Making holes

[timw]

I'm afraid this is rather a dull question.

I'm planning to attempt to fit a radio and speakers to my console. Never having worked with glass fibre before, are there any special tools I need such as special saws to cut one oblong hole for the radio and 2 round holes for the speakers.

Also, when drilling holes, the drill bits I have state they are either for wood or metal. Are there such things as glass fibre drill bits?

Any advice much appreciated.

[John Kennett]

This is one of RIBnet's most famous and much derided subjects!

http://www.rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2928

John

[Rene]

Hi

An angle grinder is good for the job, just put a normal metal disk on it.

Just be carefull no to overdue it

Mark the square hole you are planning to make with a good clean marker. You need to be able to see this, even when you have dust all over the place.

When you have finished with the angel grinder, you can remove the last piece on fiberglass with a 3 mm power drill.


This will not work for the round holes


Rene



EDIT. Just edited a little misspell angel - angle damn, I guess I will start posting in Danish

[Headhunter]

I recently cut an oblong hole in my console using a normal drill bit (circa 10mm) in the corner to give a start point for the Jigsaw.
I used a special fibreglass blade in the saw (made by Piranha a Black & Decker brand Part Number X26031) and was very impressed with the result.

It cut with ease, was easy to control.
I drilled all four corners to make nice curves to suit the unit being fitted.
Also the jigsaw blade can be used a bit like a file to tidy up any uneven areas.
Good luck

John

[Mark Halliday]

Cover the area to be cut with masking tape, and mark out on that.
1 Its easier to draw on with a pencil.
2 It stops the gel coat chipping.

Go for the hole in each corner and jig saw method. A metal saw blade or fine wood blade will do a good job.

Watch out for any cables or pipes behind the cut!

[timw]

This is very good info...many thanks

Credibility points all round

[Red Fox]

Originally Posted by Rene

Hi

An angel grinder is good for the job ...


Rene

Sounds like a devil of a job to me!

[Garygee]

Hi folks

if you have one or cant get hold of on the high speed multitool(Dremel etc) with a smallish, abrasive bit, I think i use about 3mm, works a treat.

I work round the hole in several passes taking a bit more out each pass till I am through. Can take a few passes (especially with Ribcraft consoles, mine is 8-10mm think )

You finish up with a neat smooth hole with little filing to do.

Regards Gary

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Red Fox

Sounds like a devil of a job to me!

Nope. 4 holes, angle grinder, 30 seconds, no chipping, lots of dust. Easy.

[John Kennett]

But the potential to really bugger things up if you're cackhanded!

John

[fred bolton]

Head hunter's method is best it may obvious but make absolutely sure that there are no wires or pipes lurking just behind the bit you are about to remove

[Red Fox]

yes jw but rene wants to use an 'angel' grinder not an angle grinder...hence the devil's job...heavens above...get it now?! Either way he ends up with a holy console!

[Matt]

Groan!

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by Red Fox

yes jw but rene wants to use an 'angel' grinder not an angle grinder...hence the devil's job...heavens above...get it now?! Either way he ends up with a holy console!

Ok. I missed it. Doh.

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

But the potential to really bugger things up if you're cackhanded!

John

If he's cackhanded, wot's he doin' puttin' holes in the consol in the first place?

I gave benefit of doubt!

[Rogue Wave]

I thought it was witty RedFox

At the risk of being a sycophant (arse kisser to you regular folks) I'd have to agree with JK using a high reving edge cuttin rotatin tool can go very badly wrong if you don't use these tools regularly. So my advice to someone who was asking how to cut the material would be to use tools you are used to.

Hopefully that includes an electric drill and a jigsaw......get the GRP blades for the jigsaw follow the masking advice and use ordiary metal drill bits but at a medium speed. for a big circular hole buy, hire or borrow a bi metal hole cutter.

[wetterthebetter]

I'd get an expert in!! Someone who does these things on a regular basis will have much more confidence. It can't cost much.

[Rene]

Damn, just edited my post

I guess I will just start posting in Danish (Not sure this will help my spelling)

Rene

Originally Posted by Red Fox

yes jw but rene wants to use an 'angel' grinder not an angle grinder...hence the devil's job...heavens above...get it now?! Either way he ends up with a holy console!

[Rogue Wave]

Originally Posted by Rene

Damn, just edited my post

I guess I will just start posting in Danish (Not sure this will help my spelling)

Rene

shouldn't you be on a ferry or something?

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Rogue Wave

for a big circular hole buy, hire or borrow a bi metal hole cutter.

I'm yet to find a bimetal hole cutter that is the right size for normal gauges which means cutting undersize and loads of sanding. Also big cutters are bloody expensive and want to turn slower than the typical variable handheld drill wants to go.

On a current project I used one of these adjustable hole cutter jobbies. The GRP does blunt the blade fairly quick, but since you can set exactly the right size, it's very convenient, and since there's only a single cutting edge, it's easy to sharpen again on a stone (or angel grinder)