Filling holes without a welder.

[george graves]

What's the best way to fill some door molding holes with out a welder? Holes are about 1/4" in diameter.

[Aptyp]

round hammer and filler

[White325is]

You want to shave the side trim off your e30?
I dont know if thats what your getting at or not..

[george graves]

Thanks Aptyp - but what's the round hammer do? What's it for? A little more information would be required.

You want to shave the side trim off your e30?
I dont know if thats what your getting at or not..

That's actually not what I'm doing - but lets just say that is exactly what I'm doing. Holes need to be finished so they would be visible, smooth, and printable.

[DRTSRFR]

You use the round end of a ball peen hammer to give the hole a concave profile. It gives the putty more surface area, and helps with feathering the repair flush. When you apply the filler, it will create a "noodle"(think Playdoh)on the backside which will help keep the putty from popping back out.

Disclaimer: This is not a long lasting repair/fix. It won't take long for the putty to start cracking at the transition to metal. The expansion characteristics of putty and steel are very different. The smaller the repair, the quicker it will crack.

"visible, smooth, and printable" ??

Did you mean INvisible, smooth and PAINTABLE?

[george graves]

Thanks. Hmmm. So just make a dimple around the hole to give a bit more area to work with the filler. Yea, it does sound like that method wouldn't last forever.

How about dimple the surface slightly - just so it's not proud. Then JB welding some scrap metal (the stuff they sell at home-depo in 6" x 12" sheets) behind the hole?

Did you mean INvisible, smooth and PAINTABLE?

I wanted to say that the finished result would be visible, and need to be Paint-able.

[Aptyp]

Thanks Aptyp - but what's the round hammer do? What's it for? A little more information would be required.

Sorry Graves, thought you'd know what I meant. Anyway, it was just described above. All i can tell you, do not get bondo. I use plastic 2-part filler. It's sold at autozone and advance on paint isle for $2-3. 1 Package would probably fill all of the trim holes, but 2 would definitely do the trick.

I make it smooth with plastic spreaders and once it dries I use dremel and/or sand paper to smooth it out.




I use this on spoilers and bumpers as well.

[george graves]

Thanks! So then the correct way of doing it with welding I assume?

[DRTSRFR]

Back in the day when I was doing these types of "repairs" i would lay the ball of the hammer ON the hole and hit the face of the hammer with another hammer.

If you're gonna use JB you might as well use it as the filler too.

Now the curiosity is killing me...

[george graves]

Don't worry. It's nothing epic. My car needs a lot of body work. It's ugly.


1.) I if took it to a welder, would he try to make a tiny circle of metal and then weld it in?
2.) Or would be fill the hole with just the wire from the welder?
3.) Or would he want to tack a scrap of metal to the back side of the hole and then I'd use filler to fill in the hole?

[Farbin Kaiber]

JB weld a penny on the backside, sand, then apply filler. I've repaired VW engines in the past with that method.

[DRTSRFR]

A skilled welder can fill the hole without any backing.

When I was taught, we used a little scrap on the back to tack to, then fill with wire. I don't do it that way any longer.

[koole30]

If you cannot get the holes welded go to your local auto paint store and buy "kitty hair". Make sure you grind off all of the paint and scratch up the metal (including inside the holes) with 36 grit sand paper.

[george graves]

I can get it welded - I think I might. I sure like a good home-drew, DIY method though.

Farbs, how long do you think a penny and JB would last?

[Farbin Kaiber]

Plugged a vac leak on a vibraty as shit 1776cc for at least six years, til he sold the car at least.