BONDO Major FU?????

[Johnny Generic]

What to do? Friend gave me a can of Bondo to use as skim coat over some foam sealant that I used to patch a rust hole in a rocker panel of my van. Opened can stirred up compound and applied to foam. Let sit for two hours. Went to sand down smooth. Not dry or hardening. WTF? Read directions didn't add hardener. Chit, now what do I do? Will it get hard enough to sand smooth over time? HELP! Thanks, Johnny Generic.

 

[mike93lx]

Scrape it out and start over?

It's two parts. Without the second part, it wont get hard

 

[Zeke]

Is this a joke? Maybe the instructions weren't there. I can't think of anyone that can't figure bondo out.

If this isn't a joke, scrape it all off and wash with acetone. Then take the van to a bodyshop.

 

[IndyGarage]

Yeah you better get it all out of there, it will stay sticky with no hardener.

Bondo over spray foam? Sounds like you worked on the 66 mustang I bought a few years ago.

 

[Stuart in MN]

This sounds like an old used car dealership trick. You may as well dig out the foam sealant, then cover the hole with duct tape and spray bomb the tape to match the car...it will be just as good a repair.

 

[strutaeng]

If you didn't know this, Bondo should not be applied thicker than 1/4". It's supposed to be used as a filler for minor imperfections, not to build and sculpt body panels. Otherwise it'll just crack and fall out in a few months... unless you are selling the van soon...

 

[mike93lx]

If you didn't know this, Bondo should not be applied thicker than 1/4". It's supposed to be used as a filler for minor imperfections, not to build and sculpt body panels. Otherwise it'll just crack and fall out in a few months... unless you are selling the van soon...

It'll actually crack regardless of him selling it...just changes who has to deal with the hack work

 

[Firstram]

****** repair for sure but, if it will pass the inspection for another year I'd do it too! It takes a lot of nerve for the state to make the roads that corrosive and fail a vehicle for rust holes in the fenders. Critical components excluded of course.

 

[finn]

While you’re scraping the Bondo off, dig out the foam, too. The foam will hold moisture against any metal that’s left, and hasten further corrosion.

The biggest mistake here was putting foam on the car. The non hardened bondo was just a minor FU.

 

[kwb]

There is no fixing- just a mess to clean up and throw away.

My dad (who owned body shop) was using a glazing putty from a 8-10oz squeeze tube and didn't realize it needed to be mixed like normal filler. His guys did not let him live that one down for a while. Granted it was a newer product and he had moved mostly to the office but it still was pretty funny.

 

[ZRX61]

If you didn't know this, Bondo should not be applied thicker than 1/4". It's supposed to be used as a filler for minor imperfections, not to build and sculpt body panels. Otherwise it'll just crack and fall out in a few months... unless you are selling the van soon...

If the mud is too thick to see through, you applied it before finishing the metal bashing part of the fix. 1/16in is plenty, try for 1/32in if you can't metal finish.

 

[Sumboodie]

Yeah you better get it all out of there, it will stay sticky with no hardener.

Bondo over spray foam? Sounds like you worked on the 66 mustang I bought a few years ago.

I did fiberglass bondo using masking tape as a backer on my truck. Looked decent and no more jagged edges on the rockers.

 

[Sumboodie]

If the mud is too thick to see through, you applied it before finishing the metal bashing part of the fix. 1/16in is plenty, try for 1/32in if you can't metal finish.

It's a rusted out van, not a car headed to the Me *** show.

 

[cgrutt]

Evercoat Rage is good filler. They also make a "Short Strand" formulation that can be applied a little thicker as it incorporates fiberglass strands to make it hold up better. I'd seriously consider eliminating the foam and riveting a piece of sheet metal over the damage. Won't last a long time but should buy you another year or two.

 

[ScottsGT]

Spray foam hold water. Will rot out faster now. Just leave rust. Call it a drain hole.

 

[nadogail]

Looks like you made two mistakes 1. Not reading the instructions and 2, Telling us about it.

 

[ycgoat]

I got rear ended in my brothers 65 fastback mustang and it knocked off the entire rear fender tail light area. After the horror and disgust wore off I was able to appreciate the artistic ability of who ever did it

 

[ZRX61]

I got rear ended in my brothers 65 fastback mustang and it knocked off the entire rear fender tail light area. After the horror and disgust wore off I was able to appreciate the artistic ability of who ever did it

Was sat at a red light one day when a car pulled up in the next lane & hit the pothole. A bondo frisbee that looked to be about 3in thick in the middle & 15in or more diameter detached itself from the side of the car & rolled into the intersection...

