What to use to Patch Holes

HarryD · 04-22-2012, 03:34 PM

I have some non-structural holes I want to fill in.

Should I use a "bondo" type product or fiberglass?

These are on the floor of my car (not the 911) The holes range from an inch to several inches.

Thanks!

962porsche · 04-22-2012, 06:36 PM

bondo is a product and a cheap one at that ! you should never use bondo brand body filler .
but if your taking about using a body filler NO don't it's not made for holes and using fiberglass on metal is also out . you use fiberglass on fiberglass ! with that said
if you want a lasting product with out welding the holes you could pick a two part product like SEM's multi-purpose panel adhesive # 39747 with there backer cloth . i'm not sure but they may still sell it in small tubes if you don't need a 7 oz size tube . if you do need the 7 oz size tube and don't want to by the gun most area jobbers will rent the guns out . there is about a 24 hour dry time with the panel adhesive .

David McLaughlin · David McLaughlin's Garage

For a few areas on my car (rat rod 914), I used a two part epoxy putty from POR15. It's not the right way to fix things but until I get to welding these areas it'll do. This product seems to be holding up pretty well too.

MarkRobinson · 04-25-2012, 01:38 PM

I used a 2-part epoxy to glue small pieces of metal to the backsides of the hole, then used Bondo-ish to fill the area.

IT DID NOT WORK: the first seasonal change brought cracks along the perimeters of all the holes: weld it up like it should be.

HarryD · 04-30-2012, 05:08 PM

After much thought I have decided on the following approach:

1-Sand off the paint and rust (flap disks and discs on my drill motor);
2-Cut out any really thin metal;
3-Take my sheet steel and make patches that overlap the resulting hole by about 3/8 to 5/8 inch;
4-Drill 3/16" holes along perimeter of repair piece on area that overlaps existing metal;
5-Coat all bare metal with copper weld thru primer;
6-Plug weld holes with my MIG;
7-Etch Prime area;
8-Hi Build Primer;
9-Rustoleum Satin Black on under side/PPG OMNI Body color on top;
10-Seam Sealer on underside to fill any gaps; and
11-Undercoating on underside.

962porsche · 04-30-2012, 07:23 PM

in my shop we never over lap our patches . they all get but welded .
then we etch prime let it dry red pad it were we would want to seam seal and use SEM's two part seam sealer . then rust shield the under and top sides if it's the floor pan . porsche does not top coat with body color on there floor pans . any color you may see is just over spray .

HarryD · 04-30-2012, 08:14 PM

962porsche,

I appreciate your position.

Decent butt welds are beyond my ability. The work will be on the floors on my VW bus which will be covered by floor mat or only see from the underside. What I am seeking is a lasting repair to the rust holes and i think this will do the trick.

962porsche · 04-30-2012, 08:47 PM

doing it the way you stated will work . i have a love for vw's my 1st car was a 1973 bug . i still have it .my 1st new car was a GTI and i still own that too . they are the only two cars i will have until i pass away . over the years i have had just about every vw ever made .

HarryD · 04-30-2012, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 962porsche

doing it the way you stated will work . i have a love for vw's my 1st car was a 1973 bug . i still have it .my 1st new car was a GTI and i still own that too . they are the only two cars i will have until i pass away . over the years i have had just about every vw ever made .

962porsche:

Hopefully one day I will have the skills to do this nicely.

Your feed back has been important to me and I wanted to be sure I was not going down a dead end like the one I started on (fiberglass etc).

962porsche · 05-01-2012, 06:48 AM

just ask my friend that is what we are here for .

1-ev.com · 1-ev.com's Garage

962,
What is your opinion on "Loctite" Epoxy to use for filling small holes?

I've tried it over http://picklex20.com on spare piece then tried to chisel-off, and it stayed on with 1/2lb hammer impact ...

Loctite Epoxy Instant Mix 5 Minute from Loctite Adhesives

or this
Loctite Epoxy Instant Mix 1 Minute from Loctite Adhesives

Thank you,
-Y.

962porsche · 05-18-2012, 11:49 AM

i can't tell you ? i have never tried it .
for things like that we tend to weld it 1st . we have used SEM's panel bond adhesive and there non-sag fast set adhesive to fill some rust pin holes in the floors of a hand full of the race cars we build and that stoff will never come off if it's spred over clean blasted metal .
the only locitte products we use are things like there thred lock .