Anyone a 'Filler' expert?

[RobThomas]

I've etch primed the bodyshell and one coat of high zinc primer.

So, which filler is recommended? There seems to be dozens of different Upol products but little info as to which one is suitable for skimming over small dings. Meatllic or something else? Any experts out there?

[chickenjohn]

first of all, i'm not an expert but I have done quite a bit of paintwork over the past several years and have learned how to do it all on a restoration course.

I would not have used zinc primer on areas you need to fill MIGHT NOT ADHERE!

Where you need to fill, sand back to bare metal with 80 grit and just etch prime these areas.

Use U pol Easy Sand, get a big tub of this, and also a tube of easy sanding stopper filler to fill any pockmarks and scratches in the filler, I use the orange / brown coloured Lechler stopper. Buy these from your local paint supply shop.
When i sand filler, i start with 40 then 80 grit to knock off the tops and finally 120 to smooth and after stopper 240 sand paper to finish before priming. You might need to apply more than one coat of filler, etch any bare metal before each coat and before the final primer coats. Use a block for sanding.

don't use metallic fillers. If you want strength and the filler needs to be waterproof use body solder (lead loading), this is a far superior filler method to plastic fillers.

Also, the Abranet vacuum block sanding system is very good- no dust and the sheets of paper easily last for a whole panel or more. (see screwfix).

[chickenjohn]

We could do with a real expert in paint and body to comment on this thread, but sadly he was banned!

[charlie_morris_minor]

Also, the Abranet vacuum block sanding system is very good- no dust and the sheets of paper easily last for a whole panel or more. (see screwfix).

thanks for the tip..
http://www.screwfix.com/prods/36414/Abr ... tarter-Kit

do you use a cheap vacuum cleaner / workshop vacuum cleaner ( if so which one would you recommend ) as i do not think mrs_charlie_morris_minor would be happy with me using her new vacuum cleaner

[Alec]

Hello Charlie,

explain that the filler dust is much cleaner than the rubbish she vacuums up in the house.

Alec

[chickenjohn]

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/36414/Abr ... tarter-Kit

do you use a cheap vacuum cleaner / workshop vacuum cleaner ( if so which one would you recommend ) as i do not think mrs_charlie_morris_minor would be happy with me using her new vacuum cleaner

I do- I use an old and damaged yet fully functional Dyson for garage use- it is excellent at sucking up the filler dust- got the idea from college where they have vacuum extraction ports around the workshop and use the Abranet system- yes- the same kit as above!

You could try your local freecycle for old unwanted but working vacuum cleaners. an old Dyson is the best.

[ian.mcdougall]

See if you can get U-Pol fantastic easier than Easy Sand to sand down but you have to be careful to not get air bubbles in the filler

[chickenjohn]

See if you can get U-Pol fantastic easier than Easy Sand to sand down but you have to be careful to not get air bubbles in the filler

Easy Sand is made by Upol!! I think we are talking about the same stuff. Upol is the brand name, Easy Sand the product.

And you have to be careful about the bubbles whatever filler you use, hence stopper which fills the pock marks left by the bubbles you could not avoid!!

[ian.mcdougall]

U-pol fantastic is a different product we have used Easy sand and this is even easier to sand than easy sand and we don't use it any more

[chickenjohn]

I stand to be corrected, although I have never seen it in the UK, perhaps an Ireland product??

[ian.mcdougall]

Not every body stocks it here we had to tell our local u-pol supplier about it. One of the other bodyshops we know got it first from a supplier who comes down from the North. So I would ask your local u-pol supplier if he can get it for you

see this link
http://www.u-pol.com/product-cat/87/fan ... filler.htm

[tingo]

Hi John - could you post details of the car restoration course where you learned the basics please? I've never had a lesson in my life and my first attempts have been a bit rough!