Fiberglass is a great material for making parts for your car, but it can also be damaged by the elements and road debris. This damage can include holes, cracks, or dents in the body.
When repairing fiberglass, you will need to inspect the damaged area and mark it with a contrasting marker. Then, prepare the surface by sanding with rough grit sandpaper. Find out more about Fiberglass Auto Body Repair as you continue through the article.
Fiberglass Repair Kit is a do-it-yourself solution for fast and effective auto body repairs. It includes fiberglass cloth, resin and liquid hardener that is easy to mix, spread and sand for high-quality results. The kit can be used for repairing holes, dents and rust-outs in metal body parts and can save money versus part or panel replacement. It provides an attractive, sandable surface that is compatible with most paints.
This fiberglass-reinforced filler provides a strong foundation for hole, dent and rust-out repairs without the need for backing strips, fiberglass mats or fiberglass resin. It contains short, interlocking strands and fibers, which make it twice as strong as standard body filler. It is also slightly thicker than traditional body fillers and dries to a sandable finish in about 20 minutes, saving time during your auto body repairs.
It can be used with fiberglass or drywall cloth, depending on the size of the area to be repaired and your skill level. It is recommended that you sand the patched area smooth with a high-grit sandpaper, once it has dried completely. It will then be ready for a repaint and the surface will look just like the original.
3M is committed to providing premium products across the entire body repair process. From preparing and masking to sanding, finishing and painting – our premium abrasives, tapes, body fillers and tools help you work efficiently and successfully at every stage. This commitment is reflected in the way that we apply science to your vehicles, boats and equipment so you can rediscover their full potential.
Body Repair Kit
Body Repair Kit is a do-it-yourself solution for easy and effective auto body repairs. It includes all the same shop quality materials used by professionals and provides an easy-to-use automotive body filler to fix cracked, broken or rusted automobile body components quickly and at a fraction of the cost of part or panel replacement. This professional-grade auto body filler is non-shrinking, permanent and compatible with most paint. This body filler is perfect for repairing and resurfacing metals, fiberglass and wood. It is super-adhesive and fast to work with, and it has a putty-like consistency that makes it very easy to mix, apply and sand.
When used correctly, Bondo or any other brand of body filler can be a valuable tool in the restoration and maintenance of your vehicle. However, it is important to remember that if your car is a collector vehicle or has a high value, any use of body filler decreases its worth drastically.
It is possible to detect a use of body filler on a classic or collector car by carefully examining the body panels for consistency in texture and color, as well as checking for holes and cracks. Using an electronic tool designed for this purpose can be very useful, as it can find areas of the body that are denser than the surrounding panel and therefore may contain body filler or a rust hole.
Another common technique for detecting the presence of a body filler is to simply knock on a metal body panel and listen for a sound that is slightly different from the sound produced by other metal parts of the car. While this can be an effective way to locate bondo, it is not a foolproof method, especially on newer cars that may use composite manufacturing methods or plastics for certain panels.
A fiberglass repair patch can be added to the Bondo body filler to help strengthen and support the area being repaired, and also to provide a strong, metal reinforced contour foundation for application of other Bondo products or fiberglass resins. This self-adhesive patch is available for both fiberglass and steel vehicles, and can be installed as either a one-step or two-step process.
Filler
Filler is a popular choice for repairing dents, scrapes and small holes in fiberglass, metal, wood and concrete. It’s easy to mix and sand, so it can be used for same-day repairs that are durable enough to withstand the elements. The putty is made from a combination of resin and filler that’s non-shrinking, permanent and resistant to corrosion. It can be used on a variety of surfaces and is formulated to adhere to fiberglass, aluminum, steel and more.
While it is fine to use on a car, Bondo should not be used in Marine applications. Marine fiberglass is able to shed water, whereas auto body filler (Bondo) will absorb it, especially underwater and on the deck. This will cause a blistering effect and is not preferred in the Marine industry.
There are ways to tell if a car has had bondo repaired, such as checking for paint mismatches or a lack of smoothness in the finish. You can also run your hand over the surface to see if it has a different texture or feels uneven compared to surrounding areas. Another method is to place a magnet over the area to test for a magnetic response. If the magnet sticks to the panel but not to other nearby panels it is likely because of bondo.
Unlike regular body filler, Bondo(r) Glass Reinforced Filler can be used in vertical repairs, such as on doors, because it contains short, interlocking fiberglass strands and fibers. This makes it twice as strong as standard body filler and much easier to work with on vertical surfaces. It is also less messy than standard body filler, which is important for quick and easy sanding on vertical surfaces. The filler mixes well with the included Bondo(r) Red Cream Hardener and is sandable in about 20 minutes, saving you time on your repair.
Primer
If you need to repair a fiberglass auto body panel, this product provides a great solution. It can be used to patch rust holes, fix dent damage and smooth surfaces for paint. It is also compatible with all types of automotive coatings. It is easy to use and dries quickly. This can help you get your car back on the road in less time.
3M(tm) Bondo(tm) Glass Reinforced Filler makes an excellent base for hole, dent and rust-out repairs without the need for backing strips, cloths or fiberglass resins. It contains short, interlocking fiberglass strands and fibers that make it twice as strong as standard body filler. It also dries to a hard surface and is easier to work with on vertical surfaces than traditional body filler. It is easily mixed with the included red cream hardener and has a low VOC content, making it environmentally friendly.
Before using body filler you should clean the area with soap and water then a low VOC compliant cleaner. Then sand the area with 80 grit sandpaper and clean again. This will help the body filler adhere to the surface. You should then rough shape the filler and sand again to remove soft spots and dry fiber pits. It is important to sand until the filler is level with the surrounding paint.
During the final preparation stage, you can use an adhesion primer or primer surfacer to create a good base for paint. This will help prevent the dreaded “rings” around body filler. The rings are caused by not sanding the body filler smooth enough. You can also test for bondo by passing a magnet over the area to see if it sticks. If you are repairing a collector or high value vehicle, this could be a sign of bad body work.
Some people are leery of buying a used car that has had bondo repaired because they fear it will decrease the value of the car. However, if the body work is done properly, it should not have any impact on the value of the car. If you are concerned, you can always have a professional inspect the car before you buy it.