Is there such a thing as a metal 'filler'?

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I've got a project nearly ready for painting. It's not structural. The welds are okay, but there are some gaps. It's not worth the trouble of getting the welder going to fill the gaps and then having to grind etc. Is there a filler I can use to make them look okay prior to painting? Yes, I know the seasoned welders out there are thinking: 'Lazy ba$tard...'
Reply:I'll bet there are several. I've heard of touching up beads in passing conversations. Maybe one of the two part metal repair expoxies?? Not the runny kind, the kind that is like two part dough stick that you cut off a section and hand mix it to a workable glob, almost like plumbers putty in consistancy.. There are a lot of automotive seams that are only spotted together then they run a bead of some kind of super urethane caulking and paint over it. You'd think it was welded till you poke it with a fingernail.P.S.Don't be doing this on other peoples cars as they tend to get PO'd.
Reply:bondo ...zap!
Reply:Zap took my answer.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Bondo would be a brand?The 2 part car body fillers sound like they'd do the trick. We call them 'bog'.Scott
Reply:Yep...Now I have to know...can "bog" in this context be used as a verb...bondo is both a noun (the stuff) and a verb (what you do with the stuff).  Can you "bog" a fender?  If so, we are definately talking about the same stuff.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Scott, I think that you may understand real English in Australia SO >>> did you ever use bog to bog the wing in the bog?My angle grinder is my best friend!
Reply:You're up late Smithboy. Such is the lot of a moderator - you're probably sleeping with the laptop beside you. It's a problem monitoring a site visited by people in different time zones. As you nod off now, contemplate the fact that it's 3.30 Friday afternoon here and Friday afternoon is when people like to cause mischief.'Bog' is a generic term for fillers. We have 'builder's bog' which is a brand. It's more for timber. There are filler brands for cars, but they're referred to collectively as 'bog'. So a car can be 'full of bog' or 'bogged up'. Or one can 'bog' something up.Pentawelder, this is a new one on me:bog to bog the wing in the bog
Reply:If the holes and scratches and whatever are not too deep and huge, I use glazing putty. Been using it on ornamental stuff for years. It is specifically made to be used to fill small imperfections before paint. Any paint and body supply will have it...it is a staple for the body guys.
Reply:There's a product called alll metal that is like bondo, but as the name suggests, has metal in it. My brother used it on the grill of my dads 73 chevy short bed. Ever seen a plastic grill rust?
Reply:Thanks guys.I guess one advantage of glazing putty is that it won't crack when the metal expands and contracts with ambient temperature fluctuations.Scott
Reply:Yeah, bondo or glazing putty.  I started using it two years ago.  Prior to that I thought only lazy welder used the stuff.  However, after completing two 7 foot rail with over 1000 welds, I quickly changed my thinking.  I usually use it to fill small pin holes that are exposed after grinding. Don't use it (filler) on things that will  be powder coated or galvanized. Side note. another welding aid I've used.I used JBWeld once last year.  I had to attach several caps to some post last years.  I usually braze caps onto posts for higher dollar jobs, though in this case; the posts were already installed and painted.  It work well.  Thought all welding has to be completed prior to applying the JBWeld.  Also, tough stuff to mix in the cold.
Reply:Auto body folks simply call it, "body filler"."bondo" is considered a bad word.-Heath
Reply:Bondo is just a brand that has gotten too popular and maybe too homeownerish. The glazing putty I use the most is Bondo brand...the one I liked the most was some blue stuff. 3M maybe? Been so long, I can't remember who made it. The color was sure different.
Reply:There is a product called , Lab-metal. I think it's an aluminum base. It is a one part metal filler. dries hard as a rock, can be cut, filed, etc. It smooths well with a solvent moistened rag. It's not a cheap product, but it's quality is great. A lot of pattern (mold) or prototype makers use it for construction and repair.Check out:  http://www.alvinproducts.comJust my  opinion, not from a book, just from the road.Howes Welding Inc.www.howesweldinginc.com
Reply:JB WELD !!!!!  Who's in your bloody house?  I weld just to keep my snow plows ready for next Winter!
Reply:There's also a product called Gorilla Hair. It's fiberglass resin with strands of fiberglass cloth mixed in. Regular body putty tends to crack and fall out after a while.Sure, I can fix it... I got a welder!!!
Reply:Originally Posted by PentawelderScott, I think that you may understand real English in Australia SO >>> did you ever use bog to bog the wing in the bog?