You don,t grind or sand out lead

Burnhard · 07-27-2010, 08:57 AM

There was a ? on ROP about how to deal with lead filler in the sail panel area of the roof. I can not post over there right know and I thought it was a good ? to answer here as well. You melt out lead filler with a torch you do not want to get it air born. This is how we removed lead filler in the shop when we were making repairs. After the repair was done we would use short strand fiberglass filler for the first coat to seal the joint. I was trained in the art of working with lead filler, but after I found out how bad it was for me I stoped working with it.

FE3X CLONE · 07-27-2010, 10:27 AM

Have you had any experience with the "All Metal" type body fillers? Supposed to have aluminum particles mixed in with the body filler and be the so called closest thing to real lead.

I burnt out the lead in my sail panels (wear a respirator!) and once the new roof skin is on and tacked into place, I'll need to finish these seams off again.

Looked into the Eastwood Company Lead free soldering kits but the cheapest one is $109.

Thanks,

7T2Z28 · 07-27-2010, 11:44 AM

Would lead free plumbing solder do it?

Burnhard · 07-27-2010, 01:43 PM

Very good point about using a Respirator, the lead fumes are toxic you want lots of ventilation. I never liked all metal back in the 80's I found it was to brittle so maybe in the year 2010 it is better. I felt it did not flex or bond as well. What I liked about lead was the bond and flex of lead filler but you could have acid leaching from the filler and toast the paint months later. We sealed the lead with epoxy primer. I know a few that would let the car sit for months in primer because of this leaching. I don't get the point of all metal it is just alum ground up and put in the filler. To me a filler should have very good adhesion be able to flex well and be finish with hand sanding tools. As well as not to pin hole.

88 Cutty Classic · 07-27-2010, 09:37 PM

oh no.. i ground mine down....am i gonna die?

mike's88 · 07-28-2010, 12:27 PM

^ Someday. Andrew, I've used the B@ND@ style filler that you spoke of. I like it for filling imperfections(dents) that I can't get to from behind or after pulling. Dries very hard, but I usually finish with a skim coat of regular filler to finish it off.

IIIQuaZIII · 07-28-2010, 04:30 PM

I've sanded mine out too....just wear a good mask. You'll live.

gbodyfan · 07-28-2010, 07:52 PM

all metal contains aluminium thats not good. aluminium and steel touch and you get galvonic corrosion fancy term for rust. just like the cars with aluminuum bumper mounts that the bumper just falls off of. our sales man even told me not to use all metal cause of that. evercoat short strand works awsome imho. like fex3 clone said i think its just aluminium mixed with filler