The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Always take a magnet

There have been several posts about being surprized about the amount of filler discovered in these old trucks. When looking one over always take a magnet. You will be able to tell exactly where all the bondo is.

The best magnet to use is what is known as a cow magnet.You should be able to find one at a hardware store. About 2-3 inches long and about 1/2 inch diameter. I always take a soft cloth with me if the paint is in good shape so I don't scratch it (don't want to completly p... off the seller.

Obviuously your not looking for a truck that the rebuilder has pains takenly taken a vehicle to it's orgional condition. Look at it from the bottom up,leave your magnet at home. If you need a mag you need to stay home.

That's quite an opinion there, Beav. There are a multitude of sins that can be hidden beneath paint, even old paint. It's nice to know what you are buying before you buy it. [sigh] oh well, I guess I need to just stay home.

Body filler in and of itself isn't necessarily a problem. If used correctly it will outlast you and me. It's simply a product made to replace leading. Both have their pros and cons. The advantage of using a magnet is to identify where filler has been used on the vehicle. If there is filler in rust prone areas a magnet will alert you to the fact a repair has been done there so you can investigate further. If you refuse to purchase a vehicle simply because it has filler you could be making a mistake. Also if you don't use a magnet to identify potential problem areas you run the risk of buying a cobbled up mess. I would use a fairly weak magnet for inspections since a strong magnet can mask areas with relativly thin coats of putty.

Tiny... Well said!

Personaly, I wouldn't buy a auto or truck that some one restored with out getting on my hands and knees to inspest from the bottom up. If you do this, you'll see the quality of restoration. No one bondos the bottom, Magnets are for making good sound come out of speekers and picking up roofing nails after a roofing job.

I used to have a magnet as a key ring fob.. it was covered in soft cloth, and folded to protect it from "the elements"... it worked pretty well.

When I am buying a car or truck I use EVERY tool available to make sure of the condition, So I know exactly what I am buying.

Really is hard to see the bondo from the back or bottom no matter how long you look. I agree with inspecting the inside and bottom but no way is that going to reveal bondo covering a dent or rust hole improperly repaired on a blind panel.

I like the old days when you could take a guys word that it is what it is...........

mkithpn has got it right.
A magnet like this cost me about $20 9 years ago and has told me things I could not see by eye.

I'm going to have to disagree. From personal experience I can say that is not a true statement.

I've seen some bondo jobs that you couldn't tell without a magnet. As far as no bondo on the bottom, I've seen rusted out rockers filled from both sides and look good and solid and not have enough metal in them to make a tin can. I've even seen rusted frames bondoed and then painted over, only to show up 6 months later when the frame broke. There's people out there that'll do anything to make a buck. :mad:

All you guys taught me is to mix in steel grit into the first layer of Bondo

Bondo can be desiving, Did anyone see that 56 on american hotrod that was all restored and looked great. Once they stripped it it was crap. It had an insane amout of bondo.

I bought my truck of my dad's brother. He did nothing to it but make it harder for me to find where wires he pulled out are supposed to go and where alot of small parts go. He paid $500 for it and sold it to us for $1500.

As for inspection on the truck, we Don't know much, i know a little about engines so i figure i can get that running. Outside of that we did no inspection and just baught it. It seems to be in a good condition tho.

Bondo can be desiving, Did anyone see that 56 on american hotrod that was all restored and looked great. Once they stripped it it was crap. It had an insane amout of bondo.

whoops never mind the second one

That's why you want to use a weak magnet. A vinyl advertising type magnet barely has enough juice to stick to metal with a coat of paint. While I've admitedly never tried mixing filler with metal shavings then sticking a magnet to it I doubt that weak of a magnet would stick. I've been wrong once or twice in my life and could be wrong here but I doubt it. If someone tries it let us know what happens. If I have to eat some crow I'll bring the salt shaker.