Plastic squeegee's pretty damn good

General Discussion
1

I just got in from the garage, finished my second lam today with the plastic bondo-spreader squeegee, and I like it a lot. I’ve been using the old Thalco since I started (…'69) and, well, the yellow plastic one was on the shelf, so I figured I could always switch mid-lam and go back to the other.

But it’s real nice. One side is kinda rounded and soft edge, but flip it over and it’s much harder edge. Cleanup is easier because it’s so two-dimensional. There are no side ends or back edge to clean. It’s also much lighter and feels more maneuverable for that.

This isn’t intended to convert anyone… but I wanted to let it out that I’m gonna be using that yellow plastic jobbie for a while now, and the two Thalco units, one of which must be fifteen years old and still as good as new. are gonna take a vacation.

And they’re real cheap. I like that.

2

Herb Spitzer gave me some squeegges …

He got some 3.5" plastic vertical window blinds, cut them to about 9" length and ‘voila’, squeegees…

Acetone resistant, disposable and they work great…

Thanks Herb, you’re inovation and generosity is appreciated…

3

Never tried window slats, but yellow plastic squeegees are OK in a pinch. I never got used to the slightly streaking on the outsides, even relief cut bevelled really arched.

But the last 4 kiteboards are lam’ed with those yellow wonders, and they turned out fine.

Light weight is disconcerting compared to the beige rubber ones.

4

Right-on Honolulu! I’ve been making boards for over 30 years and been using the yellow spreaders exclusively for 5 or 6 years now. If they are the right ones they have a soft side and a hard side and are more orangey-yellow like cheddar cheese rather than lemon yellow like the Bondo spreaders. The lemon yellow ones are the same on both sides and they have no "suppleness’ to them; those are junk. The “cheddar” ones are insane. Really good for UV and RR epoxy. I can’t even use the Thalco any more; not even for color work! Stoked to see someone who turned onto them…

5

I’m actually a panel beater by trade (body shop for the Americans), and have been using this style of squeegee for many years. Commonly used for body filler.

I find them much more acurate for removing excess and leaving a more uniform resin/glass ratio.

I never really thought about the lighter weight until I went to use a rubber one again, no contest.

Apart from being cheap, they also don’t go floppy or dry out like the rubber ones do in time.

6

I usually use the rubber type for lam’s but I am curious about the plastic type you’re all talking about? Are either in the picture one(s)?

I never used the one on the right for anything more than repairs (thickened resins) but did try the one on the left for a full lam. Didn’t go so well and switched back to the rubber during.

Best,

Herb Bean

7

+1…

where do you buy your “cheddar cheese” spreaders??

8

Fiberglass Hawaii (the Santa Cruz store) has the killer ones (6 inch width). Seen them at marine supply stores at times. I will post some photos when I have a chance…

9

Try autobody suppliy stores as well. I can get three different colors. Dark brown= soft, yellow= med., white= hard.

10

I heard the same tip from a friend who glasses for a living. He uses the tan bondo type thin cheap plastic type. Told me hated the trade standard rubber ones. Picked one up for a couple of bucks the other day at Kragen Auto parts. Plus I can use it on my car dents…

11

Hey Wildy, how about some auto dent repair tips here on Swaylocks. I have some questions.

12

Howzit Honolulu, I use the yellow ones to finish the laps, work pretty good but I’m going to make a custom one from a Thalco for rails and laps. Aloha,Kokua

13

Tip number 1…don’t ding your car!

Tip number 2…Drive a car which already has ding disguise.

Tip number 3…Go surfing instead of fixing your car.

Hope these very important tips help.

14

Fixing dents in cars seems like a natural progression from ding repair. Seeing how clean you can make the repair look.

15

Dronai, I actually did it the other way. I learned how to use my hands, shape and form, fibreglass, paint, and lots of other things.

It was the creative side of me that adapted pretty easily to boardmaking.

Making something new and shiny that you could catch waves on is lots more fun than fixing vehicles someone else broke.

I finished my apprenticeship on a friday, and went surfing for the next several months, and actually I guess that turned into years.

Never fixed a car since.

16

I got those pics of the killer cheddar spreaders (old)…

…definitely different than the typical auto body spreaders found at the car stores (new):

800×533 60.3 KB

800×533 46.5 KB

17

I also have a background in auto body repair and painting. After watching the Glassing 101 video , I ran out and bought a soft rubber squeege. Does not work for me. The yellow Bondo spreaders work best. You can cut them in half or into thirds for small spots and repairs…

I mainly do repairs but I will be doing my third complete glass job Monday morning using a yellow bondo spreader.

I’m interested in using new tools but…

Ray

18

dont forget the heel is the perfect for glass-on fin cove

the bevel side evens up and regulates the rope roving and glass better than a finger tip…ambrose…

19

Yeah plastic spreaders is the only thing I ever use…dont like to clean tools.

Recently, in a pinch, I had some balsa sheet so I used a piece of that and worked great…$0.40 per 1/16" x 3" x 36" sheet…a couple dozen sheets could last a lifetime…

20

Thanks Paul,

…Sometimes I wonder if all this disclosure here,is worth the effort,but it’s people like you that ring out and make me know that it’s all worth the time.

…I have(in the past 40yrs) used everything from cardboard to sheet plastics…the best…is what you can get or better…what works best for you.

…Find some old vertical blinds(the 3 to 5 inch width type)and cut them up into whatever length you want.I have yet to find a better squeege to date…cheap and plentiful too !Herb