Filler

[Matt]

Going to be smoothing my front bumper, what filler to use? I used normal body filler on the rear one and that seems to have held well. But some say use flexible filler so it can move.

What's peoples opinions on this?

[4WayDiablo]

P40 fibreglass filler :-) then top it off with some boggo p38

[mark_airey]

As Phil says, p40 fiberglass filler (don't go mad with it though as your arm will drop off if you have to sand that stuff back! It's hard as hell) and then a skim of p38 or similar to get a finished surface

Just make sure that you score the crap out of it so the filler has something to grip!

[Chris]

P40 then some plastic specific filler from plast X no 6 or some smg iirc from upol.

[mark_airey]

P40 then some plastic specific filler from plast X no 6 or some smg iirc from upol.

Sorry, I have to ask, what is the point of putting flexible filler over rock solid fiberglass p40 that isn't going to flex at all?

I'm sure that it should be 100% flex filler or no flex at all but I could be wrong! not having a go, just curious

[Matt]

so p40 then yeah if its really hard. wont it crack undershock though?

[Pompey306mark]

I did my front and rear with fibreglass and p40 from halfords.

[mark_airey]

so p40 then yeah if its really hard. wont it crack undershock though?

My last one with the smoothed bottom line lasted well over a year of being bounced off the ground and was fine until it got attacked by a furry thing at 50mph

You want P40 filling just below the finished level and then a skim of P38 over the top as P40 is nearly impossible to sand back while with p38 you can get a finish like glass

[Matt]

im an absolute ametuer at it so what im going to do is sand the feck out of of it first and have a play with the p40

[mark_airey]

do not put too much on............I can't stress this enough! I learn't the hard way, what are you smoothing? just the lines?

Want any help then shout up via pm or something

[Matt]

I'm smoothing the lines and number plate recess

[Carlos182]

Number plate recess will crack with just filler. I'll have a look see if I've got a photo of mine when it was done with just filler :p

[Carlos182]

Ahah, found it


Don't use just filler :p

[mark_airey]

Ahah, found it


Don't use just filler :p

What was that done with, just p38 or p40 and p38? and what did you do to key the surface mate?

[Matt]

I plan on using fiberglass first with the number plate recess. The p40 in the lines and the p38 on the top

[mark_airey]

I plan on using fiberglass first with the number plate recess. The p40 in the lines and the p38 on the top

P40 is fiberglass mate!

[Carlos182]

Ahah, found it


Don't use just filler :p

What was that done with, just p38 or p40 and p38? and what did you do to key the surface mate?

Was like it when I got it. Certainly no fiberglass so just filler, not certain if it was keyed or not though.
Still, don't do it :p

[Matt]

I plan on using fiberglass first with the number plate recess. The p40 in the lines and the p38 on the top

P40 is fiberglass mate!

Is it? I thought it was just strong filler lol

[mark_airey]

Is it? I thought it was just strong filler lol

Nah its fiberglass paste mate, can get a pic if you like, there is some the other side of the workshop, you can see the glass fibers in it, if your paranoid about it cracking out then drill lots of small holes in the plate recess and give the filler a good push into it them but as long as you abuse it with rough sandpaper first (like 80 grit) it should key fine in my experience

[Matt]

Yeah that would be cool. I thought about drilling holes anyway give it some thing extra to bond to

[4WayDiablo]

ill give you something extra to bond to in a minute!

[mark_airey]

Bahahah ^^

Yeah that would be cool. I thought about drilling holes anyway give it some thing extra to bond to

Shall do it tomorrow if I remember, tucked up in bed now

[Craig-o]

I used flexi filler on my old white ph1...looks dark brown when mixed up instead of the usual grey, application/sanding is exactly the same!







I did run out of flexi filler so did little touch ups with normal filler, hence the lighter coloured patches



And then the top half in primer



Never finished it though due to....



Bye bye HG! The brown stuff was the water from the rad BTW

[Matt]

Looks like your car took a massive turd Craig haha

[Craig-o]

Looks like your car took a massive turd Craig haha

She did

[Dum-Dum]

Put some sort of solid thing in the plate resess before you try to fill it to build up the level

[Ruan]

And build up the layers IMO, one feckoff big chunk of filler is more likely to crack out than 2 or 3 layers of thinner stuff...

[mark_airey]

And build up the layers IMO, one feckoff big chunk of filler is more likely to crack out than 2 or 3 layers of thinner stuff...

But it all bonds together making it one big chunk anyway, that's kinda the point

[Jonny81191]

if you overfill with p40, you could always use some 60 grit on an angle grinder.. that's what I do when I'm working on boats.

Just get a good mask and goggles cos fibreglass is evil.

[mark_airey]

if you overfill with p40, you could always use some 60 grit on an angle grinder.. that's what I do when I'm working on boats.

Just get a good mask and goggles cos fibreglass is evil.

Subtle solution mate it'll work though, 80 grit works by hand but it takes ages, lol