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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: plurpimpin on April 02, 2010, 06:30:40 AM

Title: Bondo for Fairings Plastic
Post by: plurpimpin on April 02, 2010, 06:30:40 AM
I'm just finishing up the body work to repaint my 500f. The previous owner laid the bike down and tore up the fairing so I had been running it as a naked bike but I want to put the plastics back on. Fortunately my room mate has a hot air plastic welder. I already welded up the cracks and they are good and strong.

My question is that I was wondering if there is any bondo like product that would work on the plastics? I want to smooth over the welds before I paint.
Title: Re: Bondo for Fairings Plastic
Post by: kml.krk on April 02, 2010, 07:56:28 AM
I *think* that short fiber bondo body filler should be good for what you need.
I used long fiber for my seat cowl, it's harder to work with but provides greater strength.

I would recommend you to wait for more experienced body workers to chime in,
best of luck
KML
Title: Re: Bondo for Fairings Plastic
Post by: tt_four on April 02, 2010, 11:04:32 AM
I didn't know there was a difference between types of bondo(short/long fibers), you're not getting bondo confused with fiberglass are you?

I've used bondo on just about anything, whether it's plastic or metal. It should work perfectly find for what you're doing.
Title: Re: Bondo for Fairings Plastic
Post by: plurpimpin on April 02, 2010, 12:34:46 PM
Quote from: tt_four on April 02, 2010, 11:04:32 AM
I didn't know there was a difference between types of bondo(short/long fibers), you're not getting bondo confused with fiberglass are you?

I've used bondo on just about anything, whether it's plastic or metal. It should work perfectly find for what you're doing.

are you talking about the bondo paste (normal body filler)? because i was reading on another forum that it does not flex with the fairing and tends to just break off
Title: Re: Bondo for Fairings Plastic
Post by: bassmechanicsz on April 02, 2010, 12:36:38 PM
if the welds are high could you just sand them down?

If they are low could you just add more weld to fill them so they are high and then sand them down and essentially not need to worry about bondo.  Then use some glazing puddy for any small imperfictions?
Title: Re: Bondo for Fairings Plastic
Post by: plurpimpin on April 02, 2010, 01:57:23 PM
Quote from: bassmechanicsz on April 02, 2010, 12:36:38 PM
if the welds are high could you just sand them down?

If they are low could you just add more weld to fill them so they are high and then sand them down and essentially not need to worry about bondo.  Then use some glazing puddy for any small imperfictions?

I was thinking about that as a worst case but i'd have to add alot of weld to get everything high enough to sand down. but its sounding more and more like that's what i'm going to have to do. something like bondo would have just been alot easier
Title: Re: Bondo for Fairings Plastic
Post by: rswickx525 on April 02, 2010, 02:59:33 PM
the type of bondo you want to use is polyurethane puddy/bondo same difference. try to fill in the crack on the inside of the fairnig first and let it dry a little and dont even worry about sanding it.(its on the inside nooone will see) doing that will make it hold a little more. then put a coat on the outside and sand it down until it feels good and prime it and she will be ready for paint. you dont want regular car bondo because it is made for metal and is too brittle for the plastic. the fairing will actually flex a little and move about and if it isnt polyurethane bondo then it will probably crack and fall off.
Title: Re: Bondo for Fairings Plastic
Post by: Grommett2k on April 02, 2010, 03:22:03 PM
How about this stuff?
(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h42/Grommett2k/PlasticBondo.jpg)
Title: Re: Bondo for Fairings Plastic
Post by: rswickx525 on April 03, 2010, 11:17:47 AM
yep that will do perfectly. anything that can repair and fix a bumper can do for the fairings too because they are both just plastic. the stuff you got would be perfect