i need some tips for using bondo body filler on my 83 celica

 

My first tip is to use any other brand than bondo, it's the worst out there. Try evercoat brand stuff, or go to a local body supply place.

 

its...... easy.

youre prolly like "AHH this stuff isnt sticking to the car" then SAND the surface then apply
OR
youre like " Ok the filler is on but its all wavy and not smooth like the rest of the car" then SAND with a block and apply more filler for your little pin holes and repeat

 

Make sure you degrease the surface before applying also..

 

/\ and a nice rough finish gives the body filler something nice to adhere to.

My advice would be to stop at a local body repair supply store and ask an associate for what you need. It's pretty self explanatory. The flexible plastic body filler "appliers" make it easy to apply the filler, but you can use anything really. Go light on the hardener so you have more time to apply the filler smoothly. This will save you time spent on sanding.

 

+1 Somebody knows their bodywork

 

Don't.

 

Going light on the hardener will also make the filler shrink less as it cures and will leave more time to use a cheese grater if you need to do rough shaping.

If you go to a body supply place, pick up some "body icing" also, it's a thinner version of body filler, and is excellent for filling sanding scratches, pinholes, and all those minor final defects. Get another color BPO hardener for the body icing so you have good color contrast over top of the regular body filler. It's the little tricks that make things easier.

 

anyone know of an automotive paint supply store on the peninsula?

 

Yes, I can't remember their name right off hand, but on Mercury Blvd, (adjacent to the Sears store) there is a automotive body repair store in a building with Lee's dry cleaners and an Advance Auto parts. It's located on the same side of the street as Sears, but there is a small street between the two. There is a sign out on Mercury that has a rainbow (that sounds gay) colored sign.