hey guys.
well I'm a dumbass, I was filling the holes in my deck lid from the old spioler. I'm not that great with bondo I guess, first batch dried before I could move to the back of the car to put it on. second batch dried as I was apllying it. then I sanded it down and it was ok. then I figured I'm using to much hardener. so I used less and put the third batch on, it still has not dried and its been 14 hours. what do I do, should I just wipe off as much as possible and reaplly new bondo. or do I have to wait for it to dry one day. help

 

Take it off with lacquer thinner. It will never harden correctly. You have to use the filler in smaller batches and do just a little at a time. Good luck, Lon.

 

Temperature has alot to do with drying times. Humidity also does. A rule I have always used is a dime size of hardner per orange size bondo. This is around 70 so you then have to cut back for hotter and more when colder. Get the non-hardening crap off. You will have lifting problems shortly in the future if it's left on. Read the directions they normally very good for amount of hardener needed. As for the amount you are mixing don't mix 1/2 a gallon at once. Thinner layers are better so mix small amounts other wise it will crack down the road. I hope this helps

 

I've got the small can and I'm mixing an amount the size of half an orange. and I just put a dot of hardener on and boom its all dried up before I can even walk to the back of my car. its a cool day but humidity is high here. is there another bondo that dries slower. I followed the instructions but it dried to fast

 

If it hardens that fast you might have a bad batch of bondo i generally mix up about 1/4 of what i need that way it dosent harden to fast.

 

Sounds like bad bondo Your best bet would be try and find a DuPont or Sherwin Williams store they have the best filler I have found. Good adhesion, light, and easy to sand. I would say go with one of them. How long is it taking you to mix it? I can't believe after 20 sec or so it's already hard if it is then it's a bad batch.

 

Don't use Bondo brand. Get some lightweight body filler from an auto paint store. Much better stuff, and lots easier to sand/feather. Probably cheaper too.

 

Just a little tip that might help you out some: get some Bondo brand spreaders (little plastic putty knife looking things). They're supposed to be the color that the Bondo should be if mixed correctly. ei. you mix the hardener in until it's all the same color as the spreader. Neat, huh?

 

actually it came with the spreader. I think it might be a bad batch, does wal-mart sell anything besides bondo brand, thats where I'll be getting it. oh the wet stuff has been on there for 2 days now still not dried. I can get to it tomorrow should I just bust out the old dremel and get rid of it all. I used the little metal screen that came in the kit to put over the holes, they are a pain to work with but they look like it will hold real strong. should I not use these.

 

would the dremel be a good idea, I'll be re-bondoing it later so it doesn't matter if I nick the body any more. actually maybe it will help the bondo stick.

 

get rid of the old stuff. I would be weary getting another can that probably came from the same pallet. Bondo brand is not as bad as everyone says it isbut I would rather a easier to use one from a paint supply store. The key is preping it right you prep it right you wont have problems. You do a heavy coat or bad surface prep say hello to cracks and lifting.

 

ok well this sucks, its my only day to fix this wet bondo crap and its raining out, is my car going to rust in half now, crap this bites. I was also going to put in a new speedo.

 

umm maybe eliminate the walking? mix it right where your applying it so all you have to do is stand up i mix mine on cardboard and i wouldnt apply it with anything else than the yellow wipers...they also come in handy when rubbing down tape for painting

 

also as far as bondo brand goes..i used to paint planes for a living, we used filler to redo the fiberglass cowlings and wheel skirts and to fill in hail dents and such in the wings,the shop used bondo brand nothing else......i would say if its good enuff for a plane it would be good enuff for your car......planes painted surfaces take more of a beating...of course 2 coats of primer and 3 coats of dupont emron went over it .........

 

Thank you wasp. I guess I am not the only one who thinks it isn't the worst crap. I like the others better but haven't had probs with bondo brand. Just like people say spray can primer is bad!!! Most is but Sherwin Williams and 5 shops I have talked to say use the aerosol over the 2 part mix for the etch primer. Just goes to show people talk without ever doing.

 

ok guys I think I got it now, I picked up a new batch and its working, the only problem is it keeps raining while I work. hope this won't cause a major problem later. oh ya my girlfriend picked up this wierd blue/green sand paper that says it will last 3 times longer and cut 3 times faster, wel it cuts just the same, but I used one piece for almost half an hour and still had some grit left.

 

Cocnut creek huh??? I'm just up the road in boca. Air tools help btw. I don't know what I would do without em. Tell me you did it today? I was able to sand blast the whole rear of my 83. If you need instructions and use of a D/A I could get you done in 20 min. let me know, Matt

 

the new bondo was put on sunday. I'm doin it all by hand, I work all the time so I only have about an hour here and there to work, I think it will be ok this time, it did rain once but I've had the damp-rid container sitting in the trunk so any moisture coming through the bottom of the filled holes is being absorbed. I just have to finish it and put the new spoiler on.