Comments on: Finds: Bondo-Glass Reinforced Filler

By: Fong

Fong — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:28:06 +0000

Custom Car Audio guys will tell you this stuff is great for support geometry. Sometimes you can’t get just the right shape with wood alone so the bondo helps smooth out all the transitions before laying down the glass.

By: TimG

TimG — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 15:34:07 +0000

The best bodywork in the world still uses ’some’ body-filler. You just can’t get the surface smooth enough with metal work (ok, ok.. you probably could..but would you want a great paint job to cost $20k.. thats how much time it would take). As folks have stated above, proper use can last the lifetime of the vehicle.

Just because some dummie used a glob of Bondo over rust doesn’t mean Bondo sucks!

By: nrChris

nrChris — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 15:02:43 +0000

I am with Paul on this one–machine to fit. I helped a buddy replace gauges in his 300Z. It was an 80’s model with a complete electronic dash. When the dash went on the fritz he decided to use NOS gauges from a few years earlier. The biggest PIA was fitting up a sheet metal template to hold the gauges in place. But once that was done you could really not tell that the car did not come this way from the factory.

(The first inclination was to rough cut the sheet for support and fill the bejeezus out of everything after the fact.)

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 02:28:09 +0000

I’ve been buying my glass at the Home Depot lately. I’ve often wondered if the fiberglass rolls used for glass and emulsion roofing would work though. I never bought the stuff, but I’ve sure rolled out a few of those rolls. Could check with a roofing supply house on that.

This place seems to have a better deal than the Home Depot does in quantities of fiberglass:

http://www.fiberglasssite.com/

By the looks of it mat should be way cheaper than weave.

And never underestimate the power of Wallyworld (Walmart), usually if they stock it, they have it at the best price possible. I haven’t checked their fiberglass prices, but I bet if I did I’d want to kick myself.

By: Chuck Cage

Chuck Cage — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 00:39:46 +0000

Paul: Fair ’nuff. Hey — a quick question: We were using the Bondo Glass to fill spaces that were too big for standard Bondo but still pretty small. On the other hand, we’re getting ready to create a few full panels that we’d like to make entirely out of fiberglass. Can you recommend some good sources for glass mat, resin, and other basic fiberglass supplies?

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 00:15:52 +0000

Hey Chuck just stick with fiberglass resin when you want glass. That stuff is magical! Then Bondo over that if you have to. Heck I even have Bondo thinner. You know that purple stuff that oozes up in the can? You can buy it. Makes your Bondo even silkier.

And there is nothing amateurish about using plastic filler correctly with bodywork. All cars come from the factory with some plastic filler on them. The days of leading seams are long gone now. I’ve used a lot of Bondo, and a lot of fiberglass over the years. They work just fine each doing its job.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, this inbetween product is just for real butchers. I see no place for it except to fudge jobs. But maybe Chuck has found a legitimate use for the stuff? Chuck’s application does sound rather unique. I can’t say as I’ve made interior console panels out of Bondo. Hey, as long as you’re happy. Sure sounds like a hack and slasher to me though

By: Chuck Cage

Chuck Cage — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 21:43:19 +0000

Paul: Don’t be a material snob. This has lots of applications. If you read the post, you’d see that we’re not using it for car body work — or even for the final finish. Just because lots of people misuse Bondo products while performing amateurish auto body work, that doesn’t mean the material isn’t quite useful elswehere.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 21:27:26 +0000

This is butcher crap one step up from stuffing holes with steel wool. Just say no! If your job needs this stuff your job needs a rethink. I mean who the hell wants little glass fibers sticking up out of their finish anyways?