[tech69]

for the longest time I didn't use them but the shop yoda got me trying them again and I'm finally impressed with them. I find if I use it for hoods or decklids in the stage where I'm trying to spot fill before the blanket coats you can cut a lot of time out AND not worry about digging into the mud that's more cured under the filler that's on top you ARE cutting into, and this is cause it doesn't really want to cut too much into cured filler so it helps to not disturb the surrounding areas around the filler. I'm kicking butt with just filing it in two directions, hit it with a good long block with 40 to true it up even more, then top coat. After a while of using them you realize you don't have to fill a cake for it to be useful. Hand feel tells you what it's doing. I was stunned after a while to realize even with slightly tight fill coats you still have enough meat on it to file AND clean up all your file marks for the top coat. Any thoughts?

[MARTINSR]

Are you talking Vixen file?



I have never used one to cut filler, are we talking about the same thing?

Brian

[tech69]

no, filler files. I find those pictured useful though for things poking up. I like the spring loaded punch to knock it down a tad and filing it down. Easy and fast. I'm talking about bondo files. For the longest time I refused to use them but now I realize there is some use for them.

[deadbodyman]

hutchins has the best air file, imho.not only does it knock down bondo but its so acurate you can actually block primer with it,Wait till you try the mini air files,very useful too .
unless your talking about those cheese graters,I havent used one of those in many years..

[tech69]

i got a viking. I'm talking about a cheese grater. It actually works! I always thought they sucked.

[MARTINSR]

NOOOOOOOO Not a Cheese grader! NOOOOOOOOO

[tech69]

I thought the same thing cause I always thought that it was only for piling it on but after a while you realize it not only cuts it down faster on thinner coats but you can also sand out the gouges too and it will still be effective. I found out if I use it in two directions it cuts the filler down exactly how I like it and just a couple strokes with a block and 40 grit are needed.

[Lizer]

The only thing my cheese grater is useful for in my shop is making me say 'goddammit!' after every time I use it. I don't understand how these things are supposed to be useful. It puts freaking huge scratches and gouges in the filler that are too deep to sand out short of sanding the filler off again.

[tech69]

the depth of the scratch have to do with how long you wait to grate it and how you hold your grater. It's not something you can try to do on your top coat but for areas you know will be skimmed over it works well. The secret is waiting til it's perfect timing to make nachos...or grate.

[mitmaks]

Originally Posted by tech69

i got a viking. I'm talking about a cheese grater. It actually works! I always thought they sucked.

When you referred to body file I thought you were referring to a file used to cut down high spots in metal. I have one but rarely use it as new cars are not thick enough and usually you'll cut through with it.
Yes, cheese graters work great. Key is to know when to use one. You only have a minute or so to work bondo as it dries.

[oldBodyman]

"Yes, cheese graters work great. Key is to know when to use one."

Yeah, just do NOT try with Rage Extreme or Wurth Premium, you'll just tear it off the panel.

[mitmaks]

on big jobs I like to use "mud hog" to knock down bondo real fast.