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hotdogpimp
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2005
Posts: 251
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 Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:50 am Post subject: Removing Bondo from Fiberglass Hood. |
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Hi All,
I just bought a fiberglass buggy. The lower front of the hood was cut. This portion of the hood is very poorly formed with bondo. I've never done any fiberglass work but this is unacceptable. Should I just cut the bondo out and try to reform. I haven't had a chance to research and check the style of the buggy so Im not sure of the make.
Please let me know your opinions. |
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seabeebuggy
Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2005
Posts: 2395
Location: NM, CA, UT and now NV
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| Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:05 am Post subject: |
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Is it bondo all the way through? If not you can sand it off or glass over it.
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Seabee turbo buggy build
(Quote Runslikeapenguin said)
so to everyone else whos not a retarded butt pirate marine with an tacky ugly ass car covered in auto zone bolt and stick on s**t. (end quote)
A better place to talk offroad |
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Dale M.
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20800
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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| Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:15 am Post subject: |
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Basically grind off the offensive bonds and start over with fresh and reshape it to your liking.....
If bondo is all the way through, I would remove ALL of it and try to build areas with resin and cloth and then smooth it out and start over....
I my self (and many others) have found a problem with "bondo" shrinking under the paint over time.... I try to do any build up with glass and cloth and keep ANY fillers to absolute minimum...
Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns"
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ... |
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hotdogpimp
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2005
Posts: 251
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| Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:18 am Post subject: |
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Yes,
Basically the lower third of the hood is bondo. I can see where they completly cut out the old fiberglass. Ill provide pics once I get home. I don't plan on using bondo to repair, thats for sure. Im just worried that I will not be able to correctly shape the hood with cloth. |
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Dale M.
Samba Member
Joined: April 12, 2006
Posts: 20800
Location: Just a tiny bit west of Yosemite Valley
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| Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:50 am Post subject: |
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| hotdogpimp wrote: |
Yes,
Basically the lower third of the hood is bondo. I can see where they completly cut out the old fiberglass. Ill provide pics once I get home. I don't plan on using bondo to repair, thats for sure. Im just worried that I will not be able to correctly shape the hood with cloth. |
Get large block of styro foam and lay hood on its top (upside down) on a solid work surface and stick styro block to underside of hood (with double sided tape or some other magic "stuff").... Use any tools necessary to carve desired shape into styro block, the will be the "base" for new section... Once block is shape you want cover it with saran wrap or aluminum foil or something similar for a "release agent" (remember this is under side - nobody will ever see it). Apply resin/ cloth build up till you have desired thickness and shape and then grind/sand and generally "finish" new section.... Remove styro block.... Its a lot of work but well worth it in the end....
Dale
_________________
“Fear The Government That Wants To Take Your Guns"
"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
============================================================
All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...
Last edited by Dale M. on Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:52 am; edited 1 time in total |
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didget69
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2004
Posts: 4941
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Dale M. wrote: |
| hotdogpimp wrote: |
Yes,
Basically the lower third of the hood is bondo. I can see where they completly cut out the old fiberglass. Ill provide pics once I get home. I don't plan on using bondo to repair, thats for sure. Im just worried that I will not be able to correctly shape the hood with cloth. |
Get large block of styro foam and lay hood on its top (upside down) on a solid work surface and stick styro block to underside of hood (with double sided tape or some other magic "stuff").... Use any tools necessary to carve desired shape into styro block, the will be the "base" for new section... Once block is shape you want cover it with saran wrap or aluminum foil or something similar for a "release agent" (remember this is under side - nobody will ever see it). Apply resin/ cloth build up till you have desired thickness and shape and then grind/sand and generally "finish" new section.... Remove styro block.... Its a lot of work but well worth it in the end....
Dale |
Dale -
I've read of some folks using Polyisocyanate sheet insulation as 'foam-stock' for making molds/patterns - www.lowes.com for see Rmax brand
1/2" x 8' x 4' Polyisocyanurate Insulated Sheathing
Item #: 15328 - @ $12.00 per 1/2"x4'x8' sheet
has anyone had experience using this with polyester fiberglass resin? I read a recommendation about using this board for fiberglass patterns, but writer did not say if he was using poly or epoxy resin.
