Good temps to bondo?

[Wiseass]

I plan on doing some "mods" to a case/box whatever you want to call it using some bondo to fill in spots and re-shape it. But I live in the midwest (Illinois to be exact!) and it's about 20F out here, I dont have a basement, is it too cold out to bondo in the garage?

Also once I do start with the actual "bondo-ing" how long do I have before I can't really work the bondo anymore and it starts to harden? I've never done any of this, to a computer case or car or other, any good tips? I did some searching of the forums but only came up with reference to it in old posts.

[Enablingwolf]

Myself I use the rule for any glue or other adheasives. If you can do the job in a Tshirt it is ok for the gunk.

As for hardening. Try and get the basic shape as fast as possible. You can always use a grater to do a finish with. Then after that sand down for the prefinish.


In warm climate I think(been a long time for me) it is about 5-10 minutes. Depending on how you mix it. If it starts to roll you know your out of time to shape it. Wait it out, put on another coat and get busy. Rough it up between coats. You should be able to slather on a bit without using layers though. The thicker the layer the more sanding if you don't like the results.

I am very rusty on bondo. I mostly used it for cabinets. So my experiances are not the best, but for basic advice.


The only thing I do remember the most. Make sure it has something to grab onto. Otherwise it will crack and let go after you start to work it.

[Wiseass]

Myself I use the rule for any glue or other adheasives. If you can do the job in a Tshirt it is ok for the gunk.

As for hardening. Try and get the basic shape as fast as possible. You can always use a grater to do a finish with. Then after that sand down for the prefinish.


In warm climate I think(been a long time for me) it is about 5-10 minutes. Depending on how you mix it. If it starts to roll you know your out of time to shape it. Wait it out, put on another coat and get busy. Rough it up between coats. You should be able to slather on a bit without using layers though. The thicker the layer the more sanding if you don't like the results.

I am very rusty on bondo. I mostly used it for cabinets. So my experiances are not the best, but for basic advice.


The only thing I do remember the most. Make sure it has something to grab onto. Otherwise it will crack and let go after you start to work it.


Thanks for the quick advice! The surface I'm looking to put it onto has some paint on there already (a coat of stuff from a rattle-can) so I'll probably hit it up with some heavy grit sandpaper just to rough it up.

I'll give it a shot, I'm not too worried about messing up, I do have a spare case.

[Enablingwolf]

If you don't like the results with bondo. Just sand it down, mix another batch and start over. :D

[Dukeman]

If water doesn't actually freeze in your garage then it will be fine. I've bondo(ed) case mods in winter in my garage and I live in Colorado without any issue. You have about 5 minutes after you mixed it to put it in place and form it. I would practive on something with a small amount just to get the feel for it.

[gulp35]

I agree, you can bondo in cold weather. It will be easier if you keep the bondo warm (in your house) before you measure it out and use it. Keep the part you are going to bondo in the house also until just before you do the bondoing. The bondo will actually get warm on its own (exotherm) if it is not spead to thin.

Once it has set, wrap it in a plastic bag or some aluminium foil (to keep the smell out of you house) and bring it in for a while so it cures up good and hard, and faster.

[AMD Phreak]

When i was a car stereo installer and it was winter, the days where we'd do bondo and what not the shop was cold because of the doors being open for ventalation. We'd just mix the bondo a bit hotter by using more hardener.