Umm.... Bondo'd Dash?

Spotted · Post by **Spotted** » January 17th, 2007, 9:56 pm

I have been reading in other forums about guys bondoing their dashes. Has anyone here tried that? I have to fix my dash because there is a really big crack in it and was hoping this would work, but I am a little skeptical...
Any feedback?

mitmaks · Post by **mitmaks** » January 18th, 2007, 12:14 am

I wouldn't recommend it

hgallegos915 · Post by **hgallegos915** » January 18th, 2007, 5:38 am

Its not bondo.. well part bondo.. basically you "FIBER GLASS" the dash to cover any cracks.. then sand it off and use bondo in the smaller cracks tho.. and then primer and paint.. to rebuld a cracked dash.. however you wouldnt use bondo on all of the dash. My brothers cavalier yielded great results... I would never do that.. ill just replace dash or dash cover it. Makes the dasha tini but heavier.

Post by **Custommx3** » January 18th, 2007, 9:28 am

Cathair FG may work better. Its tiny fibers already in resin, you just add hardener. This way you wont have to worry much about adding layers of FG mat. If someone has used this, back me up or prove me wrong so he doesnt get bad advice. Lord knows I'd hate him to mess up his dash.

PATDIESEL · Post by **PATDIESEL** » January 18th, 2007, 11:45 am

That catahir bondo is a PITA IMO. It sands horribly and is terribly hard to sand. I'd use fiberglass mat then bondo if needed. Also, that painted dash is going to take alot of time to do right and then you cannot see when the sun is out b/c it is going to reflect a ton of light. Also, the paint will fade, crack from heat and the bondo can get knocked loose, not to mention scratches. The shiney dash is a show car thing. I wouldn't recommend it for a dailey driver. If your dash is messed up you can get an apholstery shop to recover it maybe or get a new dash from a junk MX-3.

Spotted · Post by **Spotted** » January 18th, 2007, 10:49 pm

Thanks for the help guys. I was kinda skeptical about the bondo, actually REALLY skeptical about it.
I will just get it recovered at a upholstery place.
It has a 1/4 inch gap in it. It seems that my brother was swatting at a mosquito and hit the dash. It started as a little crack and over the months has become a nice sized crack running from winshield to the edge of the dash.
Thanks again for the info.

MazdaManiacMx3 · Post by **MazdaManiacMx3** » February 9th, 2007, 12:09 am

Whoa .. they make a vinyl repair kit that can be pruchased at most parts store just ask for it . Its about 14 bucks . Its a resin that you mix .. You add the color to match the dash then get a hot iron and stamp it with a supplied pattern to match the vinyl grain .. Its easy to use and is very inexpensive
Kris

reaper of souls · Post by **reaper of souls** » February 12th, 2007, 4:04 pm

there is alos the option for a high build primer paint it's fully sandable and it weighs nothing but it takes a alot of sanding ,depending on how your painting skills are , but the end results are a completaly smooth dash that you can now paint and clear or for the one afraid of glare from the shiny dash you can use a matte pait and clear it so that you still get a nice finish but with the same glare you'll get off the stock dash vinyl

Reaper

Spotted · Post by **Spotted** » February 19th, 2007, 12:25 am

Thanks about the primer. I don't think that would work though. The crack has grown to like a gash that it 1/4 inch wide.
I dont think the patch kit will work either. Anyway, the sun has baked the dash and the top of it is really hard a brittle. I think it's time to recover.

Thanks

reaper of souls · Post by **reaper of souls** » February 19th, 2007, 1:17 am

ah it happens the only other thing i could think of would be to go with a apoxy filler most hardware store sell them just squees the goo in the crack , smooth it out and then sander down and start painting but it may even be chaeper to get a new dash from a wreckers and prep and paint that up then go and have it re-covered

Reaper