I agree, you can bondo in cold weather. It will be easier if you keep the bondo warm (in your house) before you measure it out and use it. Keep the part you are going to bondo in the house also until just before you do the bondoing.
Full Answer
Can You sand down Bondo?
Once the Bondo cures, it’s time to sand. Power sanders are OK to break the surface and knock down any high spots, but hand sanding with the body contour is the best way forward. Cut in with heavier grit sandpaper and work out to about 80 grit to leave a tooth for the following skim coats.
Is Bondo bad for welding?
It can hide a welding seam in seconds; but Bondo in the hands of those with calamitous intentions can result in a restoration nightmare. Along with Band-Aid and Jell-O, Bondo entered the English lexicon with both positive and negative meanings.
What is the difference between Bondo and Band-Aid?
A well-placed Band-Aid on a minor wound can help prevent infection; but a Band-Aid solution means a haphazard repair representing a merely temporary fix. Bondo has a similarly two-sided identity. Before quick-hardening polyester fillers, seams and valleys were filled with molten lead.
Is Bondo a registered trademark?
A brief qualification: Bondo is a registered trademark of 3M and just one of the myriad brands and types of polyester body fillers.
How long does Bondo take to dry in cold weather?
Allow the putty to dry 15 minutes at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C). In cooler climates, putty may take 20-30 minutes to dry.
Can you Bondo in winter?
Cold does have negative effects on resin/filler. The absolute minimum temperature that Bondo recommends for resin and body filler is 40 degrees F.
What does the temperature need to be to use Bondo?
Squeeze a 3-inch strip/bead of red cream hardener across the filler that you removed from the can. Note that the total working time after you have mixed the filler and hardener will be 3-5 minutes at 75°F (24° C).
Does temperature affect body filler?
Extremes in temperature and humidity can affect hardening times in fillers, making application difficult. In warmer climates where the filler can begin hardening quicker than normal, technicians compensate by cutting back on hardener to slow the process.
How do you make Bondo smooth?
0:245:14A Faster Way to Sand Bondo? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the fastest tool I have in my toolbox is this cheese grater for bondo. So what you want to do isMoreSo the fastest tool I have in my toolbox is this cheese grater for bondo. So what you want to do is just first of all get it close with this cheese grater.
Does heat make Bondo dry faster?
Bondo is thermoset. All that the hardener does is generate heat, so it's not really "hardener drying" just like it's not "air drying". You can put Bondo in the oven to harden it, for example. So anything that makes it hotter, such as hair dryers, sunshine or heat guns, will speed it up.
Can you paint over Bondo without primer?
However, one of the most common concerns of newbies is if you can paint Bondo without primer. The short answer? No, you should not paint directly over body filler. Bondo will absorb the paint if not primed and it will not look good.
How long can Bondo last?
If applied correctly, Bondo can last for more than five years. In most cases, Bondo filler lasts for two to three years. There are car owners who have had Bondo hold on to their vehicle's bodies for even eight years.
Can you sand Bondo the next day?
Bondo Ultimate does. Bondo Ultimate can be applied directly over sanded and cured primer and paint. This filler remains easy to sand for days after the application.
Can Bondo get rained on?
As long as it is primed you should be OK. I wet sanded all my primer for 12 years of professionaly building street rods and never had a problem, I dont see how rain would be any different. Exposed plastic or metal may be a problem. I agree with Firehawk, as long as it was primed, you should be fine.
What makes body fillers shrink?
It's caused mainly by the need for fast turnover and not enough time for the filler or paint to dry and shrink back.
Are body fillers waterproof?
Finely ground aluminum body filler is not only waterproof, but also spreads easily and gets so hard you can drill and tap it.
Can you crack Bondo?
9:5416:35Why does Bondo crack or why does body filler crack - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSome guys say oh I never used bondo because it always cracks. That's absolutely not true ok. ItMoreSome guys say oh I never used bondo because it always cracks. That's absolutely not true ok. It doesn't always crack it only cracks when you didn't do it right.
Can you powder coat metal with Bondo on it?
It is not recommended to powder coat over Bondo or similar type putty products. Powder Coating over Bondo will cause outgassing to occur, this will create irregularities in the finish. Generally, any metal fabrication that has Bondo on it could be rejected by your custom coater.
How do you slow down Bondo?
You can slow up the cure time by using less hardener. Also, keep it cool--I sometimes put my container in ice water to slow it down a little. But, one of the benefits of using Bondo is that it does cure fast letting you get to sanding and finishing much faster than using most other products.
What can I use to thin Bondo?
