I'd like to add that I have plastic filler on MGA that was done in 1976.
The filler is fine. I was tought the trick to using it was
1) clean the surface down to bare metal and it's best to rouch up the
surface with a 80 or 100 grit sanding disk. Don't apply over paint unless
it's over one of the 2 part primers that says to do that (like PPG DP epoxy
primers).
2) Buy the good stuff from a body shop supply store. They sell the better
brands and it will be fresh.
3) Use it for filling dents not holes. If the panel is rusted out and you
stick a piece of screen wire over the hole and then cover with filler, you
might be able to smooth the area so it looks ok but it will be temporary.
Moisture will get into the filler from the backside (it's porous) and it
will eventually fail.
I think it's the screen wire scenerio that added greatly to plastic
filler's bad name. That and filling over a dent without banging it out so
that you have tons of filler there.
My 2 cents...:)
John
----------
From: Larry Dickstein[SMTP:bugide@juno.com]
Sent: Saturday, December 06, 1997 8:35 AM
To: ab@vuse.vanderbilt.edu
Cc: mgs@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: Body and Paint
Well, AB, you are right. That is why that type of panel beating costs
many thousands of dollars to do a car. I am curious, however, how he
manages to "panel beat" surface rust pitting from a panel.
Larry Dickstein
bugide@juno.com
There is no problem that cannot be solved
with either a checkbook or high explosives.
On 05 Dec 1997 12:44:09 -0600 "A. B. Bonds" <ab@vuse.vanderbilt.edu>
writes:
>In <bb99974.34882e3b@aol.com>, Bob MGT wrote:
>>In a message dated 97-12-05 03:50:28 EST, you write:
>>
>>> Don't be afraid to use filler. To me making a
>>> "filler free car" is like rebuilding a carb using
>>> only your mouth. It's a parlour trick, making things
>>> tougher for a silly reason.
>>>
>>> Filler has a bad name because people gob POUNDS
>>> of it on to fill dents and cover rust. Used properly
>>> for smoothing and light filling, it's a wonderful
>>> substance and lasts well.
>>>
>>
>>I agree, I've heard from several professionals that
>>"Bondo" is better than lead ever was. It's the
>>teenagers trying to build whole cars out of the
>>stuff that gives it a bad name.
>>
>About three weeks ago I attended a 2-day seminar on bodywork
>techniques conducted by Mick Lewis of Missisauga, ONT. He began
>working for H.J. Mulliner in 1956, also worked for Cobra and Rolls
>Royce, runs his own shop now. He convinced me of the wisdom of doing
>bodywork correctly. It doesn't take that much longer, and it yields a
>panel that is as good as new.
>
>He never uses plastic. He uses skill.
>
> A. B. Bonds
>
>
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