 | Richard Smith has been in the Auto Body Industry for 26 years. He is ASE Certified Master Collision Tech, an I-Car Platinum Tech, and an I-Car Instructor. He and His wife own and operate Sharp's Auto Body & Collision Inc. located at 202 North Elm St. in Pittsburg, Kansas. He is a father of 5 children, Ex Military E-6 Staff SGT. and is active in his home Church. The one thing he enjoys doing is educating the public about the safety and proper repair of automobiles, no matter if it is a vehicle that has been in a collision, a small dent, or a complete restoration. The shop is always equipped with a skilled professional to handle your auto needs. |
Automotive Service & Repair
2012-08-02 12:27:00
Which is better, welding or body putty for repairs?
A- Personally, for my own car and for any of my customers I would always recommend welding over filler. However, I understand that there are many things that someone in their garage at home with limited tools and equipment would do that I do not do in my shop.
If you must use bondo, all metal or metal-to-metal would be a better base in the start. Put a small taper on the hole going IN with a ball peen hammer. Grind the area around the hole and taper in the hole so the filler has a support around the hole. If you did not, the filler would have no support and the metal would end up high when you sanded it smooth. Secondly, you could take any pointed object and poke the filler pushing it thru the hole.
Even when welding it is about doing it right.
The wrong way welding would include welding the hole all up then quenching it with water, this would shrink the area and warp the fender. Not protecting the backside once welded, that burnt metal will rust without proper protection. If you weld it without cleaning and get a porous weld, moisture can go right thru it and lift any filler from the top side. Additional problems include grinding the weld down too much and thinning the surrounding metal or not penetrating deep enough and the metal filling the hole can fall out (like the filler if you don't taper the hole).
