Filler for holes?

[Andi]

Hallo!

Recently I have been experimenting with PCB mounts, and I am quite taken with using steel hex spacers attached to the top of the enclosure with countersunk screws. However, I'm finding it tricksy to get the countersinking spot-on, so there's a bit of a depression in the decal I've applied over the screws.

What would people recommend (preferably available in the UK) for filling in the gaps and screw slots? Preferably something that's easy to sand and such.

[jacobyjd]

sounds like what you need is

[mharris80]

You guys don't happen to have JB Weld on your side of the pond, do you?
http://jbweld.net/index.php

Edit:  Guess you do. http://jbweld.net/dealer/index.php

[Andi]

We do indeed have JB Weld. Is good stuff then? Is it quite easy to mix small doses of it?

[jacobyjd]

Jokes aside, I feel like Bondo (or any other sort of auto body putty) would work great--simply because it can be sanded, is cheap for a lifetime quantity of screwhole-sized fills, and is durable, but can be removed if necessary. you can easily get it to a perfectly-flush finish.

[mharris80]

We do indeed have JB Weld. Is good stuff then? Is it quite easy to mix small doses of it?

It is.  I've always used a small disposable cup and a toothpick to mix it, then used the toothpick or a popsicle stick to apply the mixture.

[Andi]

Excellent. I shall investigate those two - thanks very much.

[MikeH]

Ive done this to fill in unwanted holes in an enclosure before;

First I sanded and cleaned in and around the unwanted hole then I put a piece of tape or something on the inside covering the hole.  Then apply bondo/filler inside the hole from the outside.  Might want to do 2 applications depending on the thickness.  Then sand sand sand and sand so more.  The paint and you would a bare enclosure.  Even with all of that work I've had about a 1 in 4 failure rate where the bond 'plug' breaks free and you get a circular crack in the paint where the hole was.

[jacobyjd]

Ive done this to fill in unwanted holes in an enclosure before;

First I sanded and cleaned in and around the unwanted hole then I put a piece of tape or something on the inside covering the hole.  Then apply bondo/filler inside the hole from the outside.  Might want to do 2 applications depending on the thickness.  Then sand sand sand and sand so more.  The paint and you would a bare enclosure.  Even with all of that work I've had about a 1 in 4 failure rate where the bond 'plug' breaks free and you get a circular crack in the paint where the hole was.

That makes sense if the holes went the whole way through the metal--that is generally the wrong type of application for bondo, but people do it on cars all the time (sometimes using newspaper or metal screen behind the hole to give the filler a base to sit on). Bondo is made to smooth out indentations and whatnot, so it's perfect to cover a counter-sunk screw head. Filling a through-hole isn't going to cut it, as it will always break loose over time.

However, if you add a solid backing, it won't break free--on cars, you just weld a metal patch BEHIND a hole, then use bondo over it--it fills the hole, but is structurally supported. Hope that helps

[Nasse]

http://www.techno-weld.com/ Anybody tried stuff like this? I think there is vids on youtube but could not connect just now

Not without danger and not easiest to use if it works

[Andi]

That looks a bit too hardcore for me!

[WLS]

I've used JB weld for through holes and automotive glazing putty for scratches and small indentations. Both with good results!


Bill