Date:         Sat, 29 Jan 2011 19:33:08 -0600
Reply-To:     Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tom Hargrave <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
Subject:      Re: Body work question
Comments: To: Rob <becida@COMCAST.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2011012919485940@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

My advice is to find a good body shop and have them do the work. They have
the expertise and the tools to do it right – you don’t. I don’t have the
skill either but my Uncle did before he got older – he’s in his 80s now -
and I’ve seen him work miracles with many cars. He worked with Bondo or with
lead, depending on the car.

 

Here’s how it’s done.

 

You need to pull / hammer out the steel until it’s just barely below the
original. You can make a template from the other side to serve as a guide.
Then you apply a very thin coat of body filler to bring the outside surface
back out & sand smooth. This last step is usually done twice – one layer to
get close and a second finish layer. Then they will computer match the
paint, prime and spray. If done right you won’t have Bondo any thicker than
1/16” anywhere on the panel. Also, if done right it won’t look repaired,
even to a body man.

 

But I’ve owned over 40 cars and have looked at probably thousands and I can
say most don’t do it that way. Most would hammer in the ceased areas that
protrudes out like the one next to your tail light. They will pull out the
caved in area until it’s “close enough” and then they would just fill. The
problem with doing it this way is thick Bondo cracks. I’ve peeled cracked
Bondo off car’s that was over ¾” thick in some areas!

 

Tom

www.towercooler.com

 

 

From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf Of
Rob
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 6:49 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Body work question

 

I know very little about bodywork but I'm going to learn.
I just put a question and photo on TheSamba about a dent in my left
rear corner, feel free to take look.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5100715#5100715



Rob

becida@comcast.net
Western Washington State, USA 

  _____  

No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 10.0.1204 / Virus Database: 1435/3411 - Release Date: 01/29/11