It's getting to the point where I need to start fitting some of my fibreglass body panels.

What tools are best for cutting and trimming fibreglass. I need to trim down the returns on my side panels that are long so I'm guessing a dremel isn't best.

Cutting wholes for suspension arms (I have a standard 8mm cutter from the DIY shop, would thise work?)

Rivnuts, I have a load of rivnuts but no tool, are the £10 ones up to the job? Are they suited to nose cone and scuttle rather than dzuz fastners?

Cheers

Mike

Hacksaw is great for fibreglass. Just remember to masking tape the gelcoat side before cutting/drilling. Dremmel will work just fine. Just avoid breathing in the dust.

I have one of the cheapy 'LASER TOOLS' rivnut tools. One of the mandrels bent on the first tiem I used it, but ALSER have been great - on two seperate occasions they have sent me spare parts FOC. It does the job just fine for aluminium Rivnuts. Not tried steel yet, but I can't see it being a problem.

Whatever you use, wear gloves, goggles and most importantly a good mask - it's not the most pleasant stuff to be inhaling.

Next, use lots of masking tape to protect the GRP and get a good clean cut.

I made do with some good drill bits, a junior hacksaw and a decent set of flat, round and D shaped files.

Work steady and slow

i used a rotozip for all grp cutting (B&D dremel type tool). Bought a set of tools more suited to GRP (std ones seemed to burn out).
Cuting free hand is a bit of an art but i managed to sand down any shaky hand bits with emery tape no probs. Just take your time and have a practice first. Get covered up too - its iichy stuff!


I used a MK supplied rivnut tool, worked well for me. Probs similar to whet you are describing for that price. Needs two spanners to operate.

MEMFast Ltd supply a useful rivnut tool. Check it here :- http://www.industrialfastenings.co.uk/installation-tool.html

LoL

jig saw with a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry fine blade, and tape everything, best if you can do it outside as all the dust gets blown away for you

I have found doing bends the most difficult. Get a fine tooth hacksaw. You'll be there 100 years trying to do it with 80 grit sandpaper, especially if it's humid.

I have found by far the best tool for cutting GRP to be a tile saw. It allows you to cut straight lines or curves. I have drilled a small hole and then used the blade on its own (as handle wouldn't fit), this also worked well.

I would agree with above get yourself some files, a load of masking tape (Asda are doing 3 rolls for £1 at the moment) and take your time. And don't breath it in!

I can see a bit of a problem for trimming the side panels where as its a U shape supporting it to get a good cut will be difficult.

I have an airsaw, a cut down tile cutting blade in that could work well?

dremmel and 80mm hole cutter

Do standard hole cutter work ok in fibreglass as I just bought a 80mm for the downlighters in my lounge?

Mike

50 mm metal hole cutter + dremmel.

Downlighter hole cutter is quite flimsy, I didn't like it.

Cheers,
Joao

I cut mine with a 4 inch grinder fitted with a 1mm slitting disk and the curved cuts were finished with a rotary burr! didn't put tape or anything else on and the finish is perfect.....

Mike,
1mm cutting disc in your grinder will cut the stuff as good as a diamond wheel but for christ sake be carefull to keep it straight as can bite and bite hard...done it myself!
Scribe a line with sharp scribe, it's a doddle to follow that with a cutter...then finish with some gritty paper like 80 grit.

Or get Az round to do it.....

mikeb,i have a workshop in irchester,you can pop over and borrow my set of rivnut pliers no probs

Blunt drill bits are best too...spot weld drills are ideal as they have a centre and work like a milling cutting and dont wobble all over the place.

Quality hole saw best and put some dry hand soap stolen from the bathroom on the teeth...grp eats hacksaws etc for a past time though.