Filler spreaders?

[NONHOG]

Not looking for the best because I'm pretty sure it's personal preference. What I want to hear is what works for me (you LOL) and why. I've only use the plastic ones and I guess they are okay. I'm no expert. I see new videos with long "blades" and can see the value for certain areas. One guy on YouTube uses an old saw blade upside down. Works for him. What works for you?

[mongocanfly]

I mostly use the 4in plastic yellow ones.. I buyem in bulk off ebay... use them a few times and toss em
They tend to get knicks in them and start leaving ridges in the applied filler
I like those best cause most of what I work on is curvy shapes and the plastic follows the shape better
I tried one of the wide rigid spreaders, but it doesnt work as good as the plastic ones on curves , but I'll probably need it for a upcoming project that has flatter panels..think its 8in wide If i remember

[NONHOG]

Thanks Greg!
I think I may cut down my 4' ruler as it is a bit more rigid for fixing the doors on my Corvair. It might work for that. Can't hurt. I can always buy another 4'.
Might try out the metal spreaders too. I don't have a ton of experience so I'm not too use to any one style. Any port in a storm!

[damnyankee36]

I have found that the cheap "Bondo" brand spreaders are very flexible. The yellow ones are a bit stiffer. Metal is great when you are striving for a flatter application. "Splines", which are basically long strips of metal, (Yard sticks), are good for large areas.

[72c20customcamper]

Plastic spreaders ,Stainless steel joint knives basically anything that will give you a smooth finish .

[NONHOG]

I used my metal yard stick and it would have been pretty good if it weren't for my tremor. Ended up with a pretty cool looking ripple. LOL
Too bad I was after smooth. Plastic spreader to the rescue!

[hugger6933]

i use a cheap 4 inch and this sounds crazy but have been using the same one for like 5 I know maybe 10 years, I have a body shop! what I do as soon as I finish wiping in times past I would wipe the spreader clean with thinner on a rag, Now I use naked gun paint gun cleaner. After it is wiped clean now this is important. I run the spreader along some cardboard. I find the heavier GM parts boxes work best. I wipe the cardboard like 5 or 6 times on the filler side once or twice on the back side the wipe it again with a clean paper towel. I know that all sounds crazy but it works. Try it and see for yourself it dont cost anything to try. Jim

[kxmotox247]

Originally Posted by hugger6933

i use a cheap 4 inch and this sounds crazy but have been using the same one for like 5 I know maybe 10 years, I have a body shop! what I do as soon as I finish wiping in times past I would wipe the spreader clean with thinner on a rag, Now I use naked gun paint gun cleaner. After it is wiped clean now this is important. I run the spreader along some cardboard. I find the heavier GM parts boxes work best. I wipe the cardboard like 5 or 6 times on the filler side once or twice on the back side the wipe it again with a clean paper towel. I know that all sounds crazy but it works. Try it and see for yourself it dont cost anything to try. Jim

Same. Using the same plastic mixing board and spreaders for awhile. When done 'spreading' I use a little cheap thinner on a paper towel and wipe off the spreader and mixing board.
I re-use my mixing cups too. As I'm cleaning my gun I use that solvent to wipe out my cups. It's satisfying to save bucks and not fill my trash can with stuff that's still good.

[Warrens69GMC]

of all things you could use, you could mimic a Dough knife for a few $$

[hugger6933]

About 30 years or so ago I bought some metal ones they told me they were made of clockspring steel I have them hanging up there by my mix table to remind me how much I disliked them. Whatever works best for you, like I said above I reuse my cheap plastic one and I mix on a onion board or clean sheets board[tear offs after they are used tear it off and there is another beneath it]

[mongocanfly]

If yall are getting yrs of use from plastic spreaders, I must be doing it wrong..
I clean them when I get done, mineral spirits or wax/degreaser on a rag..
But after a few uses it starts looking like I'm spreading with a comb..
So, after a few uses I toss them..

[kxmotox247]

The metal ones suck. I kept finding that the corners of the metal spreader were gouging the filler below leaving marks. They just weren't as flexible for contours.

[hugger6933]

Just cleaning them won't work. IDK why or how but if you dont condition them by running them over the cardboard like I laid out above they wont be worth walking to the trash. There is something behind the cardboard conditioning I'm not smart enough to figure out I just know it works. Try it to see if it works for you but I will say cheap cardboard doesnt do as good. I use GM Parts cardboard and you can tell the difference from the start. Jim