Topic: Wondering about Bondo
in Forum: C3 Body
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Former Member
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Joined: 7/3/2010
Posts: 65
Vette(s): 1974 coupe. 350 CID with Turbo 400 trans. Decal says 8.5:1 compression. Needs paint and AC replaced but don't plan on full restoration. Car runs strong. No big problems so far. 67,000 miles on Odometer, probably rolled over
I haven't gone too far in my painting process yet. At least not so far I can't undo what I have done.
My question is on the use of Bondo. I did not know about "Bondo Glass" when I started on this project so when I read the label on Bondo Body Filler and it said use on fiberglass I figured I was good to go. Even the guy at the Body Shop supply house said it was fine to use Bondo Body Filler for skim coats and tiny scratches
But;
I did NOT use Bondo for repairs. I used Fiberglass with fiberglass mat for anything that was more than a skim coat.
My concern now is I have read Bondo Body Filler may not stick to fiberglass and I might have problems down the road.
Is this true? Do I need to panic and sand off all the work I have done?
I used the bondo to rebuild the edges of the fenders where they were rounded off. It worked very well. It is a very thin layer you can just about see through it. I also used it to smooth out the fiberglass repair work I did on the crack in the front and rear bumper. Both bumpers are fiberglass.
Any thoughts on this? Do I need to panic?
|UPDATED|6/20/2012 12:36:58 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
My question is on the use of Bondo. I did not know about "Bondo Glass" when I started on this project so when I read the label on Bondo Body Filler and it said use on fiberglass I figured I was good to go. Even the guy at the Body Shop supply house said it was fine to use Bondo Body Filler for skim coats and tiny scratches
But;
I did NOT use Bondo for repairs. I used Fiberglass with fiberglass mat for anything that was more than a skim coat.
My concern now is I have read Bondo Body Filler may not stick to fiberglass and I might have problems down the road.
Is this true? Do I need to panic and sand off all the work I have done?
I used the bondo to rebuild the edges of the fenders where they were rounded off. It worked very well. It is a very thin layer you can just about see through it. I also used it to smooth out the fiberglass repair work I did on the crack in the front and rear bumper. Both bumpers are fiberglass.
Any thoughts on this? Do I need to panic?
|UPDATED|6/20/2012 12:36:58 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
It has been over a year since I started. I had to quit the project so
the car just sat in the garage. I was able to get started again in May 2012. As of July 27 2012 I have done the fiberglass repairs and applied Slick Sand High Build Primer.
http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/14401_14500/14470/Doors-off-(Copy)201261111476r.jpg
http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/14401_14500/14470/Doors-off-(Copy)201261111476r.jpg
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Lifetime MemberLemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
Good question and if someone doesn't have an answers by tomorrow I will contact a couple of body guys I know and take your post to them for an answer.
This will just give me them another 24 hours to come up an answer.
Lifetime MemberLemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
This was a double post was a little slow on getting my finger off the update
|UPDATED|6/20/2012 7:25:36 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
|UPDATED|6/20/2012 7:25:36 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Former Member
Send PM
Joined: 7/3/2010
Posts: 65
Vette(s): 1974 coupe. 350 CID with Turbo 400 trans. Decal says 8.5:1 compression. Needs paint and AC replaced but don't plan on full restoration. Car runs strong. No big problems so far. 67,000 miles on Odometer, probably rolled over
tb2k82ce said: This was a double post was a little slow on getting my finger off the update
Any word yet? I have already sprayed the Slick Sand on the front end. I don't want to do any more until I am certain it is OK.
Thanks
|UPDATED|6/21/2012 6:19:00 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
It has been over a year since I started. I had to quit the project so
the car just sat in the garage. I was able to get started again in May 2012. As of July 27 2012 I have done the fiberglass repairs and applied Slick Sand High Build Primer.
http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/14401_14500/14470/Doors-off-(Copy)201261111476r.jpg
http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/14401_14500/14470/Doors-off-(Copy)201261111476r.jpg
Lifetime MemberLemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
I just go off the phone with vettsteve. He has been repairing C3 for 20 years now and said you have nothing to be concerned about. In his experience it holds up without a problem. He has used it on his own and friends corvettes.
|UPDATED|6/21/2012 8:03:11 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
It does not replace using glass for deeper wounds but for surface stuff no issue.
I remember seeing a corvette he was parting out (71 with a blown engine and trashed interior). It had a big place where they had used Bondo instead of glass and the paint around it did not show any bad effects.
I remember asking one of his guys a question about it at the time. I was told he would not have used it like it was. We are talking about 1/2 thick covering up a hole behind the rear fender. It would have been an inappropriate use if it were a metal body I was just wondering at the time if was ok for a glass body.
