Filling old screw holes in aluminium cladding.

[grandad]

G'day everyone. A question for those who have restored an aluminium clad caravan.

How do you deal with old screw holes?

I've had a few thoughts run through my head on how to proceed but I felt it would be wise to pick the brains of people who have already been there, and done that.

Any clues for me as to the best way to fill them in?

Cheers
Jim

[Roehm3108]

Hi grandad, good to see you're still at it! I used Selleys knead-it for those sort of filling jobs.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kenw2_ckVk

It's simple to use and sandable

[Mustang]

   Not sure if your holes are in a line, but the image is of our previous van which had two lots of rails fitted.
The metal was too thin to hold any filler so we covered & riveted a thin aluminium strip over them, when painted it was barely noticeable. 

[grandad]

Roehm, that Sellys Knead-It certainly looks interesting. Going to have to experiment with that one.

Regarding body fillers in general, I had a quick look online as it has been many years since I've done any bodywork on a car. There is now a huge choice, including some that appear to incorporate fibreglass fibres.

The first thought I had on the subject was to maybe use a ball-pein hammer to make a very small dent at each hole so it was below the surface. Fill, and sand back to the original surface level.
I wasn't sure how fillers would adhere to aluminium.

Mustang, some are in a straight line but most are just scattered here and there where old lights, reflectors, hooks etc were previously attached over the preceding decades. So, unfortunately, I don't believe your solution will suit my particular job ay hand. Good solution though. thank you.

Anyone else have any thoughts or opinions on the matter?

Jim

[Roehm3108]

Hey Jim
That punching the hole is a good idea. My house is built of aluminium/foam sandwich panels and with any unused screw holes I had, I did the same thing, before applying the knead-it. It works well.