What would you do?

ca.detailchick

ca.detailchick

New member
So I was taking a walk on my street and noticed this guy working on my neighbors bumper and the owner I know just as a friendly neighbor for many years,we chat every time we cross paths on the same street.

The guy was doing a bumper repair all wrong with bondo on a plastic bumper(large area too). I asked him if the bondo was going to stick knowing darn well it wont in the long run and will crack off.

He got a little defensive and said it will stick and made a joke and asked if I came to spy on his work.:D

I backed off and said I would shutup and sure he knows what hes doing.


Anyway I feel bad for my neighbor getting a bad repair but dont want to say anything to make the guy look bad either.:hmmm:

What would you do ?
 
ca.detailchick said:
So I was taking a walk on my street and noticed this guy working on my neighbors bumper and the owner I know just as a friendly neighbor for many years,we chat every time we cross paths on the same street.

The guy was doing a bumper repair all wrong with bondo on a plastic bumper(large area too). I asked him if the bondo was going to stick knowing darn well it wont in the long run and will crack off.

He got a little defensive and said it will stick and made a joke and asked if I came to spy on his work.:D

I backed off and said I would shutup and sure he knows what hes doing.


Anyway I feel bad for my neighbor getting a bad repair but dont want to say anything to make the guy look bad either.:hmmm:

What would you do ?
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Well IMO if he is using bondo on bumper cover maybe the customer did not want to buy a new cover(some cost as much 1500$ with an average 4-500, before paint) I personally do this all the time with no adverse affects as long as its no more than 1/8th inch thick of bondo I've never had problems with it. When I do these job I tell the customer I could get it 80-90% like this or we could replace the bumper cover and it'll be perfect except for the fact I paint out side, so there is a small amount of dust that could be in the paint that will require sanding later. Then I explain that's why I'm half the price of a body shop, no booth. If the person doing it is a good "Touch up" guy I'm sure it'll be fine. If he is dishonest and sold it as "Perfect" which we know cant be when painting out side then that's a whole different story. Hope this helps DC!
 
We are suppose to protect are neighbors when possible. I would've told dude doing the repairs he was a hack and that his work is crap!


:swirly:
 
Jsmooth said:
Well IMO if he is using bondo on bumper cover maybe the customer did not want to buy a new cover(some cost as much 1500$ with an average 4-500, before paint) I personally do this all the time with no adverse affects as long as its no more than 1/8th inch thick of bondo I've never had problems with it. When I do these job I tell the customer I could get it 80-90% like this or we could replace the bumper cover and it'll be perfect except for the fact I paint out side, so there is a small amount of dust that could be in the paint that will require sanding later. Then I explain that's why I'm half the price of a body shop, no booth. If the person doing it is a good "Touch up" guy I'm sure it'll be fine. If he is dishonest and sold it as "Perfect" which we know cant be when painting out side then that's a whole different story. Hope this helps DC!
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Im glad you havent had any trouble using bondo on plastic bumpers. That makes me feel better just to mind my own business and stay out of it.

But this is not how I was taught to do bumper repairs in the auto body shops. They make special flexible fillers for bumpers and special adhesion promotors to help the bonding proccess . Special primers and flex agent added to the paint also .

I was always told in the shops bondo will crack over time on plastic bumpers because its not flexible.

Time will tell! :inspector:
 
jtford95 said:
I think I would have said something to your neighbor about it and let them deal with it.
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I wanted to but they were both there at the time and they seemed to be buddies so the more I think about it I would rather not get involved.

If he werent a friend doing the repair I might think about saying something.
 
If a neighbor/friend/family member knows what I do and doesn't ask me for a recommendation then they get what's coming to them. I would simply keep my mouth shut at the time, then keep an eye on the repair. The minute it starts to go south I would then point it out and suggest in the future they come to me first.
 
ca.detailchick said:
Im glad you havent had any trouble using bondo on plastic bumpers. That makes me feel better just to mind my own business and stay out of it.

But this is not how I was taught to do bumper repairs in the auto body shops. They make special flexible fillers for bumpers and special adhesion promotors to help the bonding proccess . Special primers and flex agent added to the paint also .

I was always told in the shops bondo will crack over time on plastic bumpers because its not flexible.

Time will tell! :inspector:
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Hey I'm curious what did you guys use to fill in?
 
Addicted2Bling said:
Hey I'm curious what did you guys use to fill in?
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Its been over 15 years since Ive done any work in body shops and I dont exactly remember the product ,was probably 3M or SEM. Its a 2 part system you mix together ,black and gooey and you can apply it and sand it like you would bondo. If you google flexible plastic bumper repair you will find a few products available.

Its a much stronger repair and flexible ,unlike bondo.
 
the 3M stuff is AWESOME for plastics. Ive used it a few times. Using bondo on plastic is a big no no. Just not made to adhere to plastic. Will it last for awhile? sure. Will a proper product last a heck of a lot longer? Yup
 
ca.detailchick said:
Its been over 15 years since Ive done any work in body shops and I dont exactly remember the product ,was probably 3M or SEM. Its a 2 part system you mix together ,black and gooey and you can apply it and sand it like you would bondo. If you google flexible plastic bumper repair you will find a few products available.

Its a much stronger repair and flexible ,unlike bondo.
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Thanks for sharing, I'm looking to get more into body work plus I have a huge dent in my car right now and it's been killing me to look at it. That flexable bondo stuff sounds like gold.
 
I probably would have approached it like this...

"Is that the flexible body filler designed for plastics?"

That way he has to answer you and it looks like you are interested in his work. It's a very non-aggressive way to approach the situation and his response (after he fumbles for words) will lead you to your next response.
 
Todd Helme said:
I probably would have approached it like this...

"Is that the flexible body filler designed for plastics?"

That way he has to answer you and it looks like you are interested in his work. It's a very non-aggressive way to approach the situation and his response (after he fumbles for words) will lead you to your next response.
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I knew you would have a tactful approach Todd.:D

The guy is a nice and friendly guy and I am more interested in making friends not enemies. Im sure thats the way he was taught and has no idea there is a better way.We talked a little about detailing(says hes a detailer too)and he wanted to know about the clay sponges I told him about.

I may run into him again.He is also going to paint the bumper sometime soon and if I do I think I will mention to him how I was taught in the shops .He may be interested and want to know more .

I just didnt want to embarrass him in front of his friend.

Its still a delicate situation. Most of us have fragile egos and dont like being told how to do our work ,especially a man from a woman and a stranger!
 
So my neighbor basically fired his friend from the job for not following up on the bumper repair. Its left not finished and looking pretty bad honestly.

He asked me what I thought of the repair and I had to tell it was not a good repair and mentioned if he was going to keep his truck he should get it done right and bondo was not what auto body shops use on plastic bumpers.

I feel a little bad for having to say that about his friends work but he already knew he wasnt happy with the way it looked .

Seemed like a no win situation for me to be in but I had to be honest.
 
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