What is this filler product?

[Steve Rozmiarek]

What is the gray filler that I've seen used as knot filler, like in alder plywood? Looks like bondo, I don't think it's epoxy, turns black with poly.

[Mel Fulks]

Yeah, sounds like Bondo. Made to fill and smooth crumpled and dinged metal . Then brave wood workers used it to replace poorly made
too small knots. Good for lots of stuff. But never make it a face cream gift to your wife !!

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Yeah, sounds like Bondo. Made to fill and smooth crumpled and dinged metal . Then brave wood workers used it to replace poorly made
too small knots. Good for lots of stuff. But never make it a face cream gift to your wife !!

Lol!! Thanks for the levity Mel!

[Steve Rozmiarek]

483597

This is a pic of the filler.

[Jim Becker]

If it's not Bondo brand stuff, it looks to be remarkably similar material. It's good for "non beauty" filling because it cures extremely fast so it can be surfaced with very little wait.

[Michael Schuch]

I have used Bondo on many wood projects but I have always painted it. I have never thought of trying Bondo under a clear finish.

[Joe Calhoon]

Looks a lot like JB Weld

[Tom M King]

There are many types of "body filler", including some flexible ones to use on plastic vehicle parts like bumper covers. All the flexible ones I've dealt with are gray like that.

Just search "body filler" on Amazon, and you will see what there is to choose from. Some are much finer, and easier to smooth over than Bondo brand, like some made by 3M.

If it's what comes in some plywood, I expect it's whatever is cheapest.

There is also "glazing putty" that has nothing to do with window glazing putty for smoothing over small imfections in body filler after you do the best you can with it. Glazing putty comes in tubes like toothpaste, and what I've ever used is red. It's one part and no mixing like body filler.

edited to add: The flexible ones are epoxy based, whereas all the others are polyester resin.

[Jim Becker]

I have used Bondo on many wood projects but I have always painted it. I have never thought of trying Bondo under a clear finish.
I sure wouldn't... ;)

[Steve Rozmiarek]

I sure wouldn't... ;)

Me neither, just messing around with it to see what it was.

[Mike King]

I sure wouldn't... ;)

Why not?

I've used 5 minute epoxy colored with India ink to fill knot holes. But if you are painting the project, what's wrong with bondo?

[David Zaret]

yeah i wonder if you mixed in some transtint, it might do a fine job. i mix transtint in with PVA glue and create a nice dark walnut colored glue.. might work fine with Bondo as well. doesn't take much.




Why not?

I've used 5 minute epoxy colored with India ink to fill knot holes. But if you are painting the project, what's wrong with bondo?

[Jim Becker]

Why not?

I've used 5 minute epoxy colored with India ink to fill knot holes. But if you are painting the project, what's wrong with bondo?

I was responding to the comment about using it under a clear finish, not paint. See the post I quoted.

[Rick Potter]

If I remember right, my Bondo is pink. Of course the can is over 30 years old (still good). Maybe they put in a different color for various blends. I know I have seen Bondo products made for wood.

30 years ago I rebuilt some window ledges in a rental that a pit bull had eaten. Still there, and some of the patches are at least an inch thick or more.

OOOH, gotta tell this one: My first introduction to Bondo was about 1961, when a neighbor slammed the door of his 52 Plymouth, and the whole face of the door fell off. Someone had repaired a large 3" or so deep dent which went from edge to edge on the door, by simply filling it with a huge slug of Bondo, must have been well over a gallon of the stuff. They made no effort to pull the dent out at all.

Asked the owner what that stuff on the ground was, and that was my intro to Bondo.