Cabinet Repair - Bondo question

daley

Member

Donor 2011
Joined
Nov 15, 2011
Messages
396
Reaction score
0
Location
San Rafael, California
I am new to the arcade restoration world but I am diving in head first. I have a Pacman upright and a Sega Turbo cockpit that I am working on. Both need some repairs done to the cab and I am curious what people are using when they say 'Bondo.' Are people actually using Bondo brand, or is it used at this point like saying Kleenex? I was just planning on using Minwax wood hardner and Minwax premium wood filler.

Thanks for any help!
 
Wood filler is good for small stuff.. nail holes, etc. Bigger repairs need something like bondo. Its works great.. pick it up at your local big box
hardware store like HD pr auto store.
 
I have used Bondo (yes the car filler) a couple times. A small can is like $10 but it goes a long way and it works great. Just make sure you're in a well ventilated area otherwise you'll have the migraine from hell the next day. :)
 
Don't use bondo as a wood replacement, just to fill nicks, gouges and scratches. Use real wood to replace missing wood.
 
There are other brands of body filler that some people prefer (Evercoat, etc.) but I think most people here just use the actual Bondo brand. Myself included. The last time I used wood filler (on a wood door, not a cabinet) it tended to shrink and crack when it dried, so I just stick with Bondo now. It works great; sculpts easily, dies quickly, doesn't shrink, sands nicely. The only real negative is the smell.
 
Yup, Bondo is a mostly a generic term for polyester resin body filler.

In the industry, some call it "plastic" or "mud"

Bondo brand is probably the hardest to sand and clogs sandpaper quickly. It's price is reasonable though and most autoparts and hardware stores carry it.

Go to any auto paint supplier and you will find many choices that are in the same price range.

The premium body fillers such as Evercoat's Rage line (http://www.evercoat.com/productCategory.aspx?cat=2) are easy to sand and have less smell.
However, they sell in the $40 and up range for a gallon can. Less time sanding and less sandpaper used is a good trade off though IMO.

I would use body filler for all reapairs, but it will chip easily on edges or corners formed with it. For plywood reapirs that involve just rough splintered edges it works great though.
 
One other thing with bondo....

Bondo needs a hardening agent or it will stay in a putty-like state forever. It usually comes with the can in a small tube. The more you mix in, the quicker it dries. My dad told me a story one time about a guy that was fixing holes on a truck for him...he bondo'ed all over the truck without using hardener. I don't think this is going to setup right. Sure it will. A few days later he comes over and can still push his finger into it. Had to remove it all and redo it.
 
Back
Top Bottom