Body Work Tutorial

Ok, for now I will show a little about mixing body filler. My main filler was already done on this panel and here I am just mixing a little glaze to fill the big sand scratches and any other small low spots.

For filler I suggest using USC Basecoat/Clearcoat filler. This is a heavy filler that you can use for your larger areas.

Here is what the can looks like. I use an air pressurized system that I just open a valve and the filler comes out.

http://www.martysautopainttoo.com/usc-base-coat-clear-coat-premium-lightweight-body-filler/

I have also tried Rage recently. I don't mind the sanding qualities of the filler but to me it sands too soft clogs paper and doesn't have the fill qualities of the USC filler.

With the heavier filler I always suggest a sharp grit paper (and a new one) to cut the filler fast.

For glaze coating I have always used the Evercoat Metal Glaze. This filler is very watery, and runny. You can squeeze it into sand scratches and not use very much to coat a large area. It goes a long way if you know how to spread it.

This is what it looks like.

http://www.evercoat.com/productDetail.aspx?pID=184

Now when it comes to mixing. I suggest not using cardboard. If you do, you will notice that the hardener actually soaks into the cardboard changing the amount of hardener in your mix, and leaving streaks in your filler as you are mixing.

Here you can see I added some hardener, the recommended amount is a one in strip of hardener to every golf ball size of filler.

When mixing the filler you can do it two ways.

1. You can use a putty knife or similar to mix.
2. You can use your spreader to mix.


When mixing the filler press the filler into the mixing board, do not WHIP the filler, this will create air pockets in the filler that will eventually be sanded off, these sanded off pockets will turn into pin holes after you are done sanding the filler.

If you decided to use your spreader to mix, I always suggest that you clean it with a towel after mixing and before spreading. As you can see by the picture it always leaves a bit of unmixed filler on the edges of the spreader, you DO NOT want this spreading into your panel as it can cause soft spots of hardener or filler that is not catalyzed.

After spreading filler I always toss my spreader into a mixing cup of thinner or reducer, this will make it very simple to clean off for next time. You can keep a spreader good for several months in a shop. Yea, I'm cheap ha ha.