I did not want to say anything about it until I had talked to Steve not just one of his guys.
|UPDATED|6/21/2012 8:03:11 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Former Member
Send PM
Joined: 7/3/2010
Posts: 65
Vette(s): 1974 coupe. 350 CID with Turbo 400 trans. Decal says 8.5:1 compression. Needs paint and AC replaced but don't plan on full restoration. Car runs strong. No big problems so far. 67,000 miles on Odometer, probably rolled over
Thank you.
It was my feeling that minor repairs would be ok. I just wanted to be sure before I went any further. I had read so many opinions on it I was getting a little concerned.
I wouldn't consider using straight Bondo on anything deep.
I use fiberglass to do anything big or actually broken so I guess I am ok.
Thanks again.
It was my feeling that minor repairs would be ok. I just wanted to be sure before I went any further. I had read so many opinions on it I was getting a little concerned.
I wouldn't consider using straight Bondo on anything deep.
I use fiberglass to do anything big or actually broken so I guess I am ok.
Thanks again.
It has been over a year since I started. I had to quit the project so
the car just sat in the garage. I was able to get started again in May 2012. As of July 27 2012 I have done the fiberglass repairs and applied Slick Sand High Build Primer.
http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/14401_14500/14470/Doors-off-(Copy)201261111476r.jpg
http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/14401_14500/14470/Doors-off-(Copy)201261111476r.jpg
While Bondo is okay, that is a name brand and there are other brands that, in I have found are easier to use and are better products. But there is nothing wrong with Bondo.
Where you have problems with any body filler on fiberglass is when the fiberglass has the high gloss, very smooth finish. Sink tops are a good example. The filler has nothing to grip to, and you have problems. Any sanded surface will have good grip and will hold up well. If you sand the gloss off of the surfaces, you will also have good grip. (Body men often refer to this as "tooth", meaning it will "bite" in to the surface, instead of releasing)
As long as you keep it a thin coating, you won't have any problems. This is also true of metal.
Bill, most of the bad body work I've seen with vetts is bubbles and or blistering. a body man told me you have to make sure all the moisture is out of the glass before you top coat it.
ebo
If you can search the post by the guy that bought and painted Adams vette he primed, blocked, primed, sealed and then let it sit out in the backing sun for a week or so.
ebo
ebo
Former Member
Send PM
Joined: 7/3/2010
Posts: 65
Vette(s): 1974 coupe. 350 CID with Turbo 400 trans. Decal says 8.5:1 compression. Needs paint and AC replaced but don't plan on full restoration. Car runs strong. No big problems so far. 67,000 miles on Odometer, probably rolled over
Sorry I didn't respond here
Thanks for the info. I am confident I will be ok with what I have done. I guess it is personal choice when it comes to brands. I have bought some Bondo Glass (with the fibers) some body filler, and some Bondo. I'll be sure to prep very well before I apply anything. I'm using Fiberglass mat for any repairs.
I am going to apply and block sand the entire car with a few coats of Slick Sand prior to primer
Thanks again
|UPDATED|7/15/2012 10:17:45 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
Thanks for the info. I am confident I will be ok with what I have done. I guess it is personal choice when it comes to brands. I have bought some Bondo Glass (with the fibers) some body filler, and some Bondo. I'll be sure to prep very well before I apply anything. I'm using Fiberglass mat for any repairs.
I am going to apply and block sand the entire car with a few coats of Slick Sand prior to primer
Thanks again
|UPDATED|7/15/2012 10:17:45 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|
It has been over a year since I started. I had to quit the project so
the car just sat in the garage. I was able to get started again in May 2012. As of July 27 2012 I have done the fiberglass repairs and applied Slick Sand High Build Primer.
http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/14401_14500/14470/Doors-off-(Copy)201261111476r.jpg
http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/14401_14500/14470/Doors-off-(Copy)201261111476r.jpg
Lifetime MemberLemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
I was over at Steve's last weekend and he had a C3 that looked like someone used a paint roller with gray paint on. So I asked him who the was the stupid guy that used a paint roller? When answered "he did". I asked why?
He said that the guy who had owned it before had gone through the jell coat and had exposed the fiberglass. Once you do that you need to put down a new jell coat which is really hard or you can use (I forgot the name) two part epoxy which dries quickly so he uses a roller to put it on and a paint brush to complete where the roller does not cover. Lets it bake in the SO Cal sun for a couple of days and then sands it smooth.
Just brought this up as I really do not know if he is just overkill on sealing the fiberglass or if it is a must. It looks like you may have gone through or close to have done so on your body. Maybe some others can chime in on this issue. I'm just bring it up.
I know he does what he feels is required it is his business so he would not be doing it if he thought otherwize. He turns out some great looking cars.
By the way this C3 was mostly junk after the owner did a half ass job on about everything inside and out. But it was saved from the part car category because it was a chrome bumper car. So he restoring it for sale.
in Forum: C3 Body
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