Body putty: purpose, application and price
Content
Body sealant is used for body repair. So this is the first step before repainting the entire body. There are many different types of sealants depending on their use and, in particular, the material they will be applied to.
🚘 How does body sealant work?
Available as dough or cream, putty is a very pliable product with a good consistency. It is mainly used to repair irregularities (dents, dents, deep scratches) on the surface bodywork that follow the shock.
So this is the first key to get started before moving on to applying paints, varnishes and all types of finishes. So it goes easy to fill in deformations body to make it look like new.
Correct application of the sealant is essential to obtain an optimal plaster. In the workshop, a sealant is most commonly used. polyester mastic consists of resin material of the same name. To choose a good sealant for your body, you need to consider the following characteristics:
- Porosity of the sealant : it should be low to minimize unevenness during application;
- The durability of the sealant : it must withstand compression and stretching, otherwise it will crack or cover the scales;
- Sealant adhesion : it must fit well to the body for the best possible attachment;
- Ease of application : The putty should be easy to apply, which will also facilitate subsequent sanding.
🔧 Which body sealant to use?
If you are using a body sealant, you can use 6 different types depending on what you want to use it for:
- Universal polyester putty : this is the most commonly used one. It has good compressive strength and adheres very well to sheet steel and electrozinc;
- Aluminum putty : enriched with powdered aluminum pigments, mainly used for significant body deformations;
- Plastic mastic : This model has good elasticity and high flexibility. It allows you to absorb shocks to the body very well;
- Tin putty : designed for the deepest fillings and has a very high hardness;
- Carbon Fiber Putty : with a speed of use, it allows you to fill quite impressive recesses on the body;
- Fiberglass putty : Loaded with fiberglass, it is quite compact, which gives it great filling capacity.
👨🔧 How to apply body sealant?
If you want to fix irregularities or depressions on the body, you can do it yourself by applying a putty. Follow our step-by-step instructions for the correct application of the sealant.
Required material:
- Sandpaper
- Protective gloves
- Tube of mastic
- Putty knife
- Finishing plaster
Step 1: sand the body
Using sandpaper, sand the area of the body you want to apply the sealant to.
Step 2: apply sealant
Mix the mastic in a container until smooth, then add the hardener. It is always provided when purchasing a pot of putty. Again, you will need to mix everything for a few minutes. Then you can start applying the sealant to the car body.
Step 3: make the finishing
Let dry for about twenty minutes, then smooth the filler with sandpaper. Now you can remove the dust and put the finishing plaster on the putty. It will take an hour for the surface to dry before sanding and applying paint again.
💸 How much does body sealant cost?
Body putty is not a very expensive product. Its price will vary depending on the type of sealant and brand of it. On average you can count between 7 and 40 euros per kilogram putties with hardener.
However, if you go to a mechanic to rework the body in case it is badly damaged, you will have to calculate the cost of working hours on your vehicle.
Body putty is an important piece of equipment for leveling the body if it has been subjected to significant bumps or scratches. Thus, the body is most susceptible to external influences, such as rain, snow, pollution, temperature changes. Therefore, you need to take special care of it.
