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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Artist inquiry about the use of body fillers on aluminum

I work for an artist who is making sculptures in cast aluminum. They will ultimately be painted using PPG paint. We've received the aluminum sculptures from the foundry in a fairly unfinished state and we'll be doing the majority of the chasing on them. The sculptures are hollow and so needed to be cast in two halves. As a result, there are small dents and form imperfections along the welded seams which need to be filled prior to painting. We're currently looking for a polyester body filler which we could apply directly to the aluminum prior to any application of a wash or any subsequent epoxy primers. We've tried Evercoat Spot-lite, but would like to know if there is a better product available. Although we've had no problems with it so far, we're worried about the permanence of these fills. What is the best filler that would adhere to the aluminum? Is it a reasonable idea to apply the filler at that stage, or should we really forget about it and apply it after priming? Is a polyester body filler the best type for the situation?

William Batten
artist - New York, New York, USA
2004

Hi, I am working on a very similar project, if not possibly for the same person. I have managed to find a combination that works well, It is a fairly complex process to get them to a state acceptable to receive the final paint (the art) but once they prepped properly, almost any automotive, lightweight body filler will work, I usually charge between 2700-7000 to prep, paint, clearcoat, wet sand and buff. It is a pain in the butt.

Austin Horton
- Brooklyn, New York
2006