[Steve UK]

Hi all

what is the best way to skim a whole car in bondo. I have just done a Jaguar XK140 (1953), the whole car needed skiming cos the fabrication was bad, what a nightmare!! Some of the tight curves were to tight to skim with a spreader so I used my fingers, is there an easier way?

Also, what is the best way to block big sweeping curved surfaces? I use guide coats & on the final stage I paint the car black & block it but the big curves are very hard to get right.

Any new techniques would be very appreciated.

[302 Z28]

First off I do not believe in skimming a whole car like the rag TV shows do. Durablock makes a series of semi hard flexible sanding blocks that are excellent for curved surfaces. They have one that is about 12" long and 1-1/2" wide that is perfect. Also if you can find a household sponge that has sufficient body that will work great.

Vince

[baddbob]

You'd probably be way ahead of the game if you use filler on any known low areas then spray polyester primer over the whole panel. It's much easier to spray polyester on these curved and tight areas than it is to apply by hand. Blocking curves is tough sometimes, use a conformable block and try to do your sanding this way: if these are the old style rounded fenders run your block lengthwise with the length of the fender through the entire curve this will establish a nice flowing shape when viewed from the front or rear. After this step you'll feel ridges if you run your hand perpendicular to the length of the fender and these will be corrected by the next sanding pattern. Now run your block in an X pattern up and over the crown of the fenders at a 30 to 45degree angle as compared to the length cuts on the first sanding, keep this angle constant and work your way equally from one end of the fender to the other. When the shape is established and perfected then you can go to a smaller more flexible block and step your grit size down. Apply new guidecoat on every grit change and stroke change to assure that all previous scratches have been removed. Hope this made sense.

[Steve UK]

great advice guys.

I do use spray polyester filler. I also block end to end & then x block the whole panel. Do any of you guys use aluminium straight edges to check your levels? I am trying to raise my game & get my body work as perfect as possible. I have seen custom cars in the past & they were perfect. It's a beautiful sight to see a car prepped & painted to such a high standard.

[baddbob]

Yeah, I use straight edges as well for checking, also to verify panel alignment. It's truly amazing how small of an imperfection the human eye can pick up on after paint is applied and perfected. Ripples as small as .005" in depth will stand out on a panel that has been perfected in all other areas.