Door tops and parting seams.

[sethmark]

I’m learning today. I have ZERO experience with fillers and fiberglass to speak of. YouTube has been ok, but i need more. Fortunately I have a junk door to ruin.

1. Door top. I gathered that I needed to use a short strand fiberglass filler then body filler
on top. Using evercoat short strand I mixed to instruction, applied and waited 20 min. When I hit it with a DA and a 40 grit some spots got divots. Why?

2. Seams. Pick just the holes open or V the entire seam? What Is efficient for grooving them? How far back do I need to feather? Filler over short strand?

126300

[JimLev]

How thick was the filler you put on?

[sethmark]

In what sense? Consistency or on the door?

[JimLev]

On the door?

[sethmark]

Oh... Its probably no more than a 1/32-1/16 thick. Little more at the corners where it was a deeper recess. Did I not wait long enough?

[JimLev]

Either not long enough or not enough hardener in it I guess.
I haven't been using Evercoat however I just ordered some, it'll be here on Thursday.

[Kamp]

40 grit is pretty course when your attacking 1/32 to 1/16 filler, the slightest edge tilt of the paper will cut a groove. Also if the filler wasn't mixed thoroughly you can have soft spots. I have found the Gold will grab just fine over 80 grit sanding.

[FF33rod]

Seth
Sounds like it wasn't quite set. When the filler (Everglass or Rage gold) is rubbery I knock off the bigger areas of excess with a "cheese grater"
https://www.autobodytoolmart.com/product/10-inch-cheesegrater-blade

Then wait about 3/4 hour before attacking it with sandpaper. Usually use 80 grit for rough shaping.

Steve

[wrp]

We went for overkill

126495126496126497126498126499

[Presto51]

I’m learning today. I have ZERO experience with fillers and fiberglass to speak of. YouTube has been ok, but i need more. Fortunately I have a junk door to ruin.

1. Door top. I gathered that I needed to use a short strand fiberglass filler then body filler
on top. Using evercoat short strand I mixed to instruction, applied and waited 20 min. When I hit it with a DA and a 40 grit some spots got divots. Why?

2. Seams. Pick just the holes open or V the entire seam? What Is efficient for grooving them? How far back do I need to feather? Filler over short strand?

126300

1.) The "divots" sometimes happen when using the short strand fiberglass filler, air will get trapped when mixing/applying. This stuff is a little hard to lay down so this can be a common happenstance. Don't worry about the divots, since you have the major portion of the shape you want, just go over the area with finer filler.

2.) I'm in the small camp of sanding down the seams till they are flush with the body, then filling in the "bad spots" when they expose themselves. Remember these are the parting lines in the mold when sections are fitted/bolted together. Then the fiberglass is layered in over these parting lines when making the bodies. They are not seams that are made by bolting two fiberglass sections together.

Hope this helps.

Ron

[sethmark]

Ron,
Thank you so much for your input. I greatly appreciate the expertise. The 33 GEN two door has a fairly pronounced step on it that really requires some manner of leveling filler. I don’t know that short strand was the best option, but it made sense to me based on what I have learned so far. Maybe cutting it out and laying fiberglass would’ve been better. But after blending it’s very thin.

[JimLev]

If it's hard to lay down (too thick?) I'm using some Evercoat Plastik Honey to thin it out a bit. Seems to work OK for me.

[sethmark]

Mostly i am GREEN. Dont have a clue without taking the time to experiment and learn. The passenger came out great. I'm happy. I'll do the drivers door tomorrow and then start thinking about the parting seams.

I figure since the Short strand is waterproof this work is at least in the right direction, even if I don't bodywork the whole car. With covid, I may have it in paint by June 1!!!! LOL

[rapidray]

Sethmark, I don't suggest you use 40 grit anywhere on the body. I used 80 on a DA (orbital sander) initially followed by 220. On top of the doors I used fiberglass anywhere I had a hole or large imperfection. I then coated with a not more than an 1/8" of Evercoat gold. I then fill the minor imperfections with glazing putty. Sethmark a body mans best friend (idiot stick) They make them half this size also. This is my original one as I am at home. The ones I use now the paper attaches with Velcro. I use 80 followed by 150 then prime followed by 220 grit paper. I use a mixable glazing putty made by 3M to fill the small imperfections. Depending on the temperature about 1/2 of an inch hardener to a golf ball of bondo. Should dry within 15 or 20 minutes again depends on the outside temp. Ray