Which body filler should I choose?

[belaw]

I'm about to start some body work and need some advice. Every article I've read about body work always seems to say be sure and use a quality body filler. But what is a "quality" body filler as opposed to a bad filler? What do I look for (or avoid) on the label? Are there certain brands or lines I should look for?

I know absolutely NOTHING about body work, so any advice will be greatly appreciated!

Brian

 

[thecrazygreek]

Evercoat

This is a good (great) body filler.

 

[copasspupil]

Not just the body filler but how you apply it, how smooth and what you use to remove the excess... Don't buy the hard foam pads, use 3/8" plexiglass pieces with 3M double sided in between to keep together. It allows you to get the most out of the rolled sandpaper and makes a really flat panel. Go with metal applicators as well.

I like using icing for my top coat fixes since it is very easy to remove. I have not used the evercoat products but they must be good since they are everywhere auto paint is sold.

A little hardener goes a long way.

If I am in the garage today, I'll look for them and take a pic of what I've used in the past. I got many helpful hints from a guy at work that has been doing custom rods for 20+ years.

Every paint job is all about the prep.

 

[Texx]

According to my autobody paint supplier, they all basically come out of the same vat. Some of the premium brands sand a little easier and have less pinholes. Proper application is really more important than a 30 dollar/gallon filler. Don't use anything that's not fresh, it shouldn't be stiff at all. I've used them all over the years....really not a hell of alot of difference. If you have direct access to an autobody store, 15 bucks should get you what you need.

 

[Gusb]

This is a good (great) body filler.

x2 on the Evercoat.

 

[cruiser88]

I use the Napa stuff. You only use Bondo for smoothing, use fiberglass if you need to fill...and yes I always use extra hardner. Most is not or has not heard of this but you treat bondo/fiberglass like flour/drywall mud. You just dont mix..you roll cause if you dont.you dont get all the air out and that will leave air pockets.

 

[thecrazygreek]

The reason evercoat is so good is the amount of resin it uses compared to the others. It goes on thinner and as mentioned, has a nice easy to sand, pinhole free structure. There are others even nicer, but this is a good product on the mid to high price range.

 

[maximum destruction]

This is a good (great) body filler.

x3. i use this stuff daily at work. the only other that i've found to be close is the rage gold. i believe the exteme dries quicker & sands easier. usc makes PRO 7 which is almost identical to extreme with the same characteristics but it's a little more spendy. ALL FILLERS AREN'T THE SAME!! u get what u pay for. cheaper fillers pinhole, take longer to dry(cuts down on production time), & worst of all is the drying or soaking in once she comes out of the booth.

 

[marks69cruiser]

I am using U-POL flyweight gold. The stuff works well, does not pin hole and you can mix it with they're "Dolphin" icing to get any consistency you wanna work with. Good luck.

 

[jorgeez]

I agree, Evercoat would be the perfect choice for a body filler. I use it and it is a really good product.

__________________
Roush license plate garnish

 

[Zack1978]

Is Evercoat still the best filler available? I am currently in an auto body class, and the shop has USC Kromate that we can use on our personal projects....but the cans are used during the day by HS students and all the cans look terrible. I will buy my own filler when I start working on my own projects, so I want to buy the best (and also a filler that will sand well).


Thanks,
Zack

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Evercoat products all the way..

 

[Splangy]

x3. i use this stuff daily at work. the only other that i've found to be close is the rage gold. i believe the exteme dries quicker & sands easier. usc makes PRO 7 which is almost identical to extreme with the same characteristics but it's a little more spendy. ALL FILLERS AREN'T THE SAME!! u get what u pay for. cheaper fillers pinhole, take longer to dry(cuts down on production time), & worst of all is the drying or soaking in once she comes out of the booth.

Agree with everything you said. Also, DO NOT use extra hardener, it can cause some color bleeding in your subsequent topcoats.

 

[Gumby]

This is a good (great) body filler.

I really like this stuff. The first gallon I got I was leery of the price and got the same brand a couple of grades down. Easily used twice as much product and spent way more than twice as much time. >$50 a gallon is a lot, but no pinholes, very easy sanding and smooth spreading makes a huge difference.

and don't use extra hardener.

 

[belaw]

U-Pol supposedly make a very good filler that is about 1/2 the price of evercoat

Sent from my iPhone using IH8MUD

 

[cjgoode]

All filler are not the same, the top end stuff applied better, sands better, and most import for me, a novice is they do not clog up the sand paper as quick as bondo did. For the little extra money evercoat Rage is what I will use now, seems actually easier to use then bondo