Sprayable Body Filler [Archive] - Chevelle Tech

: Sprayable Body Filler


rubadub
Nov 16th, 07, 1:58 AM
Just want to pass on what I have read on different forums.

For us amateurs like myself, if the pros see a mistake here, please feel free to correct me.

I will mention three sprayable body fillers here, there are more.

1. Featherfill by evercoat

2. Slicksand by evercoat, slicksand kind of replaced featherfill as far popularity

3. Z-chrome by Clausen

Sprayable body filler is also called, Polyester Primer Surfacer.

Its a two part, Or 2k, as in two componets, it has a hardener or catalyst, or something mixed with it. Its not a single component, as in one part.

They all have a resin and talc in them, so there not waterproof, only waterproof if sealed under and over by another product.

So we have sprayable body filler, versus the body filler in a can that we call mud or bondo, that also has a hardener in a little tube that we squeeze out in a ribbon, and mix it in with a putty knife or spreader.

Why use a sprayable body filler.

If you have several dents along the side of your car, you fill them with bondo, its hard to get the panels straight by working each dent.

So we have all the dents filled and sanded, go out the next morning, and feel along the side of the car, and it still feels a little wavy.

Another thing that comes into play, you might have a little shrinkage with the bondo areas. Anyway we'll spray some 2k urethane, like maybe some k-38 or whatever you like, a couple coats, then we'll sand that off, but somewhere along the line, we will cut through the k-38 and see bondo.

So respray some more k-38 and sand again, then hopefully we won't sand through to bondo again, but its a pretty good bet we will.

This is where sprayable body filler comes into the program. We'll spray the whole side of the car, and this will be a lot thicker them the k-38 we just sprayed, gives us some working room, get a longer sanding block out, and your not going to break through to the bondo underneath as easy.

You will see the different colored bondo under the sprayable filler if you do sand through it.

Because the sprayable filler is so much thicker, you can cross hatch sand with a block to get those panels straight.

So sprayable filler is just bondo out of a spray can, only layed out more evenly on those body panels.

If you use sprayable body filler, you will need a larger nozzle for your spray gun, get the one they call for, or it could get nasty.

I use z-chrome sprayable body filler, but I'm sure some of these others are just as good or maybe better, I've only used one brand.

When your spraying it, you will need to kind of shake the spray gun around every so often, because the filler will separate in the paint cup and kind of settle to the bottom.

A little on just body filler here, or mud or bondo. We here rage or rage gold mentioned quite a bit, then you hear everglass, duraglass and metal to metal, all of these are bondo.

They all have resin and talc in them, so if it has talc in it, like metal to metal, I just went out to the shop and read it right off the can, its not waterproof like they say. None of it is if it has talc in it.

To the point here, when you put bondo on top of bare metal, there is a chance for condensation to get in between the two, thats why over the last couple of years, for the most part, you hear epoxy this and epoxy that.

Bondo over freshly ground metal will really stick, and might last forever, but cars are subject to temperature change, so why not get the extra protection of an epoxy under the bondo.

I have also read that some of these cars are on there second restoration, I'm guessing here, but if epoxy would have been used, would they have to redo these cars again.

Anyway, one way to go here.

First bare metal, then spray epoxy, then bondo, then sprayable filler, then either more epoxy or a k-38 or some two part urethane primer, should take care of the protection on a car body.

I looked at evercoats tech sheet on spraying epoxy under metal to metal, and they don't mention it, so I don't know whats going on with that, in fact I haven't looked to see if they recommend it under there other body fillers, you can read up on it yourself if you decide on evercoat products, I personnaly haven't noticed anything wrong with them, evercoat, I'm sure is as good or better then others.

Whatever product you buy, get the tech sheet from the counter guy, or have him print one out.

I mentioned everglass and duraglass.

Both of them are bondo, like rage and whatever, but these two have fiberglass mixed in it. If you have welded areas, take it to bare metal, then epoxy, then duraglas, then rage etc.

The fiberglass will hang in there better on the welded joints, so I've read.

This is all pretty basic stuff, if you want more stuff like this, let me know.

Rob

quitedude
Nov 16th, 07, 8:07 AM
I use the Z-chrome sprayable body filler whenever I use the stuff. Excellent stuff and it will fil a 36 grit scratch. I've even used it on plywood and it held up great. 8 years and the stuff is still holding. The plywood is drying up, but the paint work is still holding.

The only problem I have ever encountered was, I sprayed on a humid day. <--Stone stupid move!

