3M brushable seam sealer...

[Ranchero50]

Flippin sucks...

I got the quart sized can, not really brushable, more like finger painted into the seams on my cab and now my hood. The stuff is like half dried up play slime. Put it on nicely and about ten minutes later it'll crack and seperate. I just did my hood seam and I think it stuck better to the primer outside the seam than it did to the primer in the seam. Looks like poop and I know I'll need another couple applications to get it looking better.

The crap's expensive too and I think I should have just used some paintable latex caulk.

Blech, I'm a bit pissed...

[71PA_Highboy]

Maybe you aren't using it right ...

I use a HF chip brush and cut the bristles down to ~1/2", then really work the sealer into the crack.

I also tape both sides of the crack so it doesn't make so much mess, then clean up with a rag and lacquer thinner.

Never had a problem.

What is your application method?

[PhantomoftheBumpside]

Short and stiff... or on occasion... silicon spatula...

[Ranchero50]

I ended up using some latex gloves and used my finger

A regular acid brush didn't work so well and with my finger tip I could really get it in the groove. I should have taped the edges, that would have made the clean up easier. I tried to wipe some of it up but it took the primer off with it so I walked away. Came back before work and it was all cracked up like it did on the cab.

I'm just incredibly disapointed at how fast it shrinks and cracks up as it dries. I'll give it a couple days and clean up the excess with some paint thinner and then reprime the darned thing.

Did I say I hate bodywork yet?
Jamie

[Art]

I have had good results with the 'Flexible Seam Sealer' from the Eastwood Co . I always keep the can shut tightly and it has lasted me a really long time (>10 years now).

[Ranchero50]

Well, I went home this morning andused a DA sander to clean up the mess, them reprimered it this evening before work.

[tmcalavy]

Another option is a product called Gluvit...made and marketed for sealing metal seams in the boat world.

[Ranchero50]

I used the acid brush this morning, chopped down to @ 1/4" and it worked ok for filling the cracks. I had also thinned out the sealer with some paint thinner and that made it more pliable.

I then reprimed the hood and left it cure in the warm garage all day while I slept. My oldest just helped me flip it over so I can clean up, prime and paint the underside.

I'll probably just install the hood with the outside still in primer so I won't have to worry about dinging the solft paint.

I never thought about gluvit. I paid around $25 for that quart of sealer and had high hopes for it due to the price and 3M name.