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                        homemade putty/filler

                        30332 views
                        41 replies
                        1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
                        12
                        Woody
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Third rock from the sun.
                        Posted by Woody on Friday, April 15, 2005 5:27 PM
                        Wow , I just noticed how many first time posters we have in this thread!
                        Welcome to the forum guys.

                        " I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 15, 2005 9:20 AM
                        Hi Folks,
                        This is my first visit here, thanks to FSM and you folks.
                        Slightly off topic, but I also sometimes use white glue to fill some pin hole type imperfections, just smear it with a finger after the primer. Good for small areas, I find.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 14, 2005 8:03 PM
                        Super glue + Johnsons baby power.
                        This is almost exactly the same as the Japanese SPP-HG filler/putty
                        It sands pretty good too.
                        Report Abuse
                        Woody
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Third rock from the sun.
                        Posted by Woody on Thursday, April 14, 2005 7:23 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by Joe Montanti

                        I was told by our clubs Guru that you have to let MEK/plastic mixture de-gas for a couple of weeks before you paint.
                        What are your opinions on this

                        I find the thinner the mixture and thickness it's applied the quicker you can paint. I like to wait 24 hours between putty coats if I intend to apply a second coat. I also like to wait 48 hours before applying a primer coat. If you apply a very thick coat of thick putty you will have to wait at least a week but I wouldn't recommend applying it that thick.

                        " I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
                        Report Abuse
                        Joe Montanti
                        • Member since
                          March 2005
                        Posted by Joe Montanti on Thursday, April 14, 2005 6:43 PM
                        I was told by our clubs Guru that you have to let MEK/plastic mixture de-gas for a couple of weeks before you paint.
                        What are your opinions on this
                        Montanti@aol.com
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 14, 2005 3:12 PM
                        Pretty wild homemade putty/filler, have had reasonable sucess with Testor's plastic
                        cement (Liquid) that contains methyl isobutyl ketrone and methyl cellosolve acetate).
                        One oz jar with brush and from Kmart "little ones baby powder". A 14 oz plastic white can, a soft powder made from the finest talc. Not too complicated, spill a dab of powder,
                        dip a brush in cement, wet brush into powder and paint it on. Ends up white and sands
                        quite well.
                        jpete800@aol.com
                        Report Abuse
                        iandrewmartin
                        • Member since
                          February 2004
                        • From: Ballarat, Victoria Australia
                        Posted by iandrewmartin on Thursday, April 14, 2005 2:39 PM
                        I'm a little late to the part on this topic, but let me add my tuppence worth.

                        I like to use good old fashioned Squadron putty mixed to a cakemix consistencey with whatever liquid cement I have on hand. I prefer plastruct, as the Tenax (which I really like to build with) evaps to quick.

                        That's it. But it is simple, it works and it welds, and fills, while it dries.

                        Andrew

                        Andrew Martin
                        Ballarat, Victoria Australia

                        Seat of Australian Democracy

                        Report Abuse
                        yardbird78
                        • Member since
                          January 2003
                        • From: 40 klicks east of the Gateway
                        Posted by yardbird78 on Thursday, April 14, 2005 1:43 PM
                        During the early portion of my US Air Force career, (late60, early 70s) MEK was used extensively as a degreaser, paint stripped and a few other things. The medical folks eventually determined that MEK was such a potential health hazard that the USAF banned its use in any and all circumstances. It was against regulations to use it, store it or even possess it. This is a fairly strong hint to me that I should not be using this nasty stuff, even with good ventilation and a respirator. Tenax and most any other styrene cement contains MEK, Acetone or some other strong chemical, but in milder concentrations. They still need to be used with extreme care. Did you ever wonder why stores that sell styrene cement are not allowed to sell it to anyone under age 18?

                        Darwin, O.F. Alien [alien]

                        ,,

                        The B-52 and me, we have grown old, gray and overweight together.

                        Report Abuse
                        wipw
                        • Member since
                          January 2003
                        • From: Utah - USA
                        Posted by wipw on Thursday, April 14, 2005 12:46 PM
                        In the past, I've looked for M.E.K. locally. I found it only in gallons for $15+ in most places (Lowe's, for one). However, Home Depot does carry it in quarts in the paint department.

