Does any one have experience cutting painted fiberglass.?

cvfncrew · cvfncrew's Garage

Does any one have experience cutting painted fiberglass.?
I need to cut a 2nd opening on my rear fiberglass valence for my new dual muffler.
Any help would be great.
Thanks
Christian

RoninLB · 01-23-2004, 01:26 PM

if you have some experience with glass.. I would go easy to see what kind of lamination I'm dealing with.. then I would probably saw it short, then file to size..

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

put tape around the edges of the cut that you want to save. back in my carpenter days if i was going to cut the bottom of a door i would put tape on the saved portion right at the cut line. kept the paint from chipping, and the wood from splintering/fraying. i would use a jig saw with a very fine metal blade.

Rot 911 · 01-23-2004, 01:54 PM

I do it a bit different. I put masking tape over where I am going to cut, draw where I am going to cut, then use a dremel tool to make the cutout.

vash · vash's Garage

i saw i man working on a boat use Kurt V's method. he taped the area to be cut and just cut down the middle. but he used a jigsaw. i bet a rotozip would rock through it. by the way, the man had serious eye and respiratory protection on.

911ctS · 01-23-2004, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kurt V
I do it a bit different. I put masking tape over where I am going to cut, draw where I am going to cut, then use a dremel tool to make the cutout.

thats exactly what i do as well. Use a cut-off disc on a dremel.

TimT · 01-23-2004, 02:02 PM

Mask the area, apply some heat to soften the paint a tad, then dremel, cut off wheel, fine jug saw etc. cut short and file to your line

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

so i was right on the tape part?

cvfncrew · cvfncrew's Garage

Thanks guys.
My Dad and I will try it this weekend.

Zeke · 01-23-2004, 02:34 PM

If you use a jig saw, buy a plunge blade that cuts on the push. Use the tape. If you don't fine the plunge, try cutting from the back so you are pulling thru the paint. Or just finsh with a file or drum sander on a drill.

cowtown · 01-23-2004, 02:51 PM

When cutting my RSR front for lights, I tried the jigsaw, then switched to a die grinder. It created lots of dust (wear protection) but it was really accurate too.

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

Masking tape and Rotozip. Works on the boat too...

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by dhoward
Masking tape and Rotozip. Works on the boat too...

I've done my share restoring boats and agree with dhoward 100% - Make sure it's good quality masking tape. Dremel works too - highest setting with a cut off disk (the large one)

3.2 CAB · 01-24-2004, 05:05 AM

I tape, mark cut line on tape, cut through tape, with Dremel using carbide tool cutting burrs. Leaves very smooth line, they will also cut glass and steel the same way, either from edge or plunge cuts.

cvfncrew · cvfncrew's Garage

Thanks guys it worked..

Christian

RoninLB · 01-24-2004, 05:54 PM

for trivia,

I have a small 26p publication by the respected boatyard group called the Gougeon Brothers' "West System".

Called, Building, Restoration & Repair with Epoxy, #20, fall '02.

if you don't live in a boatyard area and want a scan, etc ..... Ron

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by RoninLB
for trivia,

I have a small 26p publication by the respected boatyard group called the Gougeon Brothers' "West System".

Called, Building, Restoration & Repair with Epoxy, #20, fall '02.

if you don't live in a boatyard area and want a scan, etc ..... Ron

Ahhh the holy grail - West Systems - of course I've converted to FGCI - a local brand - West cooks too fast in the tropical heat - even with the tropical hardner!