Old timer told me never to use body filler over 1/8 inch thick

Honestly, this guy Ray who worked at my first shop 15 years ago swore that anything thicker than that would crack. I thought he was just being old school and slow. Last year I had a quarter panel on a 2010 Civic that I built up to almost 1/4 inch to save time. Sure enough, 6 months later the customer came back with a hairline crack right through the middle. Ray was right, I should have done a patch panel or used a metal filler instead. What's the thickest you've seen someone try to get away with?

2 comments

2 Comments

gray_schmidt81d ago

That 1/8 inch rule is one of those things you learn the hard way, ain't it? I had a buddy try to build up a whole door skin with filler once, must have been pushing half an inch in spots. Looked great for about two weeks then it looked like a dried up riverbed. What kind of metal filler have you been using for the thicker applications?

the_miles1d ago

Whoa, I actually see it a little differently. I've had good luck going a bit past that 1/8 inch mark by using a high-quality filler and really prepping the metal right. Maybe it's the brands you're using, but I've laid on 3/16 inch in spots and never had a crack come back.