How to cut Fiberglass scoops??

[Nobody]

I have to cut some clearance in the left side scoop on my Max. It is an aftermarket scoop and made of fiberglass. It also has a custom paint job on it. Sooooo heres the question:

How do I cut clearance in it without F * c k ing up the scoop and paint?

From what I have researched I have three options:

1. Dremel with a cut off wheel
2. Rota cutter
3. Jig saw

Has anyone try to do this before?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[spursmech]

You could try a smooth file or the dremel but be careful of which way the wheel is turning. Practice on some other piece of fiberglass. Do not use the jig saw it will catch and tear things up. Good Luck, Spur

 

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depends on how much your cutting and how visible the area is. keep in mind that anything high speed like a cut off wheel, dremel, rotozip, etc builds heat. No big deal for the fiberglass but may cause issues with the paint.

I'd learn towards something slow and safe. A handheld saw blade from a hack saw or sawzall or if you have one of those little hand saws, they work pretty nice. I have a few different kinds of small hand saws for different things. A sawzall blade wrapped with tape works just fine though. You can experiment with different blades to see what cuts best for your application. Do the rough in with the blade and finish it off with a file.

 

[Nobody]

I attached a picture of the scoop. I know its a shity picture, but aleast you can see what I am trying to do.

I have a blower that is going to stick out in the area that needs cutting.

 

[Redbone]

You could try a smooth file or the dremel but be careful of which way the wheel is turning. Practice on some other piece of fiberglass. Do not use the jig saw it will catch and tear things up. Good Luck, Spur

depends on how much your cutting and how visible the area is. keep in mind that anything high speed like a cut off wheel, dremel, rotozip, etc builds heat. No big deal for the fiberglass but may cause issues with the paint.

I'd learn towards something slow and safe. A handheld saw blade from a hack saw or sawzall or if you have one of those little hand saws, they work pretty nice. I have a few different kinds of small hand saws for different things. A sawzall blade wrapped with tape works just fine though. You can experiment with different blades to see what cuts best for your application. Do the rough in with the blade and finish it off with a file.

I agree with both: careful when your cutting b/c if your cutting up through the paint you could "lift" the paint edge and mess up. Like Mike said and like many woodworkers do cut back from where you want the finished edge and then work towards that slowly and carefully by hand. I would def tape/ protect every thing that is not going to be cut with tape.

 

[jedi-]

You could put some masking tape over the area that you're going to cut so you don't lift the paint edge.

 

[spursmech]

It would be better to use the blue painters tape to mask off areas you don't want damaged. Masking tape will lift the paint as it sticks too well. Good Luck, Spur

 

[zippo6]

I DEF want to see more pics when you are done!!

 

[Nobody]

I DEF want to see more pics when you are done!!

As soon as I finish it I will post pictures. The only think left to do is cut the scoop and tank cover.

 

[zippo6]

As soon as I finish it I will post pictures. The only think left to do is cut the scoop and tank cover.

unk:

 

[Nobody]

UPDATE

Today I made the cut in the left side scoop. I used a Dermal tool with a flexible shaft. The cut off wheel was designed to cut fiberglass. I tapped the area to be cut with blue painters tape and sketched a line I needed to cut on. The cut was PERFECT! No chipping, no problem at all. A nice clean cut through the paint and fiberglass scoop. I was very surprised at how well it cut. I am doing to put a black door edging on it so it stays clean and doesn't chip.

Now I have to cut the tank cover for the air cleaner to fit through. I am going to cut a 7" hole and am going to use the Lightsmith X230.

http://www.lightsmithinc.com/powerseries.html#X

Hopefully this will go as smooth as the scoop did.

I will post pictures as soon as i am finished.

Thanks