cutting fibreglass?

[shnozz]

How easy is it to cut fibreglass bodywork? will a jigsaw be enough?

[Frik]

Depends what state you want it to be after you've finished. I would say you'd be better off with something with a cutting disk (dremel etc).

Oh, and make sure you've got some masks in. The dust is horrid.

[up-the-dubs]

Jigsaw would chop the hell out of it, Dremel or similar is your man.

[tallbloke]

Try using a metal cutting blade in the jigsaw, and use water as a coolant from a squeezy bottle as you go.

Is it the bonnet you are cutting? Just noticed your engine offer and wondered if a large airscoop is about to emerge.

[shnozz]

cheers guys. No tallbloke, not the bonnet mate. Totally unrelated but its about some garden furniture made out of fibreglass car bodywork!! Not too worried if the finish isnt perfect therefore.

[mybrainhurts]

tallbloke said:

jigsaw.....water....squeezy bottle

And book a paramedic to sort out the electrocution thing......

[wedg1e]

Jigsaw with a medium blade would be OK, use sandpaper to smooth any rag afterwards.
Angle grinder will do it but lots of welly will melt the resin and clog the disc. OK for dressing edges though.

[bga]

Oscillating saw is the best for FRP if you can get hold of one. Otherwise a jigsaw with a very fine blade would be ok - but watch the gelcoat (if there is one). Mask up as the dust is nasty stuff.

[liszt]

Angle grinder is my tool of choice. Find it easier to get a straight line than with a jigsaw

[sadako]

If you go dremel get the reinforced cutting discs. Dont use the ones it comes with as they are crap.

[B17NNS]

mybrainhurts said:

And book a paramedic to sort out the electrocution thing......

just thinking that

[Incorrigible]

I found that blades on a jigsaw blunted far too quickly to be convenient

Grinder is messy but much quicker, and I didn't get any clogging issues like Wedgie

And use a decent mask, not those crappy dust ones from B&Q something like this



And get a spare set of cannisters, glass dust fills them up in no time

[tallbloke]

mybrainhurts said:

tallbloke said: jigsaw.....water....squeezy bottle And book a paramedic to sort out the electrocution thing......

Heh, well try not to aim the water into the motor then.

It does help damp the dust down though.

[Fatboy]

Stick masking tape on the line of the cut, helps stop the gelcoat cracking and makes it easier to follow the line of the cut IME.