 

[ZRX61]

It's a rusted out van, not a car headed to the Me *** show.

The fact it's a rotted out shitbox is not an excuse to commit half-assery

 

[kwb]

The fact it's a rotted out shitbox is not an excuse to commit half-assery

Actually those are the perfect situations to learn proper execution, because starting out it isn't going to go to plan but the plan shouldn't have first step being spray foam on a car project.

 

[Firstram]

The fact it's a rotted out shitbox is not an excuse to commit half-assery

Sez the guy from SoCal!

 

[NYBODYMAN]

As stated it will never harden. You are also wasting your time since you "fixed" a rust hole with spray foam and are trying to cover it up with body filler. It will rust and/or fall off all in due time.

 

[Garcky]

Note to self: Always read instructions on package.

Another note: If you forget first note, don't post that on GJ.

 

[mike93lx]

Note to self: Always read instructions on package.

Another note: If you forget first note, don't post that on GJ.

RTFM DPFUGJ

 

[txvwnut]

Is this a joke? Maybe the instructions weren't there. I can't think of anyone that can't figure bondo out.

You ever seen anyone add the hardner to the entire can. I have, I never laughed at my brother so hard. Squeegee was stuck in a blob on the applicator board and the stir stick was firmly stuck in the can.

 

[Zeke]

^^^ Maybe he was going to bondo a train.

 

[strutaeng]

 

[Shiftless]

RTFM DPFUGJ

I know the reading the manual part, but what’s the rest? Inquiring minds want to know.

edit: Is it “Don’t post **** ups on Garage Journal” ?

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

I know the reading the manual part, but what’s the rest? Inquiring minds want to know.

edit: Is it “Don’t post **** ups on Garage Journal” ?

That's what I was gonna say.

 

[mike93lx]

I know the reading the manual part, but what’s the rest? Inquiring minds want to know.

edit: Is it “Don’t post **** ups on Garage Journal” ?

Ding ding ding

 

[andyvh1959]

Yeah, um, I, er, can attest to the spray foam holding moisture detail. I decided to do some redneck spray foam/Bondo work on my 2001 Dakota pickup that I bought real cheap from a friend. Rust had already made its mark, and I figured I could at least make it look better. I did, and it did, for some time. But eventually the spray foam held the water and simply moved the rust zone.

What I did to minimize the rot was glue in plastic panels under the box fenders ahead/behind the the rear wheels to minimize road spray/salt to getting above and onto the fender well. That did slow the eventual rust expansion.

 

[Sumboodie]

10 year old car from Maine!

 

[KansasArt]

I can empathize with the OP. Back in high school, probably 1980 I had a ‘72 dodge dart. Slant 6 & vinyl top. Had a fist size hole in the bottom of the fender, among some smaller others too. Asked my dad how to fix. He said put a screen on the backside and use some body putty on the front to fill it in. That’s the extent of my body repair knowledge. So I picked up some putty and went to work. Couple hours later dad came outside to check on me. What a good mess! Putty everywhere, in clumps. On the driveway, all over the fender, me…dad busted out laughing so hard! He then pointed out that little tube of hardner. Explained how I was supposed to mix a SMALL amount of putty with the hardner! My first & last attempt at bodywork! I have a good sense of humor so go ahead and pile it on me!

 

[Norcal]

Without the hardener being mixed in the proper proportions the bondo will be a mess.

 

[PCustoms]

Proper procedure is sprayfoam to fill the hole,some tigerhair and then Bondo.

Followup with a quick rattlecan and no one will ever know.

Sometimes you got to be creative to pass inspection in the northeast.....

 

[Paco Pena]

Sheet metal and autobody panel adhesive.

Paco

 

[slowtwitch73]

Needs fixed.

 

[Bert_]

I've got sheet metal zip screwed over the driver side rocker of my car. It's held up fine for 4 years now. Expanding foam just traps moisture and will rust through even worse in a year.

 

[The Cobbler]

Well, OP learned something about Bondo.
many years ago, an old friend filled his Ford Cube Van cab full of spray foam where ever he could get it to "deaden the noise and make it more comfortable to drive on long trips when he went hunting"
after about 5 years the thing was a mess of perforated rust everywhere he sprayed the foam .he learned a costly lesson too .
but for a quick fix, I would go for it, and as mentioned, cover it first with fiberglass . Bondo doesn't like water .

 

[3baygarage]

Wow! I didn’t know my ‘89 Cavalier doors are still in service.