Serious question, do you still use body filler on quarter panel seams?

I used to always skim coat the seam with filler after welding, but after a job in Chandler last month where the filler cracked within a week, I switched to just grinding the weld smooth and using a flexible seam sealer. The change saved me about $15 in materials and an hour of work per panel. What's your standard method for finishing those welded seams now?

3 comments

3 Comments

kim_martin1mo ago

My buddy in Tempe had the same problem with filler on a '68 Mustang restoration. He switched to that self-leveling seam sealer from the parts store and it's held up for two Arizona summers now. Honestly, I just grind the weld flat and hit it with epoxy primer before the sealer.

charlie_schmidt1mo ago

Wait, you're grinding welds flat without any filler at all? That's wild! I've always been told you need at least a skim coat to block any tiny pits. Your buddy's Mustang holding up in that heat is a pretty solid test though.

the_john1mo ago

Heat cycling makes filler crack, but epoxy primer flexes with the metal.