How to get Bondo to stick to wax?

reverend

reverend

Table Mechanic
Silver Member
Well just as the title says, how do you get Bondo to stick to slate that has been waxed before? Any special cleaners or chemicals to clean the slate to get the wax off?

I have applied the Bondo to a the seams, and it sticks to most places except to a bout a 6 inch area that just refuses to stick. No matter what I do when I go to scrape off the excess after its dried, it just flakes off.
 
Scrape off the wax with a blade, and if you need to you can melt it off some more with your torch.
Doesn't take much or long, but it works.
I've tried a heat gun,too, but it blows the melted wax around, so pretty much eliminated that route, although it will get it out of weird places if you need to.......
 
Yeah I have done that on lots of tables and it works some of the time, but this time its different. It just plain wont stick. I have tried Goo Gone, Goof Off, straight Acetone, carb cleaner, just can't get the bondo to stick to it.
 
I used the heat gun and a real dry paper towel to get most of it. I still had a slight film of it seen because it was shiny, so, I just took a Scotch Brite pad to those areas and scuffed them up which seemed to work fine.:thumbup:
 
Why are you using Bondo? It dries harder than slate and you'll put shallow spots next to the seam if you sand it. Use beeswax

Mr Penguin
 
They are located in Mesa, AZ. In AZ if you use wax it has a chance of becoming tacky again and getting on the cloth. At the Connelly Billiards Factory anyone they train they inform them to use rock hard putty. Beeswax is the best and easiest, but not in all applications and areas.
 
Mr Penguin said:
Why are you using Bondo? It dries harder than slate and you'll put shallow spots next to the seam if you sand it. Use beeswax

Mr Penguin
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I have seen some nasty stuff with wax here in the desert. The wax likes to work its way up the seem of the slate and above the slate seam. I have worked on quite a few tables where the wax has made a ridge about 1/8 inch above the seam.

If wax must be used, I have found that taking a block of it, and rubbing it along the seam works pretty well. It fills in all the little imperfections and the small gap in between the slate, but does not go down in between the slate.

As stated before (with some controversy) I like to not use a filler if at all possible.
 
sdbilliards said:
sand paper or acetone is what I use.
Click to expand...

I used this combination then used the bondo with little strands of fiberglas in it...it is the green stuff. This seemed to stick better, then just waited till it got almost all the way cured, then sanded it off. I was sure to not sand any of the slate...It turned out great. Could not feel a thing through the new Simonis.
 
reverend said:
I have seen some nasty stuff with wax here in the desert. The wax likes to work its way up the seem of the slate and above the slate seam. I have worked on quite a few tables where the wax has made a ridge about 1/8 inch above the seam.
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I used to have this same problem. I started glueing my seams and have not had a problem since. It has been years. I like to use the blue wax sticks that Conte's sells. They have a much higher flash point than bees wax.
 
PoolTable911 said:
I used to have this same problem. I started glueing my seams and have not had a problem since. It has been years. I like to use the blue wax sticks that Conte's sells. They have a much higher flash point than bees wax.
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I have never used those, but have used some synthetic wax that is probably similar, its almost white, and much harder than bees wax. Sometimes even on the glued seems, the wax wants to make the little ridge.
 
reverend said:
I have never used those, but have used some synthetic wax that is probably similar, its almost white, and much harder than bees wax. Sometimes even on the glued seems, the wax wants to make the little ridge.
Click to expand...
I have never seen it happen on a glued slate table.. The ridge forms because the slate is grinding against each other from the wood expanding and contracting so it squeezes the wax up. I had a table in a showroom that was right in front of a big glass storefront. The sun would shine on the table until well into the afternoon everyday. It also is near the doors so the outside temp would hit it too as people come in and out. I pulled the cloth of twice and scraped the seams. The third time I glued the seams. I have not had a problem with that table since. It has been 2 years.

Rev..I am not doubting you I am just saying I have not had this issue since the glue. Best of luck with whatever method you choose!
 
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PoolTable911 said:
Rev..I am not doubting you I am just saying I have not had this issue since the glue. Best of luck with whatever method you choose!
Click to expand...

No worries, I think that might have to do with you having scraped all the wax off as well. I have done that a few times where I was called to a job to "fix" the seams. I just pulled the cloth, scraped the seams, and stapled the cloth back on. Never heard from them again. I think it is a combination of the heat/change in temp, as well as the slates pushing the wax up. Who knows....as long as we know how to fix it right?
 
reverend said:
No worries, I think that might have to do with you having scraped all the wax off as well. I have done that a few times where I was called to a job to "fix" the seams. I just pulled the cloth, scraped the seams, and stapled the cloth back on. Never heard from them again. I think it is a combination of the heat/change in temp, as well as the slates pushing the wax up. Who knows....as long as we know how to fix it right?
Click to expand...
I reset the slates and redid the seams. That is why I think the glue was the key. But you are right. As long as we can fix it ....that's all that matters.:thumbup:
 
seams

Alot of mechanics filling slate seams. We must not be master mechanics. LOL
I would say this is a preference, also. I have always used beeswax with super gel glue.
Ron
 
LCCS said:
Alot of mechanics filling slate seams. We must not be master mechanics. LOL
I would say this is a preference, also. I have always used beeswax with super gel glue.
Ron
Click to expand...

Yeah a bunch of no talent hacks. :grin: :grin: :grin:
 
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