Lead or Bondo

[Laid_Out_50]

I want to use as little bondo as possible on my truck. Has anyone here used the lead or even the leadless stuff from eastwood to smooth out their truck panels?

[blackdiesel]

plastic filler used sensibly is a very stable material. It wont shrink like several layers of thick blocking primer will. and i dont care how good of a body man you are, bondo is an absolute must in order to get them very straight. Spend alot of time with a hammer and a dolly, then keep your mud as thin as possible. also try to keep it away from edges such as door gaps and such, and you wont have a problem

[MrSinister]

I agree with blackdiesel that plastic is good if used as it should be to smooth out a repair and not used to sculpt a new panel. I've used both and for most repairs I would go with the plastic as lead requires more equipement and prep to get good results

[blackdiesel]

i try to refrain from putting bondo straight over a patch or a weld. i instead like to put a layer of all-metal on first, because unlike plastic filler it will not absorb water. it is like fiberglass in that sense, and much better and harder than mud.

i have tried lead work before, but it takes years of experience in order to do a good job. it is also much more time comsuming and harder to get straight.

I just finished a '38 chrysler for myself, and back then they leaded the seams together and leaded around the door jams. in the 71 years that it has been in existance, the lead had cracked. so i melted it all out and replaced it with all metal, then finished it up with mud.