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Hmmm... javeryh's weird cab
bobbyb13:
Looks like nice work to me!
What you are up to is challenging stuff so don't knock yourself too hard.
javeryh:
Thanks bobby - it has been tricky. I finally got some time to cut out the other side and it was also a bit of a disaster. The outside lines of the cutouts are clean though so I think that's what matters at this point. The depth is not consistent and you can see tool marks everywhere but I think bondo and sanding will go a long way towards making it look good.
In case this eventually shows what can be fixed... assuming I can fix it haha:
All 3 interior surfaces on both sides will need to be filled, probably with multiple coats of bondo, and sanded back each time. Had I thought of this before construction I definitely would have used 1/2" MDF and then cut the holes out of 1/4" MDF and sandwiched them together and then routed out the slots for t-molding. But I'm a dummy. I'm getting close to being able to start painting...
Zebidee:
--- Quote from: javeryh on September 21, 2025, 03:31:09 pm ---All 3 interior surfaces on both sides will need to be filled, probably with multiple coats of bondo, and sanded back each time. ... I'm getting close to being able to start painting...
--- End quote ---
I'm not really a Bondo expert, but I'd use some acrylic putty/filler for that kind of stuff. Deeper scuffs may require more coats.
The acrylic putty advantages include easier to work with, cleanup and sand. More flexible, generally non-toxic, it will also bond to, expand and contract with the MDF. You can mix acrylic paint directly into it. Readily takes acrylic paints on top, just like MDF. Otherwise, apply whatever primer/paint Bobby recommends. Disadvantages include it takes longer to cure properly and is more sensitive to cold and especially humidity. Depending on your climate/weather you may want to use a heater to speed up the drying, and drive moisture out, to prevent crinkling on deeper fills.
On the other hand, from the paint styles discussed so far, you might prefer the finish to look a little rough or uneven.
javeryh:
Thanks for the recommendation - I don't think I've ever used that stuff before but I will investigate unless it's just a fancy term for regular painter's putty that you would use on drywall.
Bondo dries hard as a rock (and fast) which is why I typically use it in situations like this but the smell is god awful. It's not too bad to sand but I am sure the dust isn't great. MDF doesn't expand with the weather (or at least not indoors during the change of seasons) so I'm not too concerned about that.
I am planning to prime everything with 2 coats of Kilz and sanding back with 220 grit after each coat. I will likely spray it on to try and get as smooth of a surface as possible. I want the final result to look weathered but more like a metal container that has been painted and the paint is chipping over time. So a layer of silver/metallic paint on top of the primer and then a colored top coat that I can remove bits and pieces of along the corners to expose the "metal" underneath and then give it a wash in brown paint to make it look dirty. I am going for perfectly imperfect if that makes any sense.
Zebidee:
--- Quote from: javeryh on September 23, 2025, 10:46:20 am ---Thanks for the recommendation - I don't think I've ever used that stuff before but I will investigate unless it's just a fancy term for regular painter's putty that you would use on drywall.
--- End quote ---
Stuff I'm talking about is a step or two up from drywall filler, tougher, but application technique ultimately much the same. Ask about acrylic putty brands at the paint section of your hardware store. If they just show you drywall stuff then move on, they don't understand.
I'm still using a powdered putty brand ('Agnews') I bought in Australia years ago, mix with water, use small amounts, just enough for the job, little waste. Even takes acrylic paint mixed in, so easier to blend patch jobs. Small tub goes long way, still got lots left.
Anyway, I'm sure Bondo will be fine too, especially if you're used to it. Fast drying is a big plus and is more "WYSIWYG" (what you see is what you get). Bondo also usually won't "crinkle" on thick fills, which acrylic puttys are prone to.
--- Quote from: javeryh on September 23, 2025, 10:46:20 am ---I am going for perfectly imperfect if that makes any sense.
--- End quote ---
Makes perfect sense!
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