Faster way to sand down bondo?

[shiboujin]

Right now I have a mouse sander and some 80 grit. You'd figure it would kill the bondo quickly but it gets gummed up really fast. I tried block sanding but the same thing happens. I get these spots of clumped up dust and crap. Should I wet sand ALL the time? IE spray surface with water and go? The few times I did that it just gummed up faster. I don't want to spend an hour just sanding down the first layer. How can I do it faster?

[Tha Driver]

If it keeps gumming up the sandpaper after sanding off the top surface of the bondo, you probably mixed it wrong (not enough hardener). I usually start with 40 grit & finish with 80 & then a little with 180 - all dry. A "bondo eater" or air file works best; I assume you mean "DA" not "mouse". :)
Block sanding by hand is the best way to finish out anything.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

Custom Fiberglass Parts

[rares]

what sand block are you using? i was using a really coarse one from pep boys, it got the big stuff out quick and then i went over it with a mouse and then wet sand and done... post a pic of your block sander if you can..

[shiboujin]

I get gummed up even if things are dry/bondo/fiberglass/spray paint. It's really annoying. Maybe I'll try 40 grit.

Block? I just use a block of wood. I have some stuff from autozone but I get the best feel with a good old cut off section of a 2x4.

[rares]

oh ok, i just meant, i bought an automotive big tooth bondo block at pep boys for 6 bucks and it removes the big chunks like butter, but a wood block works if you get the best feel...

good luck. i love bondo work

[shiboujin]

love... bondo work...? Wanna come over and love on my bondo?

I wish there were pep boys near me. No one has good bodywork tools locally. I have to order all of them online.

[rares]

oh dang man, i used to work on custom vintage motorycles and did a lot bondo work... that stuff if awesome...

also very sad that you don't have a lot of auto places around you. it sucks to wait for stuff to get in the mail

[shiboujin]

Do you have suggestions on tools to buy? I don't mind spending money and waiting for shipping if it'll actually work. Link meh!

[whodwho]

Go to a hardware store and pickup a surform plane (cheese grater) and before the bondo cures and still cheese like consistency you can shape it down.

[AndrewBird]

Use less bondo next time?

My guess is you are using a palm sander with no dust holes in the paper, am I right? The sanding dust has no where to go and packs itself into the paper. Try using a better quality paper or buy one of these:

http://www.harborfreight.com/sanding-belt-cleaner-30766.html

And clean the paper before it get really bad.

[shiboujin]

ah that would make much sense. Maybe I should just poke holes into my sand paper :)

[gp.plus]

Go to a hardware store and pickup a surform plane (cheese grater) and before the bondo cures and still cheese like consistency you can shape it down.

Absolutely this^^^ and maybe like said earlier a bit more hardener. Also evercoat is much nicer to work with than bondo.

http://www.evercoat.com/

[AndrewBird]

ah that would make much sense. Maybe I should just poke holes into my sand paper :)

Most sanders come with a plate for this purpose.

[StereoInstaller1]

Cheese grated on green bonding, block with 40 grit, jump to 80 grit, then 180ish.

Timing is crucial, practice on a junk panel. Catching the mud while still green is the trick.

[shiboujin]

Most sanders come with a plate for this purpose.

Need one of those <_<