I've used blue foam insulation in the past to make patterns for f-glass parts & used polyester resin, but I paint a couple coats of cheap latex housepaint on the foam before fiberglassing the part, instead of using plastic wrap or aluminum foil... this way, I don't have to worry about the foil or film slipping on the foam part -
bnc
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I never found the need to impress people with any mechanic certifications, trophies or track wins... unless it was for Mom to post on the refrigerator door. |
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jspbtown
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004
Posts: 5212
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| Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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What about covering the offending section with plastic wrap and then laying a layer of fiberglass over the offending part. The you can cut it off, pop out the old section, peal away and plastic wrap, reinforce the back of the remaining glass, then bond it back on?
This will get you pretty close. You can then add new glass and filler to get the shape perfect. |
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mwcopi
Samba Member
Joined: April 28, 2008
Posts: 247
Location: fairmount in
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| Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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| masking tape works to use as a back to what you are feeling in. It keeps it clean on the back side. |
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hotdogpimp
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2005
Posts: 251
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| Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:31 pm Post subject: |
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Here goes. Thoughts.
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manxdavid
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2003
Posts: 1841
Location: David Jones, Anglesey, North Wales, UK. Manxclub #678.
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| Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:10 am Post subject: |
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I hate working with fiberglass and repairs never seem to last, bondo shrinks after a while and can ruin a good paintjob.
I don't know where you're from but have you considered a new one? Meyers Manx sell them...
http://www.meyersmanx.com/mmstore/store-manxhood.shtml
but anyone that sells Manx type bodies (Berrien etc.) will sell you a new hood, often with a new dashboard attatched. |
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dirtbugger
Samba Member
Joined: February 17, 2007
Posts: 198
Location: Sydney
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| Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:00 am Post subject: |
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Wow  that's one radical repair job 
looks like they used sheetmetal as the former and either glassed over it or just used the filler alone.
there's no doubt you can save it, just redo everything using glass matting but it'll be an awful lot of work.
Maxdavid may have a real good point, a few calls wouldn't hurt and it could save you a lot of time and itching. |
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scarybuggy
Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2006
Posts: 495
Location: Northern Neck, Virginia
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| Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:21 am Post subject: |
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I don't know where you're from but have you considered a new one? Meyers Manx sell them...
http://www.meyersmanx.com/mmstore/store-manxhood.shtml
but anyone that sells Manx type bodies (Berrien etc.) will sell you a new hood, often with a new dashboard attatched. |
X2 to the infinity!!
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Jay
'67 Manx Clone |
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jspbtown
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004
Posts: 5212
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| Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:24 am Post subject: |
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I've done some pretty radical repairs before and I would even attempt that one.
Not sure where you are from but there are several manufacturers who will sell you a new hood. |
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hotdogpimp
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2005
Posts: 251
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| Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:52 am Post subject: |
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Now I feel Challenged!  I have no Clue. Ill play with it but more than likely im going new Hood/Body |
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bdkw1
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2008
Posts: 798
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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| dirtbugger wrote: |
| Maxdavid may have a real good point, a few calls wouldn't hurt and it could save you a lot of time and itching. |
A lot of time and itching. I hate working with fiberglass.........
But after seeing those pics, I don't feel nearly as bad about the quality of My repairs.  |
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hotdogpimp
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2005
Posts: 251
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| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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Started cutting the hood up. I had some clay sitting around so I did an artist reconstruction of the hood. Hopefully it fits. I figured this would at least prepare me for working with fiberglass. I used right stuff to make the mold. I just have to lay the fiberglass in the mold now.
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hotdogpimp
Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2005
Posts: 251
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:57 am Post subject: |
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| Im not sure this is going to work |
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Nic
Samba Member
Joined: October 25, 2007
Posts: 159
Location: Concord, Ca
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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That's an interesting solution to your problem. I assume from here you are going to glass the inside of the tin foil and then graft it to the hood? Hopefully that works, if not, here is another suggestion.
Floral foam blocks. The green stuff. Sands so easily and it's pretty cheap too. I bought a 6 pack for ~$4. Stack it up sand it to shape and put 2 layers of 1.5 oz mat on it. Pull it off, and take a putty knife and scrape out the floral foam, give it a sand to get rid of the extra foam stuck to it, and lay down some additional layers inside. I am building a custom dash for my Sterling in a slightly similar fashion. The top will get a few layers of chopmat, then the foam will be dug out, and additional layers will be added to the underside.
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