Bondo is an all-purpose putty that quickly became popular as an auto body filler when it was originally released in 1955. Since Bondo first made its way onto the market, 3M Innovations, the creator of the product, came up with a whole line of products specifically dedicated to a variety of auto body applications. The automotive product line includes a list of fillers, adhesives, and sealants, and even paint primers and undercoats. They’re all designed to be easy-to-use and have been a longtime favorite of auto repair DIY’ers.
Since 1955, you’re probably aware that there have been tons of professional grade products that have been created to provide much more than a quick fix. There are fillers and compounds that do such a good job that today’s auto body professionals can do patch work that makes cars look like they’ve just rolled off the assembly line. Bondo, however, has recently made headline news in the automotive world because it’s been useful once again on the racetrack.
If you’re considering a career in auto body repair, read on for details on how Bondo is making another mark in NASCAR, and how it could come in handy in your auto body career!
Bondo and NASCAR: A Partnership Auto Body Technicians Should Know About
The race track is where you’ll find the most examples of where auto bodies need a quick fix. Because of its fast drying capabilities, Bondo has been a favorite of NASCAR pit crews for various auto fixes in order to get cars back in the race. Some professionals with careers in the auto industry may even remember that back in 2010, Bondo was used to fill a pothole in the Daytona 500 track that threatened to end the race. Within 45 minutes, the filler was dry and the final laps could resume.
How NASCAR is Creating a New Bondo Buzz Amongst Auto Body Technicians
NASCAR auto body technology has evolved over the years to become more lightweight, and the bodies of most race cars on the circuit are now composed of various grades of fibreglass. Fibreglass is known to be extremely lightweight, but it’s also a material that professionals in the auto body industry know is difficult to patch with standard fillers because of its composition. However, 3M recently announced that they are developing a new composite that works with fibreglass.
Shawn Collins, Senior Technical Services Engineer at 3M Automotive Aftermarket states that, “With the advent of carbon-fiber body parts on the new NASCAR Cup car, we can put our new carbon-fiber repair technology to work alongside the trusted Bondo body filler that teams will continue to rely on for quick, effective body repairs. The use of body filler will never go away, but at 3M Automotive Aftermarket, we are always working to develop new technologies to meet changing vehicle materials.”
What a New Product Could Mean for Careers in the Auto Industry
With an innovative new compound coming onto the market soon, your career in auto body repair could get a whole lot more simplified. That’s because patching holes in fibreglass hoods, roofs, and body panels typically involves working in stages and using a variety of products to get the job done. Working with fibreglass materials also poses health threats, causing auto body professionals to have to take safety measures to prevent it from getting into their skin or lungs. The ability to patch fibreglass with one quick-drying product has the potential to save auto body technicians a lot of time and effort in doing patchwork on lightweight sports cars as well as aftermarket tuners.
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