[67Elcamino]

I used some polyester filler on bare metal and I must not put enough hardener and took days to dry. Is this OK if it dries completely? or should I remove? I was wondering it of dried completely 3-4 days later it would have a bad long term effect? ie ; shrinking etc..

[milo]

Sounds risky to say it is ok...You have doubts or you wouldn't post a question like that. It may feel cured on top but inside there may by pockets under there where no hardener got mixed in at all. Most fillers including 2 part glazing putties should kick in and be ready to sand in 5 minutes. Best to remove and re- apply in this case..

Here's a thread that may help explain the different rates plastic filers sand...



http://www.a2zautoforums.com/showthread.php?t=936

Of course there will be some hot dog who says it'll be fine but even you don't trust it..

[boatbob2]

Take the putty off,it was NOT catalized properly,for long term rust protection,spray the car (or panels) with a 2k primer,then putty over the primer.if you sand thru the primer,re-primer it.

[deadbodyman]

Originally Posted by 67Elcamino

I used some polyester filler on bare metal and I must not put enough hardener and took days to dry. Is this OK if it dries completely? or should I remove? I was wondering it of dried completely 3-4 days later it would have a bad long term effect? ie ; shrinking etc..

TWICE I did that ,except I totally forgot the hardner...
Waaaaay back when feather fill first came out..(I was used to lacquer primer) but thats what we used back then...
heres what I learned....even if it feels dry it has to come off and its a PITA...but,
since you used the hardener it might be ok ,but dry sand it and see if it balls up on the paper ,if it does it has to come off...if it dont and it sands nice its probably ok....You just have ask yourself one question......Do ya feel lucky?
Needless to say, I had my fill and never used that stuff again,it sanded like a brick anyways and theres much better primers out there anyways ...I tried slick sand a few years ago its cheap but I hated it ,I stay clear from all those poly primers these days and stick to epoxies and 2k's only...heck I cant see good enough to count those little drops anyways ,4:1 is easy

[tech69]

Originally Posted by deadbodyman

TWICE I did that ,except I totally forgot the hardner...
Waaaaay back when feather fill first came out..(I was used to lacquer primer) but thats what we used back then...
heres what I learned....even if it feels dry it has to come off and its a PITA...but,
since you used the hardener it might be ok ,but dry sand it and see if it balls up on the paper ,if it does it has to come off...if it dont and it sands nice its probably ok....You just have ask yourself one question......Do ya feel lucky?
Needless to say, I had my fill and never used that stuff again,it sanded like a brick anyways and theres much better primers out there anyways ...I tried slick sand a few years ago its cheap but I hated it ,I stay clear from all those poly primers these days and stick to epoxies and 2k's only...heck I cant see good enough to count those little drops anyways ,4:1 is easy

I've done that twice to with featherfill. Both times were at the end of the day working overtime. I guess I wanted to get home.

[tech69]

Originally Posted by 67Elcamino

I used some polyester filler on bare metal and I must not put enough hardener and took days to dry. Is this OK if it dries completely? or should I remove? I was wondering it of dried completely 3-4 days later it would have a bad long term effect? ie ; shrinking etc..

I say sand it off with 40 grit to what's under it. If anything is loose a 40 grit will expose it and tear it out if you sand enough of it off. A good indication of it's adhesion is to look at how it feathers out. If it's sporadic where certain areas feather nice but others have rough edges and not feathering well might as well scrap the idea of keeping. I'd remove it anyways with 40 grit on a block cause at this point it's a very easy thing to do. If there's paint on it and you get bulls eye or shrinkage THEN it's a hassle. When you play it safe in this trade you get few mistakes.

[deadbodyman]

I miss read ...if your poly FILLER took 3 days to dry you definetly didnt use enough hardener and it HAS to come off...That stuff drys in minutes....What brand are you using???

[deadbodyman]

Originally Posted by tech69

I've done that twice to with featherfill. Both times were at the end of the day working overtime. I guess I wanted to get home.

I keeped checking for a week before I decided to scape it all off (what a pita) then I reprimed it again and the next dat I came back to sand it and my jaw dropped it was still soft,I did it again ....I couldnt believe I did it twice on the same car...The WHOLE car!!!!!! That was about 30 yrs ago and to this day think about it every time I see a tube of MEK hardner...

[tech69]

waiting a couple days was a mistake too. The first time I did it I waited and I wasn't able to scrape it off/sand it off so easily. The second time I fessed up quickly and it scraped right off then I sanded off the few remaining boogers and reprimed. I'm very conscious of adding primer now so I'll look for the oxygen out gassing right in the cup before I throw it in the gun just to be sure, a little overly sure.

[deadbodyman]

I'm just glad someone else fessed up...when I went and asked my friend that worked at a body shop how long it takes for that feather fill to dry the first thing he said (with a big grin)was did you forget the hardener???? but he never admitted he did it too..... I suspect he did...I think a lot of people did...

[Nastynotch347]

Originally Posted by deadbodyman

I'm just glad someone else fessed up...when I went and asked my friend that worked at a body shop how long it takes for that feather fill to dry the first thing he said (with a big grin)was did you forget the hardener???? but he never admitted he did it too..... I suspect he did...I think a lot of people did...

I under catalyzed it on a whole side of a car, let it cure for 3 days opened it up with 320 and let it sit for 3 more days. PITA!