My uncle told me to use a heat lamp on that tricky quarter panel filler, and I should have listened

I was working on a 2012 Silverado with a dent right on the body line. I used a standard filler, but it was a cold day in the shop, maybe 60 degrees. My uncle, who ran a shop for 30 years, stopped by and said, 'Bob, put a heat lamp on that for an hour before you sand. It'll cure harder and block easier.' I was in a rush and just let it sit overnight. The next morning, it sanded gummy and I could see tiny pinholes. I had to scrape it all out and start over. After the second try, I borrowed a lamp from the paint booth, warmed the area, and let it sit. It blocked out perfectly smooth in half the time. Has anyone else found small shop heat makes that big a difference with certain fillers?

2 comments

2 Comments

jade8859d ago

Used to think it was all about the brand of filler. Swore by the expensive stuff and still got soft spots on cold mornings. Watched an old timer at a swap meet lay down filler then point a simple trouble light at it. Tried it on a fender repair last winter and the difference was night and day. It sands like a dream when it's warm, no more gumming up the paper.

jade39d ago

Yeah, a cheap halogen work light on a stand does the trick (lets you keep both hands free for sanding). Just don't get it too close or you'll bake the filler hard.