Date:         Sun, 25 Mar 2001 23:59:17 -0600
Reply-To:     Marshall Ruskin <mjruskin@HOME.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Marshall Ruskin <mjruskin@HOME.COM>
Subject:      Re: Simpler Alternative to welding body panels
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> In a message dated 3/25/01 7:33:58 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET writes:
>
> << (1) improperly prepared mating surfaces
>  (2) wrong, or cheap adhesive.
>
>
>  It all depends on who's doing the work, and how and what's applied.
>   >>
>
> Just curious here. Has anyone ever done this? Does it need to be done at a
> shop?

No

Can you do it in a back yard?

Yes
How would one prepare the mating surface?

Grind down to bare metal on both mating surfaces for area large enough to
achieve adequate coverage - depends upon the application. The packaging wil
have instructions.

> I would assume that it would have to be sanded down and smooth, is there
> anything else to be done?

Panels have to be clamped together (but not so tight that the adhesive is
all forced out) for a specified period of time. Excess adhesive has to be
ground off after. USE LOTS, you want it to squeeze out and to not have any
gaps.

I am interested in this, being that I have a lot of
> body work to do, and if this can be done by a novice, It sounds cheaper
and
> better in the long run than making a panel out of Bondo, which I am doing
> now. Any feedback is much appreciated. Thanks.

Replacement body panels are pretty cheap, and this method is a whole lot
easier and safer than welding.

I cannot think of why you couldn't do it at home, provided the temperature
was within the range that the adhesive requires. Maybe there is a good
reason not to do it at home, but it must be a pretty subtle reason, as it's
not apparent to me.

I was thrilled to learn about this technology - now the only tasks I really
need a shop for is to just shoot the paint. Everything else I can now do at
home.

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy

>
> --Paul--