Body Grinder

Jolly Green · 08-07-2007, 10:36 PM

Hey guys! I'm looking to clean up some shoddy bondo and body work the previous owner had done. To get the bondo off and down to sheetmetal, what tool would you suggest? I'm looking to buy an electric hand grinder, but am not sure about what speeds I should be looking for or what other requirements I should have. I want to save the sheetmetal but clean off the bondo to get a good look at what I need to fix. (The previous owner riveted a patch in for each of the sail panels, then bondo'd over it)
So what pads/abrasives should I use as well? This is my first body repair.

J-(Chicago) · 09-13-2007, 08:42 PM

Get a large abrasive sanding disc 6 or 7 '' wide.
24 grit should do the trick, it won't clog like paperback sandpaper, and won't bite into your metal too much.

Here is an auction ending in 2 days.

http://cgi.ebay.com/7-24-grit-abrasi...QQcmdZViewItem

Dapapadon · 09-13-2007, 10:28 PM

Look for a "Sander/Polisher" style. Stay away from a "grinder", the RPM's are too high. I got an electric sander/polisher from harbor freight for around $30, on sale. Only use this type sander for removing bondo & prepping for bondo. Don't sand the entire body with it.

If the area isn't to big and you're going to do 'electric' bodywork anyway just buy a random orbital sander. Go with Porter Cable, Dewalt or Makita (5" model). These work similar to an air D/A sander. It will take a little longer to sand off the bondo, but you can use it for sanding the rest of the body.

Don

08-07-2007, 10:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jolly Green Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 119	Body Grinder Hey guys! I'm looking to clean up some shoddy bondo and body work the previous owner had done. To get the bondo off and down to sheetmetal, what tool would you suggest? I'm looking to buy an electric hand grinder, but am not sure about what speeds I should be looking for or what other requirements I should have. I want to save the sheetmetal but clean off the bondo to get a good look at what I need to fix. (The previous owner riveted a patch in for each of the sail panels, then bondo'd over it) So what pads/abrasives should I use as well? This is my first body repair.

09-13-2007, 08:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
J-(Chicago) Seasoned beater pilot. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,516	Get a large abrasive sanding disc 6 or 7 '' wide. 24 grit should do the trick, it won't clog like paperback sandpaper, and won't bite into your metal too much. Here is an auction ending in 2 days. http://cgi.ebay.com/7-24-grit-abrasi...QQcmdZViewItem __________________ I'd rather have a numbers matching poker hand.

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09-13-2007, 10:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
Dapapadon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 263	Look for a "Sander/Polisher" style. Stay away from a "grinder", the RPM's are too high. I got an electric sander/polisher from harbor freight for around $30, on sale. Only use this type sander for removing bondo & prepping for bondo. Don't sand the entire body with it. If the area isn't to big and you're going to do 'electric' bodywork anyway just buy a random orbital sander. Go with Porter Cable, Dewalt or Makita (5" model). These work similar to an air D/A sander. It will take a little longer to sand off the bondo, but you can use it for sanding the rest of the body. Don