What is the most user friendly and durable body filler? I am a littel leary about using "Bondo" from Autozone. I have heard that Evercoat is good. What is the difference between the Rage and the Rage Gold? I plan on putting the filler on bare metal and then primer. I was going to use polyester primer. Do I need anything else between the filler and polyester primer? All thoughts appreciated. Thanks.

I guess I am curious as to why you are leary of Bondo. I have been using that brand since I was about 10 years old on all kinds of projects and have never had any problems with using it, or with it's durablility. It seems like Bondo kind of suffers from a bad rap. I just had someone tell me yesterday that when the body shop put the new 1/4 on his ElCamino he told them not to use any Bondo, and so they didn't. In my opinion Bondo brand filler is just fine to use.

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Mat Ellison
Lincoln, Ne
70 SS 396 Chevelle
62 Impala Sport Coupe
2001 Grand Prix GT
Aces #2424

www.angelfire.com/amiga/elliboom (http://www.angelfire.com/amiga/elliboom)

All your base are belong to us

I really don't think there is anything particularly bad about "Bondo" brand. However, it is packaged for retail sales and is usually MUCH more money than brands that are typically used by professionals. If you go to a body shop in town you can find out where they by their paint materials. If that doesn't work go to the phone book and look under "Auto paint supplies." If you are going to be doing some paint and body work you REALLY need to get in the REAL auto paint store in town. All your supplies will be MUCH cheaper there. If you have been buying "retail packs" of sand paper at Autozone you are getting hosed.

Most stores you can even by the sand paper one sheet at a time and it will still be cheaper. But if you plan on doing a lot of work, but the full sleeves. If you do your math you will see that the larger packages are much cheaper even if you only use some of it.

By the way "Evercoat" is THE brand used by pros across America.

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

I was going to ask the same question today! Darn, you beat me too it.

I was looking on Autobodydepot.com and they have quite a selection of fillers. I would imagine anything by Evercoat would be good. That's what most paint supply shops stock on the shelf. It's much cheaper there than at a retail auto shop too. Check on their website for info on the Gold. I think one might sand better than the other.

Check this out too..... http://www.evercoat.com/auto/auto_cat.htm

[This message has been edited by ss396boy (edited 02-06-2003).]

ELLI, you said...I just had someone tell me yesterday that when the body shop put the new 1/4 on his ElCamino he told them not to use any Bondo, and so they didn't...

Having been in the body/paint business for many years, I've heard that same statement 100s of times. Most uninformed people use the word "bondo" as a generic term for body filler, not knowing that it is a brand name. The person may not have had any "Bondo" used on his El Camino, but he sure had some filler used. I challenge any body technician to install a quarter panel on an Elky without using some body filler.

I've used all the major brands of body filler. There are some differences, but I don't think they are super significant. Some people swear that Evercoat Rage Gold is worth it's weight in gold. No doubt, it's good stuff, but the drawback is that it costs almost as much as gold...relatively speaking. IMHO, it's not worth the extra cost.

At the moment, I have a gallon of Dynalite and a gallon of Bondo in my garage. The Dynalite came from a paint supplier and the Bondo from Auto Zone. They both cost about the same, but I prefer the Bondo for the way it spreads and sands.

The bottom line is that the "best" body filler is the one you personally like. Asking which is best is kinda like asking which brand of oil is best.

Vettefella that was my exact response to him also. But he swears up and down that there is no filler in that car anywhere. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/rolleyes.gif People seem to have this fear of using filler. They don't understand that your car from the factory with filler in it.

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Mat Ellison
Lincoln, Ne
70 SS 396 Chevelle
62 Impala Sport Coupe
2001 Grand Prix GT
Aces #2424

www.angelfire.com/amiga/elliboom (http://www.angelfire.com/amiga/elliboom)

All your base are belong to us

Vettefella that reminds me of the time a guy i know used about a gallon of All-Metal brand filler in the fenders of a 37 chevy he redid.Then he proudly told everyone,Yep this car is All-Metal.He wasn't lying.

I personally use a magic primer that turns the plastic filler into metal http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif The way I see it, it might as well turn it into metal. The second you cover the filler with primer it is forgotten. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif
Here is my brothers roadster prior to primer.
http://members.aol.com/icantunderstand/roadsterinbondo.jpg

http://members.aol.com/goodstuff53/arod.jpg


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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

Martin,
I was OK with the pics in primer, but did you have to post that last picture?

I just wet myself.

Cheers,
mark.
'71 Fodor
383 "Smokey"

[This message has been edited by hd99fxst (edited 02-06-2003).]

Evercoat IS the best then use evercoat polester finish glaze.Love that gold


Some people:P just have to STICK that finished product photo in to get us up off our arses and out into the geerage to get to work and finish ours up.....NICE CAR

::whistle:: What a sweet ride. Wanna trade for my girlfriend? haha. There is needed work to be done on my 71' passenger door and I didnt want to use Bondo, I used it on many manyyyyy of my past projects. A beat up 69' Blazer so it didnt really matter. But Just knowing there was Bondo under it maybe is what scares us? I think im going with a brand new door skin and avoiding any repair at all. But for smaller projects I would use it. Ive seen people fill in huge areas and panels which i think could lead to cracking, so Ive heard.....

If plastic filler is used properly it will out last all of us! We will be dead and gone and that filler will still be under your "magic" primer with noone the wiser. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

I really like the "evercoat metal to metal"
filler, although some guys say its harder to cut. I have used it with good results.

Dad told me that his friend was going to use Duraglass or Durabond or Dura? on his car. Anyone familiar with this stuff? I haven't heard of it before. Is it just another brand name?

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my 67 droptop (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/mychevelle2.jpg)

Interior (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/interior.jpg)

big block (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/motor.jpg)
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Dad's 67 droptop (http://www.mdesignstudio.com/chad/other/dads67.jpg)

BONDO (body filler) The product we love to hate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have had great results with the All Metal brand, picked up another quart yesterday. Only available at paint stores that I know of.

I believe that fillers,(and I use Evercoat pretty exclusively)are best when used as thin as posible. I try to first work out the metal so that the filler thickness will be no more than 1/16 inch thick, even though filler manufacturers say 1/8. The thinner it is , the less chance for a failure.
Gordon VM

chadh5, Dura Glass is great stuff, has finely chopped fiberglass in it, it does not absorb moisture like many of the plastic fillers will. I have used it for several years and have never had a problem with it. It isnt really made for a fine finish coat, and sometimes leaves a few small pinholes, so your last coat will probably best be done with plastic filler, but its great stuff...Look for a green can. John

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Eat dessert first, cause life is uncertain.

John's ride 1 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/johnnyosride1.jpg)

Interior (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ncinterior.jpg)