bondo feathering, bodywork noob

[Breezio69]

Hey guys, I have been trying to tackle a couple dents in my hood and fender. The fender is coming along nicely, but the hood is being a beast.

Basically what it looks like is a previous owner punched the hood up by the latch. It was about fist size and the location of it is right over a brace, so it made a crinckle in the hood on the other side of the brace as well. Ive got it like 99% ive applied bondo in small layers as instructed, lightly sanded in between each coat and got it to where I was happy... then I primered it and it sticks out like a sore thumb around the edges. At this point in bodywork do you just rely on the primer and sanding to do the final feathering?

Im kind of disappointed because ive spent hours on end on this. Any help is appreciated!

 

[RedTalonTsi]

I'm not an expert, but I think you need to sand down the bondo, then apply a coat of body glaze, which is essentially really thin body filler, and the glaze is what you "feather" down to a seamless patch before you put on the primer.

Hopefully a true expert will jump in here, but basically glaze is what you use to "fill the filler", in this case, bondo. Just make sure and use a 2 part glaze, or 2 stage glaze. That is a glaze that comes with a separate hardener, just like your bondo did.

 

[Breezio69]

I did use a spot filler/ glaze on it and thats where im kind of stumped. To the touch I got it to where I couldnt tell a transition and it was sanded out to where I could see the body through the glaze for 1/4" or more all the way around... then I primed it and it looks terrible all around the edges.

I also used a fine grit block for the final sand. I believe it was 400 grit.

 

[RedTalonTsi]

The next thing I would do is start to slowly sand off the primer as if it were a guide coat and see if any high or low spots show up. Then clean off the primer and back to applying filler/glaze and more sanding until you think it's smooth and use a real guide coat to test before you apply the primer.

 

[Breezio69]

Alright ill just have to "start over" I guess. I stopped for the day but ill let the primer set up and hopefully be able to sand it down tomorrow and check out whats going on with the edges. I only saw one other little low spot right in the middle but other than that I thought it would be good to go. Funny thing is the hood felt smoother than the fender and the fender looks great with primer... its odd

 

[RedTalonTsi]

I wouldn't spray over the primer if it looks funny to you, if you can tell in the primer you will be able to tell in the paint.

 

[91-GS]

Breezio69, would you mind posting some pictures, that would be helpful.

How thick was the primer, how many layers, how heavy were they?
What kind of prep work did you do to the metal before filling?

 

[Breezio69]

To answer all..

I dont plan on painting until its perfect or at least liveable... there will still be a bump in the hood from the way it was dented and where it was dented.

I did two light coats of primer for a base (still saw through after each coat) then one heavy to cover it up. 20 minutes between light coats and the heavy is the only other coat.

Paint was taken down to metal with an angle grinder with a blending pad, hand roughed with a course block, bondo directly on. Obviously cleaned and wiped down beforehand.


After I went back out it wasnt as bad as I initially thought, must have been from it being wet then it settled and flattened out some, but now I kind of know where I need a little more work. And I think I can blend the hump ive been having troubles with better now that ive seen it not all pink and white and black with scuffs in every direction

Ill try to get pics up tomorrow, im at work and get off when its dark.

Thanks guys

 

[Miasma]

From what I understand you are having issues smoothing feathering the bonda edges to match smoothly with the metal hood correct?

Good that you took it down to metal before beginning. What I do when using bondo, I will apply layers multiple layers sanding in between constantly smoothing the shape. Once I think I have it pretty darn close, I will prime over the bondo area with a high build primer. This will usually show any imperfections in the shape. Using a spot filler, I use the red bondo putty, I apply it to the rough edges and then very lightly sand to blend it.

Then prime again to be sure its good. Sand primer apply sealer and paint.

Body work is something that you really just need to practice, and then eventually you find yourself taking much less time doing it.

 

[Breezio69]

Thanks for the words of encouragement! I have been going at it and learning as I go on how to apply it, the pressure I need to keep on the blade when appling it etc... I even got it to where a couple small dings were almost smooth to the touch with no sanding.

It just threw me off when I hit it with primer and all of a sudden the whole thing looked like garbage on the hood. The dent im working with started out fist size like I said earlier... all my bondo work ended up being about the size of a small plate by the time I got it blended.

Also, my finish sand was blocked with 400 and I was just barely using my fingertips as far as pressure goes. It felt like no transition till I primed and then it just popped out like a sore thumb.

 

[Miasma]

Yep, and then use the primer as a guide for where you need to continue sanding and feathering with soft putty. It will help you see you high and low spots.

 

[Breezio69]

Do you think a longer sanding block would help? Im just using some standard ones and ive seen some that are longer... most are hard plastic ones though like a drywall joint sander. I just figured with the curve in the hood a block would be easier.

 

[Miasma]

Ya it might help to keep it more even, I'd get one with a little bit of flex.

 

[Breezio69]

So I finally got a little time to mess with it again. I lightly sanded the primer and it actually sanded right out. other than a small glaze for some pin holes its as smooth as I can probably get it... its just going to get dipped anyhow, I just wanted the body straight first

Thanks for the help and suggestions! Ill still be doing body work for a little bit on it so ill post questions here if any come up!

Actually I have one now.... I got rear ended about 7-8 months ago, everything was fine except where it was hit the clear coat crackled all on the center and left side of the bumper... it looks like spider webs in the clear coat basically. Any thoughts on that? Sand it down to base? Would dip cover it up? You can feel it so its not just an appearance thing, I can run my nails arcoss the bumper and feel all the little cracks

 

[Blue37]

A good trick to see if it is smooth, is to take a piece of paper towel and put in under your hand and run your hand over the dent. You will be able to feel all of the high and low spots from the dent. Try and tap down the high spots around the whole dent and guide coat is your best friend.

With the spiderweb cracks, sand them down and apply body filler and sand it down until it is smooth then if you want to just dip it then it should look fine. I have to hammer out some big dents on my fenders today and fill in the countless door dings.

When I get those done I'll send you pics of how I do it if you still need it.

 

[Breezio69]

I tried to get a pic of my plastidip job but I got pollen bombed by some stupid trees the morning after I did it! Went out to this disaster... anyway, the dent I fixed was dead center in the hood where the latch is. Like I said, it was about fist size and creased the hood over the support

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