After cutting the holes in my bonnet for vents I still need to fit the mesh.

I was planning on just sticking the mesh to the inside of the bonnet.
However now I'm thinking of shaping it slightly so that on the outside the mesh sits flush with the outside of the body work.

Like this...



The mesh is this style and made from aluminium




has anyone shaped that style mesh into the shape I'm after before?
I think using a tea towel and gently patting the mesh through the vent hole would do it?

any better ideas?

I wouldn't use the bonnet itself as a former, it wouldn't take much to crack it. Mark the same hole in a piece of wood, cut it out then use the wood to form it. If you cut the centre out, then cut the middle piece down a bit, you could use it to push the mesh through, then hammer the edges of the mesh flat to form the fixing lip.

Use mdf/ply as a former

as above i used ply cut to shape and chamfered round the edges then pressed into shape leaving a flange type lip to bond on with tiger seal etc

It very easily deforms as the little ali strips twist so dont be tempted to use a mallet of anything too hard. Work on the back edge and on hidden parts as much as possible.

Also be aware that that type of ali is actually quite restrictive to air in most orientations. It also looks visually different in all 4 directions, even if the diamond shapes are all of the same orientation so tripple check the little strips are at the same angle and layered up in the same orientation or the vents wont visually match.

good point bizzle!

thanks guys, ill try it out when I get chance