on the sand paper...and don't worry about it looking pretty...like 80 grit is plenty good and it will leave a tooth for the henrys to bond to...I take the big parts down with a rasp....Doug

[asianflava]

I think I found my own reason to fill the screw heads. To not allow water any (even the smallest) chance of leaking inside.

The 407 sanded out OK, I hand sanded with a sponge, it wasn't too difficult to make dust. I did wait till the following day though. I just hope I get it all, while filling the holes I'll think I'm done then I find another screw.

I've read that 407 filler is micro balloon based, I'm not shure what that means but, I bought some straight micro balloons from the hobby store to experiment with. I also bought some fast catalyst so that I won't have to wait till the next day to get the results. Just playing around with my homebrew bondo.

Would it be a big deal if I moved my pump from the slow catalyst to the fast and back again?

[doug hodder]

Moving the pump from catalyst to catalyst isn't going to cause a problem, just remember that the pump is still going to be charged with the previous catalyst, maybe pump it out prior to swapping....just don't get it into the resin can....if you do...just throw it away, or spend a lot of time cleaning it up.... PS, I only fill the holes...since I used epoxy in the construction, top to cross members, I pull all the screws out after it cures and reuse them, then skim coat the holes...I did leave screws in the sides where the stringers were attached...all others on the top are gone...same thing on the decks of my boats, only on them I cut and installed bung plugs...like 400 of em....Doug