摘要: |
Since the first horseless carriage rolled down the road (and immediately into a tree) well over a century ago, we've been reshaping automotive panels to repair cosmetic damage. Prior to the 1950s, the thicker cold-rolled steel used on vehicles allowed technicians to use hammers and other metal-working tools to return a dented panel back to its original shape. To help smooth the final surface, lead or "body solder" was heated and flowed onto the panel in a process similar to brazing, though it required a talented and patient technician. In the 1950s, polyester-resin based "body fillers" were introduced to the market by Bondo (along with other brands such as Dynatron). These products took less skill to work with than lead and were not as harmful to the technician's health. But even as body filler gained popularity, many professional shops were unwilling to use it, believing it to be a tool for the less-talented body man who lacked the art and craftsmanship of metal finishing. |