Bondo question.

[Qui-Gonzalez]

So, I am working on my Sgt Fang helmet and am curious about using Bondo to fill some of the little oddities from the casting. I went to Lowes, and that huge can of Bondo looks daunting. The directions on the can seemed very vague, so I held off on buying until I could ask some of the pros here about its use.

Now, I read there is a bit of mixing you have to do in order to set this stuff up. Any tips on the use of this stuff would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to buy a huge can if I can't use small portions of it.

 

[Funky]

Once you mix it be ready to use it FAST! It starts herdening in just seconds. If you wait two minutes after mixing, it will be hard as a rock so work quick. Also, it heats up pretty quick. The good news: you're ready to sand in about 15 minutes.

 

[KnightAsylum]

For anything not big (like helmet work - short of creating one from scratch) I would use "Bondo" spot putty. Works great and much easier to use:thumbsup

 

[defstartrooper]

For anything not big (like helmet work - short of creating one from scratch) I would use "Bondo" spot putty. Works great and much easier to use:thumbsup

What he said

 

[DL 44 Blaster]

For anything not big (like helmet work - short of creating one from scratch) I would use "Bondo" spot putty. Works great and much easier to use:thumbsup

Most definitely....just squeeze it out of the tube, wait then sand....It's like a tube of toothpaste. Mixing bondo for large jobs is sometimes necessary, but for finishing surfaces the spot putty is the way to go:thumbsup

 

[Hez]

Just used the spot putty for finishing a predator helmet...worked like a charm, use that instead!

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Thanks guys. Is the spot putty more an automotive store kinda thing? Do you have enough time with it to fill things like dinged corners and such?

 

[KnightAsylum]

I get mine at Wal-mart, but it is in the auto section so I would think auto stores would have it as well. It is not super-fast drying (not overly slow either) so you have plenty of time to work with it I have used it to build up things likely larger then I should have, I just did it in layers. I love the stuff :love
Not only works well, but is cheap - a great combination to me.:thumbsup

 

[drusselmeyer]

The Spot putty is pretty common and can be found in Wallymart and automotive stores. Be warned though; it is NOT the same as Bondo Body Filler-even with the same brand name!

It is closer to Squadron Greenstuff and Testors putty. If you understand this difference, using it will be easier. Body fillers are sturdy and sticky. Spot putties are fragile and need paint for strength. They also may flake off.

For a truer version of a Bondo-type filler but with a finer grit, shop at a specialty paint store. Much more expensive than spot fillers, but if you are expecting the sturdiness/adhesion of a body filler this is the way to go.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Excellent, thanks for all of the info.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

The Spot putty is pretty common and can be found in Wallymart and automotive stores. Be warned though; it is NOT the same as Bondo Body Filler-even with the same brand name!

It is closer to Squadron Greenstuff and Testors putty. If you understand this difference, using it will be easier. Body fillers are sturdy and sticky. Spot putties are fragile and need paint for strength. They also may flake off.

For a truer version of a Bondo-type filler but with a finer grit, shop at a specialty paint store. Much more expensive than spot fillers, but if you are expecting the sturdiness/adhesion of a body filler this is the way to go.

Didn't see your post since we posted at the same time. The commercially available putty should hold up well enough on the Fang Boba bucket though, right? I mean, the putty will be buried under a few layers of paint. (Yes, I am going layered with the paint job.)

 

[micdavis]

Bondo Body Filler is for fixing thicker parts. Sharpening corners, changing the shape of surfaces, etc.

Spot or Glazing putty is for filling small cracks and scratches.

 

[tk1389]

One thing that I use with bondo before sanding and about 5 minutes or so adter it gets hard, you can do wonders with it.

If you have corners, or large areas the need to be covered, you can slice it dice it and shave it. :thumbsup

The project I'm working on right now I have to build the dome. So I put a thick coat of bondo on the dome, and with the scraper I gave it the initial roundness that I though it needed. Did this a couple of times till I was satisfied.

This way you don't have to spend countless hours sanding it into shape, just the last coat is the one you will need to sand down. Less dust, more work yes but faster.

If there are small areas the need to have a point or a corner, again while it's still hot but not rock solid, you can draw your lines score it with a blade and ship with a chisel or cut it out at an angle with the blade to get the curve or indent you need.

Hope I'm not confusing any one, I sometimes just go on and on.:wacko

Hope this to helps.