Can we talk about how much filler we used to use?

I was cleaning out the shop attic and found a box of old invoices from like 2008. One job on a Ford Ranger quarter panel listed 4.5 pounds of filler. That's INSANE. Now, with better pulling tools and frame machines, I'd maybe use a half pound on the same job. The change really started when shops around here got serious about cycle time and insurance companies started pushing for less filler. It's a totally different skill set now, more about metal finishing. Anyone else find old work orders that make you shake your head?

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maxp684mo ago

That "4.5 pounds on a quarter panel" line made me wince. I found some old photos of repairs from my first shop, and the filler was so thick you could see the edge lines. It's crazy how the job changed from being a filler artist to actually fixing the metal first.

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rosek734mo ago

Remember seeing a car come back after a winter, and the whole filler patch on the rear arch just popped off like a cookie. It was just a shell over rust. Makes you respect the guys who take the time to cut and weld properly now, even if it takes longer. The old way just kicked the can down the road.

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