QA

What Is Bondo Used For

Bondo is an automotive body filler, often used for car and household repairs. You can use Bondo to fill in small dings and smooth out warped panels in a car body. Before you begin applying Bondo, make sure to sand down the paint, replace any rusted metal, and mask off any areas that don’t need filler.

When should I use Bondo?

When used properly, bondo- or body filler- is a perfect material for repairing dents, scratches, and other bits of damage to a vehicle quickly and seamlessly.

Can you put Bondo over paint?

Fillers and putties will normally work OK over properly sanded (80-180 grit) cured OEM paint. However, with so many different types of aftermarket paint available (lacquer, enamel, urethane, water-based). We recommend that all paint be removed where filler is to be applied.”Nov 3, 2012.

Is Bondo better than wood filler?

The biggest advantage of using Bondo over a regular wood filler is the short dry time. Wood filler can take hours to dry and require more than one coat. Bondo dries in less than 30 minutes and only requires one coat! This means more projects in less time.

Is Bondo filler waterproof?

Bondo Fiberglass Resins and Repair Kits are 100 percent waterproof. Because they do not shrink, they are excellent sealers. Bondo Fiberglass Resin is sandable in less than 2 hours, is compatible with all paints, and creates a strong and long-lasting bond.

Can I put Bondo on wood?

Bondo® Wood Filler is stainable and paintable and turns to a medium brown color when mixed, making it perfect for almost any wood surface. The two-part wood filler forms a permanent bond and will not shrink.

Does Bondo stick to wet wood?

Clean the gap of any dust or wood chips. A hammer and chisel work well for removing soft, rotted wood. After the weakened material is gone, make sure the remaining wood is thoroughly dried before applying Bondo. Moisture doesn’t play well with Bondo, so you may need to use a hairdryer to remove any dampness.

Is Bondo all purpose putty waterproof?

As a result, Bondo® All-Purpose Putty is water resistant and will not shrink. This saves money, and allows you to make professional-looking repairs that last.

Can you Bondo rust holes?

While “Bondo” is the name of a 3M product, it has also become a generic term for plastic body filler, and several companies make similar stuff. The putty can be useful for filling rust holes in the most rust-prone areas of a car including quarter panels, fenders over and behind the wheels, and the bottoms of doors.

Are body fillers strong?

We often get asked about metal body fillers or reinforced fillers and what they are. These fillers are incredibly strong but do have their place in the body shop. Not Just for Autobody Work- Metal Body Filler is a great alternative to other repairs other than auto body use.

Do you need primer over Bondo?

You should use a “direct to metal” (DTM) primer to help top coats stick to the metal but it’s not needed under body filler most of the time. Once the metal is primed then you can apply a “filler primer” (2K) to help hide scratches and minor surface irregularities.

How long can Bondo be left unpainted?

Between life and work, the longest time period the bondo would go Unpainted would be about 2-3 weeks.

What’s the strongest wood filler?

Coming in as our number one pick is DAP Plastic Wood. This all-purpose, solvent-based wood filler is formulated with real wood fibers. It looks and acts like actual wood, except once it hardens, it’s three times as strong.

Do you need a respirator for Bondo?

Dry sanding or bondo/filler work—It’s best to wear a half mask with organic vapor cartridges and paint pre-filters because fresh primer often has isocyanates in it and bondo/filler dust contains styrene, which is a carcinogenic solvent. Otherwise, use a half mask cartridge respirator with HEPA filters (pink color).

What grit sandpaper do I use for Bondo?

Make sure to sand outside of the repair area as Bondo will need to be spread and applied wider than the damaged area. (36-grit to 220-grit should do the trick for body filler application). AutoBodyNow.com sells a vast assortment of sandpapers and sanders to complete this step.

What is the difference between body filler and putty?

Putty is essentially a thick paint with a filler material – it’s generally used for very small scratches where the metal is not exposed. Air hardening. Body filler is a polyester resin suitable for small dents. Chemical hardening, a cheap and easier (by a long way) substitute for body solder.

How thick can I apply Bondo?

There is no minimum thickness for Bondo, but there is absolutely a maximum. You do not want to apply body filler to anything that is thicker than about a 1/4”. That does not mean it can’t be done, but the repair will not last as long. Eventually the filler will shrink and possibly crack, or even pop off!Feb 2, 2020.

How long does it take for Bondo to cure?

When used according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, Bondo takes 10 to 15 minutes to dry enough to form a sandable surface. After 45 minutes it’s cured enough to be painted.