1 weeks after car was done, the guy calls me up to tells me that he has a crack. So he shows up and I couldn't believe my eyes. Sure enough the paint had a huge crack in it. So he left it that day and I grabbed my blow gun and took the stuff right back off.

Needless to say I never sprayed on a humid day again. I even bought a thermometer with a humidity meter on for my shop because of it.

If you don't make mistakes, how will you learn. I know I taught myself that day.

edgewoodrx
Nov 16th, 07, 8:56 AM
Excellent post rubadub. I guarantee that will be very helpful to new guys coming in. I wish I had a reference like that when I picked up where I left off 25 years ago. Whole different world out there for body work now. That needs to be archived for sure.

Jarrod-thanks for that as well. I too had a 1/4 panel that cracked like crazy. Only one panel on the whole car. All the rest was great and gave no problems. I chalked it up to poor metal prep and/or lack of epoxy primer as the base (didn't know about it then), but the rest of the car was prepped exactly the same. I don't remember the exact details, but I did do the prep in sections. Chances are I sprayed on the wrong day. That's one for the memory file. Thanks again.

sevt_chevelle
Nov 16th, 07, 7:16 PM
Rob, good post.

Just some food for thought, the so called waterproof fillers like duraglass have more talc in them then regular filler. Talc is far from waterproof, MartinSR has said several times that according to an Evercoat rep duraglass is only water RESISTANT when you seal and paint it!

Jims71
Nov 16th, 07, 7:53 PM
I use Upol's Reface sprayable, I have had excellent results by going bare metal, followed by two coats of epoxy. Then I use Rage by Evercoat on acceptable dents because it's really easy to spread and work with then for final block sanding and finish prep, spray on Reface, block sand with the longest block I can do and usually within 3 coats/sanding have a very nice, pin hole free and straight panel.

I think the sprayable fillers are awesome!!

Then finish with re-priming an epoxy final primer and your ready for paint. Base/Clear is my choice for final finish because it's so forgiving and a better overall finish than say a single stage urethane.

my two cents.

BIGBLOCK70Z
Nov 16th, 07, 8:11 PM
epoxy is supposed to be 98 percent moisture hold out. i always spray epoxy on first on bare metal. and when i have a welded joint. like a quarter skin i will use all metal with hardener over seems and or welds. no problems yet. this has been a great thread.

shannon2356
Nov 17th, 07, 2:12 AM
Yes i love the sprayable filler.
It is so helpful in the Restoration side of body work. But you dont see it as much (or may not see it at all) in the insurance side. They dont get into as much body filler work as we do.

But you cant use it to straighten all the dents. You have to get it at lest straight first with filler or something.

And to Rob! Why do you like the Z-Chrome the best? Well i see you have only used one brand. And I take it is the Z-Chrome brand.

I am using the Evercoats Slicksand. OH! And yes it did i believe replace the other Featherfill. VOC I think!
But I was wondering how good the Z-Chrome sprayed and how good it lays down? I am reducing the Slicksand with a little Reducer when I mix it. To help it lay down better. Not much just a little. And I go by how HOT it is in doing so.
Plus it DOES NOT like to sit around long after you have open a gal. up either. It will start to harden up in the bottom of the can.

I'm just looking to see if the Z-Chrome maybe a little better is all.

quitedude
Nov 17th, 07, 8:30 AM
I'm not answering for Rob, but this is my experience with the stuff.

When I started using Z-chrome I fell in love with it instantly. It went on almost transparent which made me think there was something wrong, but that wasn't the case. Sands like butter, and has excellent adhesion properties even on bare metal. It must be stirred quite often if the gallon sits to long. The stuff settles back at the bottom of the can, and that can be a bitch to stir if you don't have a shaker. Also I prefer not to reduce it, because it has excellent filler qualities as mixed.

Of course I had to buy a new gun with a much larger tip, you know the water hose tip as I call it. Other than that, I love the stuff and never really tired the other brands.
There probably all good.

Jimmy P
Nov 17th, 07, 9:02 AM
The U-Pol stuff isawesome stuff. It's goes on thick and blocks out very nice.

Maybe a good tip would be what size tip to use ? I've used a 1.7 with U-Pol.

Haven't used the other products. What tip do ya'll use?

rubadub
Nov 17th, 07, 12:07 PM
Thanks for the good responses guys, and Jimmy I use a 36SD air nozzle and a 36 fluid nozzle on a siphon type gun, Binks #7, and I don't thin it.

The spray guns with the cup on top is harder to get in around the frame pockets.

