Beach Buggy .Info

Beach Buggy Help Zone => Beach Buggy Body and Chassis Help => Topic started by: 93fxdl on February 27, 2022, 02:15:00 PM

Title: Most suitable filler for body shell
Post by: 93fxdl on February 27, 2022, 02:15:00 PM
My manta shell has suffered over the years, with assorted holes and cracks which need repair.
I plan on using a fibreglass filler for the structural repairs,  but am wondering what filler to use for giving the finished surface a a crack resistant coat
Ttfn Glenn
Title: Re: Most suitable filler for body shell
Post by: Doon L001 on February 27, 2022, 04:51:43 PM
I think I read on here or saw somewhere that mixing resin with the body filler gives a smoother finish. Might have been in Chad's build thread 

Just make sur that hardener for both is the same or you'll end up with a gooey mess.

Sorry if you already know this but don't try to fix cracks with filler, get the shell repaired and solid with matting first. Filler is just to give a smooth finish for painting and should be as thin as possible
Title: Re: Most suitable filler for body shell
Post by: 93fxdl on February 27, 2022, 06:07:31 PM
Quote from: Doon L001 on February 27, 2022, 04:51:43 PM
I think I read on here or saw somewhere that mixing resin with the body filler gives a smoother finish. Might have been in Chad's build thread 

Just make sur that hardener for both is the same or you'll end up with a gooey mess.

Sorry if you already know this but don't try to fix cracks with filler, get the shell repaired and solid with matting first. Filler is just to give a smooth finish for painting and should be as thin as possible
Mixing some resin with the filler sounds like a good idea
Ttfn Glenn
Title: Re: Most suitable filler for body shell
Post by: Sam101 on February 27, 2022, 06:52:14 PM
A mate is a fibre glassed , mould work etc , and he told me off for buying body filler 2 pac stuff ..... he told me it was just fibre glass resin , with the hardener , then bulked out with "talc" .


So I bought 5 litres of resin plus hardener , 10 metres of shredded mat and handfuls of said talc for £25 ...

And the bonus is you can make it to your required consistency .

Title: Re: Most suitable filler for body shell
Post by: Manxdavid on February 27, 2022, 06:54:04 PM
Grind out the cracks with a Dremel or similar and fill with kitty hair type filler the type that has chopped matting in it. Any regular filler will eventually crack and shrink under your new paint.

https://www.toolstation.com/big-boy-filler-with-added-glass-fibre/p29173?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&mkwid=_dm&pcrid=560396161865&pkw=&pmt=&gclid=Cj0KCQiA3-yQBhD3ARIsAHuHT660oBdScZ4WAof_1DshiXuw9WT6CIw1hWWRJNkefbc1yJuAfHuZiiMaAuizEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Title: Re: Most suitable filler for body shell
Post by: Paul1953 on February 28, 2022, 01:11:04 PM
Quote from: 93fxdl on February 27, 2022, 02:15:00 PM
My manta shell has suffered over the years, with assorted holes and cracks which need repair.
I plan on using a fibreglass filler for the structural repairs,  but am wondering what filler to use for giving the finished surface a a crack resistant coat
Ttfn Glenn

We have a professional fibreglass bodywork and fabricator on the forum. This is his everyday work profession.  Nigel id is Outcast.
Title: Re: Most suitable filler for body shell
Post by: 93fxdl on March 14, 2022, 05:32:56 PM
Weather and other toys have hampered progress, currently still rubbing down lots of layers of old paint,  hadn't intended to take it so far back,  but micro bubbles in one of the lower layers means pretty much has to go back to the gellcoat. So lots of reshaping ahead of me ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Ttfn Glenn