                        I had some several years ago and dispensed some into a plastic bottle used for cement with a needle applicator. I would even remove the cap, put a piece of waxed paper over the mouth of the bottle and replace the cap. It evaporated in a very short time. I had the can tightly (I thought) capped and it all evaporated, too. I probably used less than a half ounce of the stuff all together. I really liked using it as a cement (never did the filler bit). It sets up so fast, it makes Tenax look like a slow cement! My point is, be careful how you store it and what you dispense it into. It's very volitle. I've got several empty Tamiya Extra Thin Cement bottles that I'll be using. (I hope that stuff gets back on the market soon!)
                        Bill ========================================================== DML M4A2 Red Army ========================================================== ========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 14, 2005 12:37 PM
                        Hi, Everyone i heard from a very good moddeling freind of mine about a good way of filling gap,s or small cracks in models is to use good old paper correction fluid. Just paint it on when dry sand it back and keep repeating the process.
                        Report Abuse
                        3dognite
                        • Member since
                          May 2004
                        Posted by 3dognite on Thursday, April 14, 2005 11:57 AM
                        A lot of work can be saved on making fillers by just taking plain old baking soda and mixing it up with CA glue. It sands out smooth, takes any kind of paint, and can be scribed on if panel lines need to be drawn back in. Cheap to whip up a batch as well.
                        Report Abuse
                        phidippus
                        • Member since
                          August 2003
                        Posted by phidippus on Thursday, April 14, 2005 11:45 AM
                        Amen! I'm signing off now!
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 14, 2005 11:31 AM
                        Glad to hear you youngsters using old tricks instead of buying bottles of Mr (fill in the blanks) for this and Mr (fill in the blanks) for that. I think a bottle of Mr (fill in the blanks) cost anywhere from $4 to $6 each. I always thought the best filler for styrene is styrene. It's cheap, sands easily, bonds well to all surfaces, and you can scribe right over it.
                        Enough already. Get off the internet and go glue that kit that has been sitting still way too long!
                        Report Abuse
                        Woody
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Third rock from the sun.
                        Posted by Woody on Thursday, March 17, 2005 10:19 PM
                        You might already be using it! It's a pretty common solvent in putty and that is what liquid cements like Tenax-7 are but in a small bottle marketed to the hobby crowd.

                        " I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
                        Report Abuse
                        Quagmyre
                        • Member since
                          December 2003
                        • From: and just won't go away.
                        Posted by Quagmyre on Thursday, March 17, 2005 7:52 PM
                        Anything with an acronym sounds like it has risks associated with it (e.g. VX, C4, etc.). Think I'll stay with the white putty and swap the MEK for my wife's nail polish remover. <- Not literally that is. Shock [:O] I like my wife's fingers where and how they are.Tongue [:P]


                        Current and Subsequent Projects:
                        1/48 scale Tamiya P-47 "Razorback" - Complete
                        1/48 scale Testors/Lone Star Models PT-22 Recruit - 20% Complete 
                        1/48 scale Monogram C-47 Skytrain - Not Started

                        Report Abuse
                        Woody
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Third rock from the sun.
                        Posted by Woody on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 4:53 PM
                        Here is a site that might answer some of your concerns over M.E.K. .
                        An interesting side note is that M.E.K. is a natural substance that can be found in fruits and trees. It is also a byproduct of cigerette smoking! YummyDead [xx(]

                        http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts29.html#bookmark06


                        " I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
                        Report Abuse
                        zokissima
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
                        Posted by zokissima on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 3:36 PM
                        MEK, too dangerous to use for me. I shave plastic sprue leftovers into a jar, mix with tamiya cement, leave overnight, and use that as putty, but I've only done this twice, and both times, it wasn't a pretty result.
                        Report Abuse
                        Woody
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Third rock from the sun.
                        Posted by Woody on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 12:45 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by Yolev

                        Okay , homemade filler. This is a great idea.

                        But can I use it for Zimmerit?? I am sure the texture is correct, but what about setting / drying times.

                        You know I don't build armor but this stuff "skins" over quickly. I'll bet it could be manipulated before it hardens fully to produce a zimmerit effect. If you try it you'll have to tell us how it worked out.

                        " I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 9:32 AM
                        Okay , homemade filler. This is a great idea.

                        But can I use it for Zimmerit?? I am sure the texture is correct, but what about setting / drying times.

                        Thanks for the ideas

                        Yolev
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 7:15 AM
                        I like using homemade styrene putty for brushing (stippling in layers is more accurate) into one piece molds. It makes nifty styrene pulls from molds. I generally use liquid plastic solvent to melt the styrene. It dries a little faster.