Rob

rubadub
Nov 17th, 07, 12:23 PM
Shannon, yes I've only used Z-Chrome, and I didn't thin the Dp epoxy or Z-Chrome, right out of the can, shot them both with the Binks #7 and the nozzles I mentioned previously.

I wouldn't be surprised if other sprayable filler is as good or better, but I'm one of those guys, if it works good, don't screw with it.

I think, or actually I'm guessing here, that some of the problems people might have spraying it is the shop temperature, I keep it probably 76 or 78 degress when I spray it, and leave it at least 72 degrees overnight.

Also I didn't thin either the Z-Chrome or Epoxy, wether that makes a difference or not, these are big nozzles I use.


Rob

quitedude
Nov 18th, 07, 9:16 AM
I use a Devilbiss OMX gun with and adjustable tip ranging from 0.8 to 2.1 tip when I spray Z-chrome.

shannon2356
Nov 19th, 07, 12:09 AM
Rob!
I am using a 2.0 tip in the gun. And I'm not reducing it to make it spray better. I am do it to help it flow out better. The Slicksand just does not seem to lay down as good. Or I should say SLICK as I would like for it too. And it also sands easy too. But I mainly sand it with 180 or nothing lighter thin 220. Then I spray a primer sealer over it for final wetsanding.

What is the cost of Z-chrome? If you dont mind. Is it cheaper or about the some as Slicksand? And yes I will have to look and see what I am paying for it and get back with you.

OH! Yes the Slicksand will settle in the bottom. And is also a little transparent too.

quitedude
Nov 19th, 07, 7:13 AM
I think the stuff cost around $80+ but I'm not really sure. Haven't bought any in awhile.

pist0lpete
Nov 19th, 07, 11:04 AM
On my car completely stripped it to bare metal, then sprayed the epoxy, after doing the metal work I ground off the epoxy on the bondo areas and applied Evercoat Z-grip body filler. After that applied a final glaze coat and sanded. Then sprayed the Z-chrome and sanded from there. I can't really forsee having any rust problems in the future. I really like the way the z-chrome allows you to fine tune the panel fit and smooth out all the tiny ridges. Oh and also sprayed the Z-chrome with a 2.0 tip IIRC.

Jason Snyder
Nov 19th, 07, 2:19 PM
On my car completely stripped it to bare metal, then sprayed the epoxy, after doing the metal work I ground off the epoxy on the bondo areas and applied Evercoat Z-grip body filler. After that applied a final glaze coat and sanded. Then sprayed the Z-chrome and sanded from there. I can't really forsee having any rust problems in the future. I really like the way the z-chrome allows you to fine tune the panel fit and smooth out all the tiny ridges. Oh and also sprayed the Z-chrome with a 2.0 tip IIRC.

hey guys , i haven't tried the slicksand,or the others, but has anybody used the PCL POLYPRIMER? this is what i use and i was wondering how the others compare. The PCL is cheap @ around 45.00 a gallon. I am in san diego and PCL seams to be popular here.

1bad69+70camaro
Nov 20th, 07, 1:07 AM
Rub, Matrix products are very good also. They have a poly prime that is killer. Remember this thread?

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=188781

rubadub
Nov 20th, 07, 1:37 AM
I might have been in Michigan at the time, pretty good though.

2cool
Nov 20th, 07, 2:30 AM
Anyone use ball bearings in the paint cup to help keep it stirred up?

A painter friend told me he did this years ago for metallics.

LateNight72
Nov 20th, 07, 4:56 AM
I tried it once with a marble. It kept plugging up the cup, though..

KAWSAM62
Nov 20th, 07, 10:58 AM
on the sprayable fillers do you think there would be a problem on car with solid motor, trans mounts, meaning lots of vibrations cracking the filler?
thx scott

LateNight72
Nov 20th, 07, 11:22 AM
on the sprayable fillers do you think there would be a problem on car with solid motor, trans mounts, meaning lots of vibrations cracking the filler?
thx scott
God I hope not. As my car will be using solid bushings at all suspension joints, high-rate springs, and the body/frame connection will be solid.

shannon2356
Nov 20th, 07, 2:48 PM
No! I would not think so. I have some Slicksand that was left to harden in the bottom of a mixing cup. And I have had it for about 2 years. It has not shrunk or cracked or done anything since. Its about an1 1/2 thick. And is hard as a rock.

I would think if your car is vibrating anuff to cause the primer to crack. It would only happen where the body seams are welded at. And it would be the seams cracking instead of the primer.

BUT! I dont leave on a lot of the spray filler. Most of it is sanded off when I am blocking it. Then i spray on the primer sealer or final primer to paint over.