Don't know for certain, but I'm sure more people in the auto industry have problems related to plastic filler, than lead-wiping. The big NO-NO with lead is.....DO NOT GRIND IT! Use a file to finish the shape.
I've still got my old wooden 'wiping bats', that I've had for over 50 years - and still use them. If you use the correct lead filler - not 50/50 solder - you can get a very nice finish on the lead, which will need minimal filing.👍
Cheers, Greg
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
I've always wondered about this but I've never seen it, till now.
Just think, all the lead that gets filed off can go back into the lead pot and get re-used, try that with plastic body filler.
The other thing is because it's expensive (compared to bog) the panel would have to actually be panel beaten very close to it's shape instead of just using bog (filler) to get the shape.
bajachris88 wrote:How guilt free is that opposed to dirty body filler! (whom i'm sure 99% of us a guilty for using at some point 🤓)
how is body filler dirty?
Its used for a reason and used propely is fine. its when u get the people filling 2 inch deep dents that give it a bad name and it would be no different to lead wiping if you tryed to fill a deap dent..WRONG!..
lead has its place but its a nasty bit of gear to work with hence why its gone from main stream and been replace with bog.
when i learnt my trade it was at a resto shop and the old fella used lead a lot. Even he wuld say bog was much nice to work with in the bigger picture.
like everything , things get a bad name because people do stupid things with them , doesn't mean its a stupid thing just the way some use it if that makes sence..
Lead wiping gives a great finish when done right, but preping the metal undernear is alot more work, of course the metal needs to be clean and rust free, but at Tafe, the teachers kept mentioning that the metal must be clean and shiny underneath, and when welding repairs, you can get tarnish? around the metal that must be removed. It's a bit of a PITA to use a deburring tool to get in all the nooks and crannys.
But would I continue to use it if I could afford it ... YES. (However it wouldn't replace body filler entirely)
As everyone else mentioned, body filler is great when used CORRECTLY. No reason to feel guilty using it, unless you have been filling rust holes with it 🤪
Thats not rust, it's ah ... orange primer ... yep that's what it is ...
More lead wiping today for me at work. The E-Type Jaguar I am working on is built originally using it on all panel joins and edges. Yes the metal has to be bright clean, and then has to be tinned to make the body wiping lead stick on. We use 30/70.
The nice neat gaps - doors, bonnet, etc - on the 356 Porsche are created with the help of lead-wiping. Being much harder than plastic, it withstands a lot of 'knocking about'.👍
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
HappyDaze wrote:The nice neat gaps - doors, bonnet, etc - on the 356 Porsche are created with the help of lead-wiping. Being much harder than plastic, it withstands a lot of 'knocking about'.👍
lead is actually much softer, but yes its much stronger, much more flexible/malleable, seals out moisture and corrosion 9,000 time better.
71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE
