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bboyle Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 5:04 pm Post subject: Restoring body seams on bus |
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Hi all,
As I fix up the body on my 71 bus for painting, I have had to grind out a number of spots which had been repaired with filler. I am fixing up these rust spots by grinding and sand-blasting to bare metal, fiberglassing a patch, and then applying filler over the fiberglass. So far, so good. Except...
What is the trick to restoring a nice clean seam? Some of the old bondoed spots ran right across a seam, so I had to grind them out. The old simulated panel seam looked really good. How can I get it back?
Thanks for your advice! |
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bboyle Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 3:30 pm Post subject: |
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Howdy,
Still hoping for some insight on how to recut/sculpt/whatever some nice straight body panels seams in filler. I've invented a method, but it ain't pretty.
I'm hoping someone who actually knows what they're doing will chime in with a suggestion or two before I'm forced to take the law into my own hands.
This is the last bit of body work before I start the final prep and paint!
Cheers. |
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jcar22 Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2004 Posts: 45 Location: West Michigan
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Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 10:23 am Post subject: |
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I am also new to bodywork. I have a 76 westy i'm redoing. Same problem , I tried making seams in un-set filler with no luck. Only way i found that worked pretty good for me is an arsenal of files, LOTS of patience, and alot of re- filling and do-overs. |
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bboyle Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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Hey jcar22,
Yeah, who knows what the pros do? In my case, I ended up taping a flexible straight edge (a strip of cardboard, dont' laugh...it was all I had) along the seam and using a disk on my drill to grind -- very very very carefully -- into the filler. Held my breath while I did it. One slip and I would have had to start all over. Rather like my dentist shaping his filler the time I knocked a chunk out of my front tooth.
Incredibly, it turned out great. Just don't look too close.
Good luck with your own restoration. Hope you do a nice long van trip afterward to reward you for all your grief. |
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happy hoppy Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 88
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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 12:51 am Post subject: |
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place a piece of making tape over the seem just bearly over to one side and fully covering the seem itself.
lay down your mud and pull the tape off before the mud sets up,
( while its still soft ) you will have a nice clean line.
sand it smooth.
AFTER you sand do the other side.
lay down another piece of tape on the other side of the seem, repeat. _________________ cut, hammer, weld, drive.
not necessarily in that order. |
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Foxx Uncle Meat
Joined: August 27, 2001 Posts: 4897 Location: at the computer,.......DUH!
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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 8:07 am Post subject: |
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bboyle wrote: |
Howdy,
I'm hoping someone who actually knows what they're doing will chime in with a suggestion or two before I'm forced to take the law into my own hands.
This is the last bit of body work before I start the final prep and paint!
Cheers. |
BBoyle,.. sometimes it takes a bit of time before your question gets answered. but rest assured, it will get answered.
i don't have a bus so i don't know what seam your talking about, but i'm sure it will get a good answer. _________________ Frank
OG JHC
59 panel
Sarcasm is the body's natural defense against stupidity. i seem to use a lot. |
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bboyle Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 8:50 pm Post subject: |
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happy hoppy:
Thanks for the tip. Works great! |
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