This is something I have learned over the years of sliging mud. If you are lazy like me, cleanup is a major pain in the butt. I like to spread mud and move on to another area while it dries. What I do is save all the cardboard boxes around the house after Christmas and birthdays etc. These are disposable mud boards. When you are through...throw those mofos away. No muss no fuss. I use the plastic spreaders for this next reason. After getting done spreading your mud and you have a little left over.....scrape it up and just leave it on the spreader. Yep, once it dries you can just pop it off leaving the plastic looking like new. I'm cheap and lazy and hopefully this will help some of the new guys just getting started.
Roothawg - I like to use cartons that hold the 12 packs of beer or soda. For some reason the Keystone Light beer box ink bleeds into the filler But, it doesnt hurt anything Me thinks I need to make some more mud boards tonight
Damn, Root, this ain't tech week I thought I was the only cheap bastard that recycled cardboard boxes mid-tenn mike
Yup, Thas the way I do it. Good tech, you probably saved someone from years of tryin' to figure it out. The PknBner
Great lazy minds think alike - I got probably 30 pieces of used cardboard mudboards in the trash right now , and a couple plastic squeegy things- I also organized all my sandpaper so it is easier to sort through- I am thinking of getting one of those paper holder things that stack up so I can easily grab sandpaper and not have to think about it. Pre cutting sandpaper to the right size also cuts down on production- I tried the drywall sheets for cutting bondo down - It probably works good on large jobs but seemed like to much work for me. I use a jitter bug with 80 grit to knock the bondo down. Icing filler is killer stuff-
if ya don't want to use (or don't have any) throwaway cardboard, the next best thing is that old flat quarter window glass that you couldn't use after you chopped the top. dried mud cleans right off of the glass with a razor blade in a holder.
When you get that big glop of mud on the spreader and are ready to let it dry so you can pop it off later, stick the spreader and mud on the top of the Bondo can (gallon size, you do use gallon size don't you?). That way you can pop the spreader out and the mud will pop off the shiney can lid, and your spreader won't get lost in the meantime. alchemy
Hey good idea.....yeah always the gallon cans. They don't come in 55 gal drums that I know of. If so......I might buy it that way.
Also, for the new guys that don't know.....there is a tool called a "cheese grater" that helps save sandpaper. It is a small handle with a grater on the end, when the mus is almost dry you can shape the mud and save yourself hours of sanding. I know this stuff is elementary but a lot of guys have never been around paint and body stuff.
Where do you pick those cheese graters up from ? Mine is slap wore out(falling apart) I dont remember seeing them at the P&B shop
heres to more tips while muding.1 get a 1 gal.or so size metal can fill with asatone or thinner when you done using you spreder jusd drop it in the can. next time you want to use it just pull it out and wipe with a rag and its like brand new.2/if you are useind a glass instead of card board for a mixer boared . before the bondo hardends up scrape most of the wast into the trash then wipe with liquer thinner and you glass is like new also now .later kyle
Instead of cardboard I use a rubbermaid shoe storage top. When the bondo dries up just twist and it just pops off. Plus the lips are great for scraping off the excess.
[ QUOTE ] Also, for the new guys that don't know.....there is a tool called a "cheese grater" that helps save sandpaper. It is a small handle with a grater on the end, when the mus is almost dry you can shape the mud and save yourself hours of sanding. I know this stuff is elementary but a lot of guys have never been around paint and body stuff. [/ QUOTE ] The "good" ones are made by Shur-Form and I haven't found a 'house brand" that works worth a damn compared to them. I use the poly ethelene lids off of 2 pound coffee cans to mix small amounts on and in a pinch cut a spreader out of one too. My favorite spreaders are the sheet spring steel ones with the yellow pastichandles. but you hae to clean them immediately because the bondo sticks to them as well as it does to the car. I stick the spreader in a rag and pour a little lacquer thinner on it nad wipe it off before it sets. been using the same ones for years.
[ QUOTE ] Where do you pick those cheese graters up from ? [/ QUOTE ] Just about anywhere that handles tools. One brand is Stanley. They call it a Surform file. One trick that works well with these is to let the mud set up and drag the corner of a business card through it. When you get little white - most times - crumblies along the groove, it's just right for doing the first knockdown with the Surform. Too soon and the mud smears, too late and you're dragging the file across hard mud. Old credit cards work well for spreading mud if you're doing very small areas.
Doc I have a set of the good ones for finish mud. I use the cheap ones for initial mud. They are kinda floppy but ok for a start. One other thing is: If you are looking for something to mix primer or paint in, I use old plastic milk jugs. I start my cut for the opening behind the neck and then leave the handle so you can carry it. It's kinda hard to explain but once you do it....your wife will start collecting milk jugs for ya....
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