im fitting new bodywork tomorrow, what the best thing to cut and shape fibreglass panels?

thanks

This is the collection of tools I used to cut and fit my bodywork

Cutting- cut-off disk in a dremel.
Shaping- sanding drum in a dremel.

Simples

Most definitely a Dremmel and nothing else.

quote:

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Originally posted by BenB
Cutting- cut-off disk in a dremel.
Shaping- sanding drum in a dremel.

Simples

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+1 for Dremmel. And a dust mask, lots of very fine dust produced. Or hold your breath and cut quickly!

I rough mine out with a dremmel but prefer to "feel" what I am doing once I get down to finishing off so use a hand file for the last bit.

I used an angry grinder. Cuts through really easy and quickly

For bigger cuts a dremel is too wobbly for me

I use an orbital sander with 80 grit emery cloth on it. Nice smooth lines without taking too much off in one go.

I use a diamond disk in a grinder.
A good dust mask and try to cover your full body completly.
The dust it horrible.

Use a Good Dust mask....

You DONT want this stuff in your lungs.

Dont bother about holding your breath. The fine dust hangs in the air, and you will still end up breathing it in.

PLEASE USE A DUST MASK.

Believe me, when it comes to health problems, I know what I am talking about. I just dont want to see others suffer in the long term.
Not using a simple dust mask has screwed me over for the last 20 years.
Even a cheapo paper mask could help save you a LOT of long term grief.
Its doesnt sound much of a precuation, but I am speaking with 20-20 Hindsight vision!



[Edited on 17/5/2010 by wilkingj]

Ditto re masks... awful stuff and WILL give you problems that you'll regret. Itchiness doesn't help either!

As for cutting fibreglass, I've used a metal saw (finest tooth you can find) in a jig saw. Worked very well when I was shaping my dashboard for a mini a few years ago. It does blunt the blades, no doubt about it, but still worked best for me (quick, neat and fairly accurate). All finishing was done by hand with a file.

Really didn't like dremelling it.. too fiddly and I'd say nowhere near as smooth.

Also, wear long sleeves, and gloves as the dust will give you all sorts of skin problems... I always used latex gloves as they don't inhibit any feel etc. (no need to wear welding gauntlets! )