Hubert_25-25 Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 I have a couple of top bows on my 1925 Buick that are still good, but there are a few spots that are a little chewed up from multiple top replacements and a few too many tacks in one place. For the better area, I have used toothpicks and I dip them in Epoxy and then break them off in the old tack holes. I have used 2 part epoxy mixed with sawdust to fill bigger spots like this, but it is still a little too hard to drive tacks thru. Maybe a Urethane glue mixed with the sawdust would work better. Has anyone had any luck with a filler? I would think that some convertible top shops might use something, but there are not a lot of them around these days. Thank you, Hugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friartuck Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 Sometimes a bow is too far gone and its better to replace the wood bow altogether. This is precisely what a Polol can do. https://www.polyall.com/ Available from Canada. This article should help understand what a Polol can do. Unfortunately Kwik Poly is no longer available, but the Polyall 2000 should provide equal results http://www.secondchancegarage.com/public4/kwikpoly-1.cfm Note the use of Pipettes to dispense in small quantities. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 I've filled bad spots with Kwik Poly, mentioned above, and had no problems with getting tacks into it. At some point, also as mentioned, it's best to replace the bad bow. One thing you want to be sure of is that the new bow has the EXACT curve and dimensions of the original bow. "Close enough" will not always work in this application, as the bow shape, particularly the rear bow, is designed to be able to have a smooth top transition to the body. I know this from personal experience, having done a car that had a replaced rear bow that was incorrect, and nothing I could do could get the rear curtains to fit without wrinkles. Remember that things were done on the manufacture of these cars for a reason, there was thought and engineering behind design, it wasn't just random.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curti Posted February 7, 2019 Share Posted February 7, 2019 Plus 1 for Kwik Poly !! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 (edited) On 2/7/2019 at 12:22 AM, Hubert_25-25 said: I have a couple of top bows on my 1925 Buick that are still good, but there are a few spots that are a little chewed up from multiple top replacements and a few too many tacks in one place. For the better area, I have used toothpicks and I dip them in Epoxy and then break them off in the old tack holes. I have used 2 part epoxy mixed with sawdust to fill bigger spots like this, but it is still a little too hard to drive tacks thru. Maybe a Urethane glue mixed with the sawdust would work better. Has anyone had any luck with a filler? I would think that some convertible top shops might use something, but there are not a lot of them around these days. Thank you, Hugh My friend simply applied PL200 consruction adhesive. Smooth with putty knife. Holds tacks great, but doesnt have brittle, hard surface like epoxies. If too thick when "dry" use "cheese grater" type file to take it down. Edited February 9, 2019 by Guest (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 Curti put me onto quick poly some time back and I love it, though as to this particular bow I would glue dowls in all the holes (and wood toothpicks into the more fine holes) to start and then "quick poly" the larger imperfections. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kings32 Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 Kuik Poly is on longer being made . Company closed , Talked to Resto Supply this week . Kings32 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted February 23, 2019 Share Posted February 23, 2019 (edited) They only stopped production in January - you should be able to get via such as ebay, maybe amazon, and .... And, if needed, as a substitute you can just use fine wooden dowel rod (it comes in a multitude of diameters) and drill into each nail hole and peg (use a good wood glue when inserting dowels). https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/kwik-poly https://www.modeltford.com/item/KWIK-POLY.aspx https://www.nctoolco.com/shop/hoofcare/hoof-repair/kwik-poly/c/430 https://www.centaurforge.com/Kwik-Poly-32-oz-Filler-Coating-and-Bonding-Agent/productinfo/KWIK32/ Edited February 23, 2019 by John_Mereness (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W_Higgins Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 (edited) West System is a wonderful product that doesn't seem to get much mention. Their 105 resin and 205 (fast) or 206 (slow) hardener mixed thickened (if necessary) with 406 colloidal silica provides a lot more options for different applications and enough working time so that you don't have to mix up so many small batches to do a job like you do with Kwik-Poly or other hyper-fast setting epoxies. Edited February 24, 2019 by W_Higgins (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikefit Posted February 24, 2019 Share Posted February 24, 2019 Go directly to the wife's kitchen get the bag of meat skewers their made of bamboo small diameter split down good and will hold a screw and a nail / tack in tight. Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted February 26, 2019 Share Posted February 26, 2019 When I fixed the top bows on my truck, I also used tooth picks. Took a box of round tooth picks, cut it in 1/2. Dipped the ends in epoxy and tapped them in the holes with a hammer. I then broke off the ends and sanded. Worked great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kelso Posted February 28, 2019 Share Posted February 28, 2019 I have also used the West System with great success. I also like the Smith's as well, It seems to penetrate into the wood better than West. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert_25-25 Posted September 10, 2019 Author Share Posted September 10, 2019 I wanted to follow up on this as I have finished the repairs to my top bows. Installing tooth picks and pieces of wood dowel with Epoxy glue works well, but it is rather time consuming. I was also missing pieces of wood in certain areas. Attached is my technical paper. Hugh 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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