[Dusty Buffalo]

I found out something real cool today.

My husband works for the Bondo Corporation. You've probably heard of it in relation to car repair. They make all sorts of repair type chemicals and other fun things.

I was visiting him at work, since I had the day off and we went in to say hi to his boss. Well, in his boss' office is a "Bondo Museum". It turns out that once Bondo hardens you can actually carve it! Who would of thunk it. He's got a manatee and this pile of bondo that looks like intestines. He showed me pictures of all sorts of things people carve out of Bondo. They even have a life-sized carousel horse someone carved out of Bondo in the lobby. It's quite beautiful.

I've used some stuff called Bondo Hair, yes, that's the name, to sculpt into a tree stump. I didn't carve it, just slapped it on and worked it around to simulate tree bark. Works great for that.

Since I haven't actually carved any real wood and I have an unlimited supply of Bondo at my disposal, I'm going to try carving Bondo. I'll just mix up a batch and let it harden for about 20 minutes and it will be good to go. I can actually rough form it into what I want it to be instead of starting with a square block of wood.

I can't wait to get started. I love finding new things to create.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Not sure about carving it, but I had to use some on a hole in a log in an old log cabin we had.....geez, I was wishing I had worked it down smoother! It is a bear to sand down!! At least on a log cabin ha ha.

[firewoodstudio]

Dusty, Carving bondo is easy to do and if you cut too much just get some more and fill in the cut. Sanding and files work best on bondo, but if you use power such as a dremel sanding, be ready for a lot of dust. If you shape the bondo out to the shape as near as you can then the rest can be sanded and filed to the finish shape easy. I did some a good while back, and if you like to paint your carvings, this can make some very different carvings.

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

I'm beginning to think that stuff is the solid version of WD-40, It's got so many uses! I've seen it used to patch fiber glass boats, put a smooth finish on textured panelling, repair house siding, level small areas of concrete floors, I even saw it used for automotive body work once.

[Colin_Partridge]

My question would be how hard is it on good tools I have sanded it when patching holes and it is really dusty and seems very hard. I would also think you would need a really good dust collector if you were sanding it that stuff is pretty toxic.
Colin

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

There are lots of epoxy type putty's around for woodcarving.....in my opinion for whatever its worth, I think we are better off sticking to those, than using bondo...everything has its place, and not sure this is the place for bondo...as I said..only in my opinion

[fishcarver2004]

Bondo has been used for wood carving
as long as i have been carving, even the big shot carvers use it, for habitat
and attaching fins and other parts of there carvings (bob berry world champ fish carver has a nick name of the bondo king) i use allot of the time for rocks and things as well, where can you get bondo hair? sounds like something fun to play with.
most of the rocks and the sand for the river bed in this pic are bondo
hard to tell the difference
if you didn't know. it carves prety easy
just after it sets up with hand tools
or you can use files or sanding blocks
www.picturetrail.com/fishcarver100
Stacey

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I've been using Bondo for years. My bases are made from it spread over the top of a piece of plywood. I let it set for about 10 minutes and then carve it to the form I want. I use old carving knives, or an old box knife and the stuff cuts like butter for about 15 minutes then it sets hard. Teriffic stuff, I've even joined wood with it. Recently tried the reinforced Bonda that has fiberglass in it but it's "hairy" looking. Is a lot stronger than the regular Bondo.

"TUFF CARVE" is another Bondo type product geared toward wood. It's pine colored and sets up quick and you can work it like Bondo for about 10-15 minutes. Great for filling in voids or reinforcing a real fragile area.

[Kenny_S]

Bondo has two parts to it, the bondo itself and then the hardner in a seperate tube. One will not work without the other. In using the hardner, one can have it set up fast or slow, depending on how much hardner you use. the more you use, the faster it hardens.

Anyway, that is what I know from my hot rod years and building rods,, Cars and trucks that is, roll pans instead of bumpers and "glassing in the bumpers and "frenching" the head lights.
Bondo uses are unlimited.
Ah, to find a good lead man.

[Dylan]

Looks like you figured out how to make your own wood.

Dylan