Tips from a Novice

[tailgunner]

If your drill bits are more than 3 years old and have never been sharpened, buy new ones.<br /><br />When drilling holes in wood, use a piece a scrap wood behind the hole to help prevent splintering.<br /><br />When drilling holes in aluminum, be sure and deburr the holes. I used a countersink bit.<br /><br />After drilling hole(s) use a q-tip to place paint/primer inside to protect the raw wood. For bigger holes as used for guages, use a disposable sponge brush.<br /><br />When using Marine 27 bondo, use 1/2 as much hardener as recomended. I found that the recomended amount of hardener causes the bondo to set in about 10 minutes. <br /><br />Also, go ahead and rough sand the bondo before it sets up completely. Let it set completely and then finish sand. You'll save yourself a lot of work this way. Trust me. WEAR A DUST MASK WHEN SANDING.

 

[JB]

Re: Tips from a Novice

Good stuff, Tailgunner.<br /><br />Thanks

 

[G DANE]

Re: Tips from a Novice

I would like to add:<br /><br />When drilling large size diameter ( up to 3/4" ) holes in steel and aluminium, place a piece of clouth under the drill when you start. You will get round holes then. You wount believe it - Try.

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Tips from a Novice

Originally posted by Tailgunner:<br /><br />Also, go ahead and rough sand the bondo before it sets up completely. .

Something that will speed up your sanding before the bondo totally sets is to cheesegrade it.<br /><br />I forget the real name, in the auto trade, they just call it a cheesegrader. Any auto paint store/body shop supply should have them for about $2.<br /><br />Get a Stanley brand half round one. The bondo brand ones are junk, the holes are too big and they aren't as sharpe.<br /><br />If you're doing a big/deep project, clean the area around where you're working so you can collect the (clean)graded shavings and mix them back into fresh filler if you're needing to do multiple layers. It works fine, even though it sounds bad.<br /><br />CheeseGrade it before it sets. Go over the repair with 36 grit Airfile paper on a board, then 80 grit after the filler has set up. Wipe a coat of spot putty over the dried bondo, finish it down with 180 grit, then prime & go from there. <br /><br />That's how the body shops do it, and they are fast using that method.<br /><br />Something that takes us a couple of days, that's how they do it in an hour or so.<br /><br />Ed.

 

[thehermit]

Re: Tips from a Novice

A "rasp"

 

[BillP]

Re: Tips from a Novice

Sureform is one of the names...made hollow to let particles though and doesn't clog easy. Works real good on fiberglass.