I'm now in the process of smoothing the body on my 67 to ready it for paint. Iv'e had new lower quarter panels welded on and some minor dents pulled and filled. I started blocking the body with a 3" wide x 6" long hardwood block. Iv'e heard mentioned in the past about using a heavy duty "paint stick" for a block. What do you guys recommend for a block width, length, and hardness for blocking out the body??? Thanks, Mike M22

Depends on what stage you are at.If you are doing final blocking of your primer i would use a 9 inch hard rubber block and get a 6 inch flexable block for edges and curves.For blocking body work or first coats of prime on flat areas i use a 12 inch longboard.Paint sticks are good if you need a custom shape or size like in tight areas but they are by no means straight and your body wont be either if you use it.

M22Chevy, use ANYHTING you want to block. Here is a list of things (but by no means every one) that I have used to block flat surfaces and curves. Heater hose, radiator hose (all different shapes and sizes) broom sticks, 3M squeegies (the little 1/8" edge works great for tight spots) 3x5 rubber blocks that I cut in half at so one is 1" and one is 2" wide, magazines rolled up, full paper towel roll, empty paper towel roll, ball point pens, wood blocks, long boards, tec. You get the idea, anything you can grab that has a similar shape can be wrapped in paper to sand with.

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

I have to agree with Martinsr on this, use what has a similar shape to the panel you are sanding. Like for instance the top of the quarters on your 67 have a slight valley where the top body line drops down to meet the trunk. In this area would be a great spot to use that radiator hose or anything that has that similar shape. Just be careful not to use to much down pressure while sanding just enough to keep the sand paper in contact with the metal. As for a paint stick dont use unles its metal dont use wood. Your car is pretty flat with no curves use the longest block you can get. So dont use a 6" board when sanding the doors. I like to use a board that will be about a foot short on each side of the panel I am sanding, so say if your door is 4 ft long use a block around 2.5 feet long. If you have to make the board yourself, many of the blocks in my inventory are home made. Go to a hobby store and buy different lengths of balsa wood, balsa wood is light weight but just take the wood to some one that does woodworking and have them plane it to get straight on the side. Remember to sand in a criss cross pattern and use long smooth strokes. Take your time as blocking the primer is the most important step in painting a car, also wait a week or so in between coats and sanding. Dont primer your car one day then the next day sand it, prime it then wait a week. This will allow the primer to fully cure and shrink causing a better paint job.
Good luck with your project...Eric

Thanks for the info guy's !! Doe's anyone have any opinions on EverCoat's Chroma-lite filler? Any good??

sevt_chevelle,where do you get the 2 1/2 foot paper for that board?

All my sandpaper is 3m products, they make the rolls in 80 grit, 180 and I believe 320 or its 400. The rolls are 2 3/4" wide by 45 yds long. The back has a sticky side that just sticks to the board. The part# for the 180 is 02595 or 051131 there is two numbers on the package and dont know for sure which is right, I am not sure what the other numbers are for the other grits. But its 3m and says 216U Stickit Gold sheet roll. Hope that answers your question 70isfine. As for the Chroma-lite I have never used it or heard anything about it but evercoat does a great in Rage, I use that at work and at home in my opinion thats the best.
Good luck with your project...Eric

As stated, by all the replies. you can't have enough shapes or sizes ! one other suggestions. I have a collection of varying OD's and lenghts of PVC pipe.
As for Evercoat I don't know about croma lite. But they make a Z-lite is for chemicial treated pannels Zinc ect. MY plastic filler of choice is Evercoats RAGE GOLD.

Wayne
ACES 1556
TCG 186

As far as sanding blocks, one of my favorite item is the foam pipe insulation, just trim to the shape and stick a piece of paper to it for those sexy curves, the cars that is http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif