From the archives
Sometimes it’s difficult to create setups for castings or other pieces with unusual shapes. An easy and cheap solution I’ve found is Bondo – yes, THAT Bondo! For those who don’t know, Bondo is a brand-name for a dent and rust filler often used by body shops to hold a car together. It can be found in most auto parts stores under this or different brand names.
First, clean the parts and machine surface with ketone or whichever cleaner you prefer. Then mix up the Bondo. The Bondo will come with a hardener, and the more of this hardener you use, the faster it will set up.
Use the Bondo mixture to locate the parts and fill in around the edges. I recommend using a putty knife to do this. After about ten minutes, you should be ready to start machining. Once you’re finished with your operation, the part can be removed using a butane torch. The Bondo is easily removed with a little heat.
I know this is a bit “outside the box,” but I’ve had a lot of success using this method!
And don’t forget to check out our page on Facebook and our Twitter feed!
