Question: Filler, Yeuch!

studiorat

Hi,
I've been filling a few holes in the van recently. Hopefully one day I can replace the panels but for the moment I'll have to do with filler and mesh.
It seems to be smooth enough when it's sanded down anyway.

So my question is: is it possible to thin down filler like you can with paint. I'm finding the stuff very heavy to work with and it seems to go off very quickly.

Any suggestions?

Henry Ford III

Use a little less hardener?

Sids Not

Easier to use on a hot day....:cool:

studiorat

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Use a little less hardener?

True enough, but even before it goes off it would be good to be a little more malleable.

I wonder would a cap-full of white spirit help?

Sids Not

The white spirits is a big NO..............

How old is the tin of filler...has'nt been sitting there for years has it...........;)

carchaeologist

Just mix as much as you need at a time,dont do loads or you will run out as it hardens. Filler isnt really meant for fixing holes either,its just to bring up surface imperfections before painting.
Fibreglass matting would be a better bet if you have to fill a hole with something like this,or you can get a fibreglass paste too which works well for smaller holes,though isnt really ideal for a strong longterm repair. Try to remove as much of the rust beforehand and treat it as otherwise it will come out again fairly quickly.

8~)

You're wasting your time using filler to fill holes. Even mesh is a waste of time. You really need to weld in some metal; even if it's not the exact shape and you use filler to shape it, this will be a better job than lobbing loads of filler on.