3M 1 Quart Wood Filler 20082

Ive been using this to repair a mistake I made while cutting out the monitor panel for a homemade arcade machine. It seems to mix well and works pretty quickly. I was worried about how little time you have to work the product according to general Google searches but it didnt seem to impact me. The product was completely dry and sandable a couple hours later when I went back to it! The smell is stronger than I expected so make sure you use it outside. I did it in my garage with the door open and it was survivable.

I am restoring old French windows and the wood needed a lot of patching, reinforcing and rebuilding. I had never used Bondo wood filler, but everyone assured me it was the best product for the job. The results are fantastic, but what a MAJOR pain in the neck Bondo is to use! First, you need to figure out how much of the tiny tube of hardener to use for the big quart of filler. After watching a bunch of YouTube videos, I got the idea, and the fact that I went through the entire quart of filler and had just a tiny bit of hardener left probably means I got the ratio about right. If you’ve never used Bondo, I highly recommend watching the videos — you really do need just a tiny bit of hardener for the small amount of Bondo you can reasonably use before it hardens. I also bought the pink Bondo spreaders (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BOC9K4) because one video said that the Bondo spreaders are the color that the mixed filler/hardener should be. Either that video was using a different formulation or Bondo changed the color of the hardener — it’s blue, not red, so when you mix it, you’re aiming for a sickly, light-green color. Even so, for a few bucks, the Bondo spreaders worked quite well; they’re stiff enough to mix the Bondo thoroughly and apply it, but have just enough flexibility to help smooth the product (which, based on my experience, is definitely an skill that requires a fair amount of practice). You need to mix this in very small batches (at most, a few tablespoons at a time) because each batch must be used in literally 2-3 minutes. When time is up, the mixture quickly starts caking and getting hard, making it utterly useless. And on the topic of mixing, I ended up mixing it on an 8”x10” piece of acrylic, which is non-porous (so it won’t soak up any of the oils in the product), sturdy to mix the heck out of the two components quickly, and perfectly smooth, which makes clean-up much easier after each batch. And yes, you need to clean the mixing board and the utensils after each batch; otherwise, your next batch could be contaminated and your spreaders will be caked with hard Bondo which will prevent smooth spreading of the next batch. As for the results, they are amazing, despite the TOTAL PITA this product is to use. The product can fill deep holds solidly, but can also build up pretty delicate shapes (sometimes requiring 4-5 thin layers and lots of sanding to get perfect). It really does dry hard in 15-20 minutes and is easily sandable. If Bondo would just invent an additive that would increase the working time — even by a few minutes — this would be a lot easier and less frustrating to work with. As it is, however, it is a total pain to use, but worth the effort given the excellent results. Final note: Be sure to wear thin gloves (thin latex/surgical gloves) when mixing and applying the Bondo. However careful you think you can be, Bondo will end up on your fingers and it is absolutely miserable to remove! 5 (begrudging) stars.

We have received only 3 pieces. Ordered quantity was 5pcs.

This is a high quality very strong filler. It fills and holds extremely well. It is easy to get in to a complicated hole or edge and is easy to sand. BUT - the fumes and dust are toxic. I have to wear a mask if I don't have very good ventilation (like from moving air). It is like two part fiberglass resin/catalyst which stinks terrible and is actually dangerous. Small amounts are fine and larger if well ventilated as I said. I used my respirator with organic solvent filters if I was doing much of it. The big issue is that it cures very, very fast. Even if you spread it out which is a trick you can do with a lot of fiberglass resins. This sets fast so you can't really use it slowly or do large areas at the same time. It is easy to mix though. I think I used too much of the catalyst at times which will make it cure too fast. You have to eyeball how much to use though so that is easy to do. If I used it more often I would be able to calibrate the amounts by eyeball better. I do like it though. It does a good job for permanent jobs. The fast setting means you don't have to wait for it to cure. It may be too fast if you need more time to fill and work it. Easy to sand. Sands smooth. It cures a medium green and my latex primer didn't hide it very well so plan on using a high-hide primer/paint. I didn't need to drill and tap for screws or bolts but I suspect it will be pretty good at that. Whether it would be as strong as wood I'm not sure but it may actually be stronger. Recommended if all this sounds right for you.

What can I say...it's BONDO! I only purchased with Amazon because my local stores were out. Good product!