ok all you top notch body guys...........is it possible to do body work in the old garage...........I went out turned on the gas stove to warm the place up.....waited a couple hours .....went to do body work hammer and dolley..mixed up a skim coat of bondo....applied said bondo......turned to ****.......got upset.....pealed it of with a putty knife....went in side .........gave up for the day.............Larry in Ohio
I do body work all the time in my shop in the winter... Before you use body fill make sure its room temperature and also the metal your working is warm too.....you will find it will go a lot smoother when things are not cold.....I have had the same problem before and know how you feel....
I've had that happen before. I'm not sure why, but I think it was either from old bondo or me not mixing the hardener in well enough. Ive noticed on bondo that sits for a long time, it tends to separate and gets oily.Try to get new bondo and make sure it is mixed thoroughly. Also, there is a product called "RAGE" that works real well and is alot easier to sand. Hope that helps.
I don't know how cold it is in ohio right now, but in texas winter body work goes really slow. when the temp drops below 45 you are going to have a hard time. what I do when I'm working in the garage at home(that has no heat), I add a little extra hardner. don't add to much extra though, it will not adhere as well. mix well, wipe, take a long break or go on to prepping another part. a hairdrier some times helps to speed up the process, but dont burn the body filler. most important, be patient and it will dry. last month when it was in the 30's here, I had to wait a full day for mud to dry on a customers tank. hope this helps.
The weathers been really cold in Ohio. Your metal has to be the same temperature as the air in the garage. Heating with a Gas stove???
A heat lamp works wonders. Plastic filler likes it warm. Warm the spot a little, paddle on the Bondo and put the heat lamp near it. The biggest problem will be having it harden too fast. Warm, not hot.
I turn the heat on maybe an hour or two before I want to do any body work. I also have a two light stand like you buy at Lowes or Homedepot and I usually spot that on the fender or area I want to work on to warm it up and let the Rage dry.
First of all always seal the cans lid when not in use. Secondly, never let it freeze. Third, rotate the can, let it set upside down with the lid on tight for a couple of days. Anyone who has ever opened a fresh can of filler, (Notice I didn't use the "B" word) has noticed the oils and paraphins on the top. Over time filler seperates, paraphins from the goodies. All you have to do is turn it upside down and all mixes back together. I personnally rotate mine every couple of days. This could be one reason you lost adhesion, along with the metal not being warm enough.
Try not to add to much hardener to the fill...because it can come back to bite you in the *** when the car is painted...It can come back through the primer and all...I learned that when I first started doing body work along time ago....I didn't know what happened and called the manufacturer and they told that's what happened ...I have never had it happen since...I also use RAGE its top notch stuff...
I have used that before...its not too bad..but once you use RAGE you will never go back LOL...Its more money but its takes alot less effort to sand, less clogging of that paper,,, its just all around good stuff
try USC FUSION, i have turned alot of guys around here on to it and they love it. real smooth and very easy to sand.
Thats a pretty good Filler but it tends to Pinhole if you put to much on. Make sure to put Light coats on and keep firm even pressure. You could also use catylized glazing putty, Like usc icing, once you get close that stuff works good.
Bondo? Whats That?? Yeah , Bondo dont like the cold that much.. If its really cold at my shop, i just warm up my work area with one of them forced air heater's.. Mix my bondo real good, move the heater away and apply the goods..
I have a torpedo propane heater and a electronic tstat in the garage once it hits 65-70 i go to work. Dont let body filler freeze, I keep mine in the house(laundry room). Always warm the metal to room temp before applying filler. Also if one doesnt mix his bf the resins in it will get depleted, so just add a little fibergl*** resin (styrene) to it. It will thin it out and make it easier to spread. Some guys like to put it on there paint mixer before using it.
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