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cutting GRP
chris-p-duck - 9/5/10 at 08:07 AM

Hi all,

I am at the point of having to slice the hole in the front of my nose cone - a job I have been putting off for ages. What is the best way of cutting GPR without it shattering or snapping etc and leaving me with a useless lump of plastic? My original plan was to cover the area being cut with masking tape and to use a little cutting disc on a dremel. Is that a good idea or a laughably stupid one ?

Any advice welcomed..........

Cheers

Chris


big_wasa - 9/5/10 at 08:13 AM

If your brave a 1mm disk in a grinder makes very short work and is very neat.

just dont slip

Trim to little and you can go again trim to much and .................


Paul TigerB6 - 9/5/10 at 08:26 AM

I always use masking tape over the top of the gelcoat. Cutting disk in a Dremmel works well. Rotary flap sanders in the drill works for finishing off the edges. If you have a straight edge to do then clamp a metal bar / ruler along the line you want and use the flap sander gently.


speedyxjs - 9/5/10 at 08:50 AM

I was just about to wright a post asking the same question


eznfrank - 9/5/10 at 08:54 AM

I used the cut off wheels on my dremel which gave a perfect finish............until I was attacked by a mahoosivee bee and dropped the dremel which skipped it's way all down my side panel!!!


40inches - 9/5/10 at 09:04 AM

Another vote for Dremel, easily controlled, use the miniature cut off disks.


MakeEverything - 9/5/10 at 09:07 AM

I would mask the whole area and drill holes, then join them with a reciprocating saw.


RazMan - 9/5/10 at 09:25 AM

1mm cutting disc in an angle grinder cuts even thick grp like butter and makes the job really easy - the Dremel is too small and only suitable for detailing IMO


55ant - 9/5/10 at 09:27 AM

lol, love the bee story.


BenB - 9/5/10 at 09:32 AM

Another vote for a cut-off disk in the dremel (clone).


iank - 9/5/10 at 09:33 AM

Obligatory warning - don't breath in the grp dust - <daily mail> it can give you cancer </daily mail>


Steve Hignett - 9/5/10 at 10:03 AM

A 1mm metal cutting disc in a grinder is v good for straight cuts in panels etc - but for what the OP asked about, it would make it a pretty arduous task.

Chris, you are right with your own idea, a dremel would be best for cutting the front of the nose out. Although I don't what cutting tools you have, so I would suggest something like this...

PERMAGRIT DREMEL DISC


speedyxjs - 9/5/10 at 10:41 AM

Iv just cut my nosecone with a 1mm disk in mr angry grinder. It took all of a few seconds and made a very neat job


Richard Quinn - 9/5/10 at 10:41 AM

Look for "dremel diamond cutting discs" on ebay. They are metal rather than stone so don't shatter like the ordinary dremel type ones. You can also get diamond jig saw blades which are pretty useful.


chris-p-duck - 9/5/10 at 01:32 PM

Thanks folks. Job done. Used the dremel with a 0.75mm disc and it worked a treat. Finished with a sanding 'barrel' and am chuffed to bits with the result.

Cheers!

Chris


DAN-MNR-ZX12R - 9/5/10 at 03:25 PM

Have you thought about using a hole cutter. Worked fine for me


stevebubs - 9/5/10 at 03:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Richard Quinn
Look for "dremel diamond cutting discs" on ebay. They are metal rather than stone so don't shatter like the ordinary dremel type ones. You can also get diamond jig saw blades which are pretty useful.


Second on the diamond disc. I'm only on my second and I've done a *huge* amount of cutting with ithem...