What type of filler should I use over metal repair?

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Zack1978

Zack1978

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Hey everyone,
Within the next few weeks my FJ-60 will be going into the body shop for paint and metal repair. The paint is due to the two little fxxxs that damaged my truck, the rust is nature!

The shop that will be doing the work is owned by a Mexican Immigrant, I have seen the quality of his work and it is good. He needs to due the metal around the rear wheel wells and the rear quarter panel on the pass side. He will be cutting and welding in new metal. He did explain that he would need to put THIN coat of filler over the repair. So my question is what is the best type of filler to use? And what is the best way to prevent further rusting, ie: weld-through primers, etc? I seem to remember a friend saying that "kitty hair" filler was the best as it prevents future rusting. Any ideas or tips?

Thanks,
Zack
 
Chase77 said:
I was told to shoot with epoxy primer to seal the clean metal, then to skim the filler and do your sanding, then to shoot another coat and repeat as needed.
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So then just a normal regular filler? Eastwood sells a filler that they claim has metal in it, has anyone ever heard of that? Any idea what this "kitty hair" stuff is?

Thanks,
Zack
 
Find out where your panel beater gets his paint & visit the shop. Metal prep should be used to clean the metal before you shoot it with an epoxy that's compatible with the filler he will be using. By "kitty hair" I suppose you mean resin with fiberglass fibers. Bondo uses talc as a filler which absorbs water.
 
Tinker said:
Find out where your panel beater gets his paint & visit the shop. Metal prep should be used to clean the metal before you shoot it with an epoxy that's compatible with the filler he will be using. By "kitty hair" I suppose you mean resin with fiberglass fibers. Bondo uses talc as a filler which absorbs water.
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So fiberglass fibers with resin the best type of filler to use?

Zack
 
Something like All Metal is good for putting right on the metal, with bondo you want to put a coat of primer down first before the bondo, that way if and when it soaks up some moisture its not held against the body. Even with the kitty hair you need a skim coat of bondo or glazing putty to get it really smooth.
 
Any fiberglass reinforced putty would be good over the bare metal, then a thin layer of sandable putty (i.e. Bondo) over that. There shouldn't be more than an 1/8th of an inch or so total of filler over the metal. An 1/8th inch of filler provides good rust protection and is thin enough that it will bend rather than crack if the repair spot gets dented.
 
DO NOT use Kitty Hair or any other long strand filler UNLESS you are filling 'deep' places...deep being more than 1/8 inch. (although it's great stuff for filling in voids, missing metal- strong as heck cause of the fiber, it leaves a coarse suface no matter how fine a sand paper you use....)

Find a 'body glaze' of any good brand. After mixing with hardner, it has a spreading texture like cream cheese...

It's what the 'pros' use...
 
agreed on the kitty hair post above, it's truly a moose to sand and really only needed for filling voids, bridging gaps, etc etc. allthough evercoats got some great products that i swear by. i'm a large supporter of rage gold. sands good and goes on like butta.

in the grand scheme of things though, filler is filler. it's the prep work thats going to ensure longevity and quality in your paint work. but yeah, stay away from kitty hair for this particular repair. a lightweight fillers all you need.
 
I welded in new quarter arches,

I welded them in, sand blasted the welds clean and area, then metal ready'd the area, then used POR-15. Then used POR-15 restogrip filler, then straightline(all small amounts THIN) then primed with Tie coat, then top coated.

The main thing if he welds is to super clean the welds and chemically treat after. Also do the back side the fender, go inside behind the interior.
 
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