0:581:50Thinning Bondo - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd what the way to get around that is just to take some fiberglass resin pour that into your bodyMoreAnd what the way to get around that is just to take some fiberglass resin pour that into your body filler. And then mix that. And you'll find that that loosens up the body filler.
How cold does epoxy work?
If you use a boat building epoxy with a cold weather hardner it will work down to 35F .The important thing is to thicken it with an agent that is easy to sand .I am only familiar with Industrial Formulators Cold Cure with Jet Cure hardener .As a thickening agent I use Cabosil.This is still harder than bondo which is a polyester but is not porous because it is epoxy.Adding additional hardner does not speed up epoxy and in fact can slow or even prevent curing.With epoxy the formulation of the hardner not the quantity governs the curing characteristics beyond a narrow margin.Temperature and pre action time govern the thin film setting time. I believe West System market a cold weather product .I hope this helps
What temperature should urethane be?
Everything I've come across is typically formulated to work optimally at 70F to 72F, though many need to go through a "baking schedule" later to reach optimal strength, (sometimes to 500F).
Can you use a shorter cure time?
So, you can use a shorter cure time, or you can keep the normal stuff warm enough to cure at a normal rate.
Is West System 3 hot or cold?
I'm another vote for System Three. Same chemistry as West System. Both offer hot, regular and cold temp mixes of 2:1 volumes, not a catalyst. Not as cheap as polyester resins, but not as noxious either. I trust it enough to bob around the icebergs in my 38-pound kayak (1/8" maghoney, 6 oz FG, and System Three epoxy). From memory, the cold stuff works best at 40-50F.David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
Can you use a hair dryer to dry bondo?
I guess you could try it for temporary use. If so, use a hair dryer to heat and dry the bondo.
Does Bondo stick to paint?
Bondo DOES NOT stick to paint. ONLY bare metal.
Is bondo trim adhesive good?
Bondo is a bad choice for trim attachment. You'd be better served heading to your local body shop supply and getting some 3M trim adhesive. Barring that, you can use any silicone adhesive. With either, make sure you tape the trim down securely after applying the adhesive for 24 hours to assure a good job.
Is bondo a good glue?
IMO, bondo would not be a good gluing product. It just won't adhere well under any circumstances. The only thing that it will really adhere to a car is paint. Also, bondo won't "set up," to dry or harden unless the temp is in the 70's.
Does 3M get cold sitting on trucks?
And if you think it dont get that cold sitting on trucks for a few days .... well the froze and busted Meg. 3M etc) compounds says it does.
Can bondo be used at room temperature?
Make sure both components-bondo and hardner-are both at room temperature before using, and always be sure the metal and air temps are in the correct range for the bondo to cure evenly and completely.
Can bondo be frozen?
The bondo will be OK if frozen. Polyester resin keeps very well in a refridgerator, for long term storage. The hardner may not be good after extreme cold. Hardner doesn't freeze the same as water. If it's bad it will usually separate into a runny liquid and a grainy paste instead of a smoothe consistent paste. Knead the hardner tube with your fingers to make sure it is mixed. Squeeze out some and check to see if it looks as described. If your are still not sure mix a test batch and see if it still cures the bondo. Bondo is still very cheap compared to paint and primer, and it is the "foundation". When in doubt--throw it out.
How to sand Bondo Gold?
Power sanders are OK to break the surface and knock down any high spots, but hand sanding with the body contour is the best way forward. Cut in with heavier grit sandpaper and work out to about 80 grit to leave a tooth for the following skim coats. Make long sweeps for sanding over the repair. Run your hand over the repair and feel for depressions or high spots; anything you can feel as wavy will translate through the paint. The lightweight Bondo Gold is far easier to sand than the heavier type, so consider using the good stuff on the way out. Use a tack cloth to remove any dust between coats.
What is bondo resin?
The miraculous blend of polyester resins and cream hardener known as Bondo can make wavy panels straight and door dings disappear. It can hide a welding seam in seconds; but Bondo in the hands of those with calamitous intentions can result in a restoration nightmare.
What determines the cure time of a bandaid?
Hardener and ambient temperature determine cure time. Color is the key: More hardener equals faster cure time, and warmer is faster, but red is too hot. Shoot for that Band-Aid color to prevent a Band-Aid fix.
Do not stir putty?
Fold—but do not stir—the mixture together with the putty knife until the color is uniform. (Stirring introduces unwanted air into the mix.)
Is Bondo a trademark?
A brief qualification: Bondo is a registered trademark of 3M and just one of the myriad brands and types of polyester body fillers. And as much as we appreciate Evercoat Tiger Hair for its tenacious blend of fiberglass strands and super tough resins, one can of regular weight Bondo and one can of lightweight Bondo Gold were used in this five-part journey from rust to repair.
