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|


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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.




https://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/14401_14500/14470/Doors-off-(Copy)201261111476r.jpg

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 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|

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.




https://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/14401_14500/14470/Doors-off-(Copy)201261111476r.jpg

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|

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 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.




https://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.

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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|


______________
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.




https://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/14401_14500/14470/Doors-off-(Copy)201261111476r.jpg

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? 

Thanks for the heads up on the Gel Coat.

I did quite a bit of research before I started this. I don't know the first thing about restoring a Corvette so the internet was my "Learning place".
If I am not mistaken Corvettes never had a "Gel Coat" from the factory. But they were sealed before painting. This car had been painted before I got it and whoever did it did a lousy job. The paint was peeling all over the car. I also think the whole front end has been replaced with a one piece aftermarket front. I decided to strip as much paint and primer off as I could. Anything that might have cause the peeling it had. One body shop guy told me it probably had the wrong primer or the fiberglass wasn't sealed before it was primed. I would guess that is what your friend is talking about.

I looked at the different methods of preparing the car for paint and re "Gel Coating" was an option but from everything I read using Slick Sand was just as good and a whole lot easier. "Evercoat Slick Sand" is like a Polyester Bondo/Fiberglass Resin that you spray on. It goes on very thick. Seals the Fiberglass and prevents the Fiberglass "fibers" from coming through or absorbing primer. You can also spray it on over paint but it must be sanded first.
You then apply your primer before final paint.
I hope I got good information or I'm gonna be very disappointed.

Now I won't even attempt to debate that with your friend Steve because He probably knows more about this stuff than I will ever learn in my lifetime.   But what he has said reinforces my decision to strip all the paint and primer. I don't think there was anything under the primer in a lot of areas. Just raw Fiberglass. I also found different layers of different colors in a few areas. One area was yellow. I found some fiberglass "Cloth" in one area that had been repaired. I think Fiberglass matting is better but I could be wrong on that.








|UPDATED|7/16/2012 8:09:44 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.




https://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/14401_14500/14470/Doors-off-(Copy)201261111476r.jpg