Best way to cut a hole in a painted bonnet?
#1 _torana_
Posted 06 March 2006 - 07:29 PM
can anyone tell me abount any experiences with cutting a hole in a painted bonnet. What worked, what didnt work, and the best tool for the job ( nibler , jigsaw , etc )
cheers julian
#2
Posted 06 March 2006 - 08:13 PM
#3
Posted 06 March 2006 - 08:19 PM
If you use something like a Jigsaw then I agree that masking tape etc would be necessary.
#4 _Bomber Watson_
Posted 06 March 2006 - 08:22 PM
#5
Posted 06 March 2006 - 08:27 PM
#6 _Pete_
Posted 06 March 2006 - 08:54 PM
All depends what you have access to and how confident you are with it that you won't slip and damage the surrounding area.
A grinder of any sort with even the thinnest of wheels will burn the surrounding paint to some extent, and if your asking i'm guessing your experience with this kind of work may be limited so that technique might be better left to someone with more experience.
You'll need to touch-up the finished cut somehow, all depends on your desired finish, it might be ok to just brush touch some paint around the exposed steel and fit some weatherstrip/lacing etc but if you want a nice finish around the edge then you'll have to paint the bonnet anyway so cut it out with what your comfortable with.
#7
Posted 06 March 2006 - 10:04 PM
Just work out where you're going to cut and put down a good couple of layers of masking tape. Then mark out a nice circular line with pencil or pen. You'll have to drill a suitably sized hole inside the cut-out area as a starting point, then just get the jigsaw in there (with an appropriate sized blade), and take it nice and slow. Just work it around and you'll be laughing. I finished mine just by touching up the edge with some paint on a brush, I still haven't got around to finding some suitable edging though! One day I'll finish the job off right.....
Good luck with it...
PS. Funny story when I cut mine out - I was pulling an all-nighter working on the torrie in the driveway. Time slipped away and by the time I cut the bonnet it was well after 1am. The noise that jigsaw made cutting the metal was shocking at that time of morning!!!!! hahahahahaah. My parents weren't impressed to say the least, and to this day I'm still amazed none of the neighbours called the cops on me!
#8 _Pete_
Posted 06 March 2006 - 10:13 PM
PS. Funny story when I cut mine out - I was pulling an all-nighter working on the torrie in the driveway. Time slipped away and by the time I cut the bonnet it was well after 1am. The noise that jigsaw made cutting the metal was shocking at that time of morning!!!!! hahahahahaah. My parents weren't impressed to say the least, and to this day I'm still amazed none of the neighbours called the cops on me!
Reminds me of an incident that a workmate had doing some overtime at work, He was grinding and hammering away at all hours of the night (its a Panelshop) and he gets a real loud bang on the closed shed door which then flies open, my workmate is a hefty fella who can handle himself (ex-bouncer) so he didnt bother to lock it, and he finds himself with two cops with guns drawn and screaming at him, As we do a lot of repair work for the cops they took the locals call of a possible break-in seriously and decided to check it out, needless to say he was a little rattled
#9
Posted 07 March 2006 - 06:12 AM
#10 _coupe202_
Posted 07 March 2006 - 06:26 PM
#11 _JBM_
Posted 07 March 2006 - 08:26 PM
Plasma cutting is fast but leaves a rough and burnt edge. Minimal distortion though.
James
#12 _Hotrodder_
Posted 09 March 2006 - 10:19 PM
usually use two layers of masking tape, and a very fine blade on a good quality jigsaw, and TAKE YOUR TIME.
If you try and rush it the jigsaw will start jumping and buckle the whole bonnet.
If you have acces to a plasma cutter than thats the safest method.
I watched Steve (MYLJ) cut his bonnet one day in canberra at Summernats with an angle grinder trying to fit a larger airfilter assy, no protection over the car at all, sparks flying everywhere, his comment? "Its just paint, it'll fix up ok"
#13 _MYLJ_
Posted 09 March 2006 - 10:33 PM
paint is highly over rated horsepower is much more important, managed to fit the aircleaner and didn't hurt the paint anyway (much ) good thing I can paint!I watched Steve (MYLJ) cut his bonnet one day in canberra at Summernats with an angle grinder trying to fit a larger airfilter assy, no protection over the car at all, sparks flying everywhere, his comment? "Its just paint, it'll fix up ok"
#14 _Leakey_
Posted 10 March 2006 - 09:01 AM
Definately stay away from grinders and anything hot.
A nibbler is the go.
You can get electric and air versions, even a version to go on to your drill.
You might try KENNARDS or other hire places to see if they have one for hire.
Or you can buy a drill attached one from Australian Nibbler.
Looks like a good tool. You also get two clamps and extra nibblers
for a total of $256.00 delivered.
http://www.professionalnibbler.com.au/
I saw this on FOXTEL one night and it neatly cut through metal up to 16 guage.
This item would be the go as it does not wreck your paint and only cuts
about 3mm of material out.
Maybe a joint purchase? Good for cutting out rust too.
Cheers, Leakey
#15 _MYLJ_
Posted 10 March 2006 - 09:16 AM
#16 _torana_
Posted 10 March 2006 - 09:26 AM
cheers julian
#17 _TORANASS_
Posted 10 March 2006 - 06:49 PM
John
#18 _Bomber Watson_
Posted 10 March 2006 - 10:00 PM
#19 _chief_
Posted 10 March 2006 - 11:34 PM
He then just touched the cut edge up with some paint and a tiny paint brush.
The hard part was measuring everything and making sure it cleared as the bonnet opened and closed.
I also did my mates XY bonnet (Real Steel) to suit his round filter. I didn't have to cut through any braces so it was easy to do with tin snips. He didn't have any touch up paint so he went to a panel shop and got a small plastic-chrome pinch mould and we put it round the cut edge. It looked perfect and I fitted the join in the centre on the back side closest to the windscreen.
Tin snips in the hands of someone who knows how to use them is the easyist as it is near impossible to make a mistake, electric tools can easily bite in and take too much off if someone hasn't had much practice with them.
#20
Posted 11 March 2006 - 10:51 PM
Use a light touch and it is like using a stanley knife.
My mate has done many this way, and they look very good.
Grant..
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