                        That post about reaching into MEK with bare hands made me shudder. I got some under my fingernails one time fiberglassing and and it was some of the most intense pain I have ever experienced. I was literally holding back tears.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 4:49 PM
                        Just reading the threads concerning MEK. Great idea, but be extremely careful using it and find the WHMIS sheets if you can. I'm an aircraft technician in the Canadian Airforce and we do use it occasionally to clean parts and strip paint. It has been recommended that we actually remove it from the supply system , but a suitable alternative is not available.

                        Whenever someone is using it in our hangar we actually evacuate the area because of the horrible fumes. If you use it, for your own safety, please use an appropriate respirator. Don't use a simple painters mask, but a full blown apparatus with replaceable cartridges. I'm lucky as the Airforce actually supplies each one of us with one, and I always wear it while spraying models at home. It is one of the more nasty chemicals out there and has been linked to several serious health problems.

                        Happy modeling,
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 2, 2004 1:29 PM
                        Man, I haven't heard of anyone using homemade filler in ages. I personally love the stuff. I have a jar on my bench right now. I too use MEK or Acetone. But I typically use old sprues, old toys, I suppose the ocassional fork or spoon. It's hard to use on big gaps and seams, but for a spot filler, nothing is finer. Extremely old school. I love it.

                        Ted
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 2, 2004 10:41 AM
                        Not to take away from this "Witches' Brew", but there is another way to experiment with filling gaps...without sandpaper!!. It doesn't apply to major putty jobs, but it could be used in minor stuff.
                        Here you go,

                        http://s96920072.onlinehome.us/tnt1/001-100/TNT029_Filler_WO_Sanding/tnt029.htm

                        I have cut an F-14 and an F-100 to build (replicate) a Terran Starfighter from another thread. I am going to "replicate" or "copycat" for the simple purpose of advancing my modeling skills. Pictures soon, but gotta deal with hurricane Frances for now.

                        Later alligators,
                        Riö<*>
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 19, 2004 11:44 AM
                        Hey scratchbuilt,
                        Awesome idea on making styrene.. I have a stupid question, but when you make the styrene is it a one time use only or after you make your batch, can you use it over and over? Let me know, Im very interested....
                        Report Abuse
                        qmiester
                        • Member since
                          May 2003
                        • From: Central USA
                        Posted by qmiester on Saturday, July 10, 2004 7:39 PM
                        Noted a thread in another part of the forum that talked about using a mixture of Future and talcum powder - Swanny was experimenting with it and so far seems to work pretty well - If you're worried about using strong chemicals you might give it a try.
                        Quincy
                        Report Abuse
                        wibhi2
                        • Member since
                          March 2003
                        • From: Brooklyn
                        Posted by wibhi2 on Saturday, July 10, 2004 11:27 AM
                        Acetone also works - but when I usually mix up some of this goo, I use tenex, ambroid, or the plasti-struct liquid cement mixed with sprue pieces
                        3d modelling is an option a true mental excercise in frusrtation
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                        saltydog
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Lower Alabama
                        Posted by saltydog on Thursday, July 8, 2004 4:21 PM
                        i'm so glad you guys brought this up!! a guy at my LHS who gives very good advice told me one day when i was purchasing some tenax to just go down to the local hardware store and buy M.E.K.. he's a great guy and when he sees me coming he greets me with, "hi chris, what can i over charge you with today".!!LOL i forgot the acronym for it by the time i left but now i remember. i have melted jibblets of sprue in a like manner and used it for seem filler. it works ok. thanks guys. later.
                        Chris The Origins of Murphy's Law: "In the begginning there was nothing, and it exploded."!!! _________ chris
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 25, 2004 7:49 AM
                        Where i used to work we used to use MEK to clean down metal surfaces before bonding, as said before its nasty stuff. Although one guy used to work day in day out with bare hands pulling items out of a barrel.....

                        Funny how he has webbed toes, is colourblind and ginger, and the most unlucky guy Iknow.... not sure if thats related to the MEK though
                        Report Abuse
                        Woody
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Third rock from the sun.
                        Posted by Woody on Sunday, June 13, 2004 6:56 PM
                        Wow a gallon! That would last me a very long time indeed. Be sure to store it someplace safe and away from any potential sources of ignition such as pilot lights.
                        My last batch of goo is done but I might thicken it just a bit more.

                        " I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
                        Report Abuse
                        12
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