How strong is bondo?

[Deyomatic]

Years ago, I was watching my old neighbor refurbishing his steering wheel in his Jeepster with Bondo, to get the cracks out. So I've always assumed that one day I'd get around to it in my 55. Well, today, I yanked on the necker knob to make a right turn and the knob went limp. Turns out, I ripped a chunk of the steering wheel from the steel core ring.
I'm wondering if I could Bondo it all back together.

[low springs]

POR-15 sells a steering wheel repair kit. if you don't want to buy that. i would use Marglass instead of regular Bondo.

[Kanadia Kev]

Hey deyo. The 57 had cracks all over it..so i fixed it last summer. one of the guys here in the club told me to grind out the cracks a little and use fiberglas risen. after i did that i smoothed things over with some bondo. things looked great!.........Till i went out there this spring. cracks all over where they were before. hairline, but still there. but then again, it was sitting in a garage at -40 all winter. i dont think theres much that will stop it at that temp. maybe in AZ it would be fine. I would try mar glass next time. But if anybody here has any Ideas please tell me. thanks

[DrJ]

"bondo" is polyester "fiberglass" resin with afiller, usually clay mixed in. It's probably a little bit stronger than an adobe brick, (without any straw in it).
If you used a filled Epoxy instead it would be stronger, about two times stronger.

[Deyomatic]

Thanks for the quick info...
Isn't that POR-15 stuff big bucks? I'm usually afraid to even look through the Ea$twood catalog.

Snoochie Boochies (Ha)- I just wonder if the 160 degree heat inside the car in the summer would have a similar effect.

Dr.J, can you give me an example of a filled Epoxy, brand or whatever.

[low springs]

check there site out for more info. http://www.por15.com/product.asp?productid=332

[marq]

j b weld is about the coolest stuff on the planet for that kinda thing .............Marq

[chopolds]

Industrial epoxy....PC-7 works well, so does Marine Epoxy. I've seen PC-7 in good hardware stores.

[Deyomatic]

How is the PC-7 different than the JB? I've got the JB in the garage but didn't even think about using it until you mentioned it.

[caffeine]

ive seen people put together skyscrapers with JB weld.....good stuff.

[Spitfire1776]

Might seem strange but you could use surfboard repair gel. Granted its fiberglass based, but if it can handle the beating of surfing, I think it could handle your asphalt pounding racing antics.:)

[Bass]

I used JB Weld on mine three years ago, and it's still holding up. Most people don't realize that you can sand it too.

Use the original stuff, not the fast-setting type (JB Kwik)...and be sure to use the correct amount of hardener.

[porknbeaner]

I'm big on JB weld, or about any type of 2 part epoxy.
I think for a big chunk missin' I would soak some twine in JB weld first and wrap it around and around to build it up, then coat it.
Another thing that I've done is repair them with Fiberglass resin, but I give it a good gouging and get some fibers down in there.
I guess if I was gonna try bondo I'd try Kitty hair or gorilla hair or whatever it is that they call it in your neck of the woods.

[Deyomatic]

Sounds like JB will get the call...

PorkNbeaner, what do you mean about the twine? Wrap the steel core in twine? It has chunked off in two "big" pieces so I think I can goop it on inside and move it into place, then fill later as needed. Or did you mean for the twine to fill the cracks?
Bass, any suggestions on how you "filled" in the cracks? Did you just work the goop into the cracks an sand it down later?
Now for the big money question...Will this thing be strong enough with the JB weld to put my necker knob back on?

Thanks for all the help.

[67Imp.Wagon]

I hav'nt used PC7 but have used the PC 11 marine. Deyo, when its mixed it is a little sticky and reminds me of peanut butter. JB weld seems like a smoother cnsistancy.

I have some A+B epoxy putty that came from a swimming pool supply and I think it would work real good for something like that.I think is was about $12.00 for the box of it. I think 1 box would be plenty for a steering wheel. Since it is kneeded together and is like putty, you could mash it down in the cracks real good.

[porknbeaner]

Deyo,
I assumed that the piece was missing but if you have the pieces then sticking them together and filling it in will work.
If I have a larger crack that goes deep I still use soaked twin as a filler then smooth it out.

Or simpler said wrap it around the metal core to almost the top.

[Deyomatic]

Sounds like a plan. If the JB doesn't work, I'll try the Pool stuff Phil. I've already got the tubes of JB lying around with nothing else to play mad scientist with.

[choprods]

for years the major Railroads have used EPOXYS to glue the decking under rail across http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif their bridges.............Hmmmmmmmmmm?