Cutting Glass Fibre (Fiber?)

[Dilkris]

I am rebuilding a 1973 Lotus and am about to embark on body repairs (nothing major) - as you will all know (if you are older than 60... ) these car bodies are made up of hand laid glass fibre.
What is the ideal tool for cutting glass fibre?
"Yes" - I have angle grinders of various sizes but am mindful of the dust these generate.
Would an oscillating tool work? - (ie: like those affairs with a vibratory head that they use in a hospital for cutting off plaster casts.?
What are the people "that know" using?

 

[brightspark]

should work realy well using a multitool for cutting and fast you still get dust of em from the fan on the motor but not as bad as a grinder

 

[hunter27]

It's the ideal tool for the job.

 

[ajlelectronics]

I am rebuilding a 1973 Lotus and am about to embark on body repairs (nothing major) - as you will all know (if you are older than 60... ) these car bodies are made up of hand laid glass fibre.
What is the ideal tool for cutting glass fibre?
"Yes" - I have angle grinders of various sizes but am mindful of the dust these generate.
Would an oscillating tool work? - (ie: like those affairs with a vibratory head that they use in a hospital for cutting off plaster casts.?
What are the people "that know" using?

It depends if it is destruction or repair...

Sabre saw.
Stone type grinding disc.
Finger sander etc.

 

[Maker]

Wear a dust mask however you cut it.

 

[Dilkris]

Thanks everyone - I'll go with the oscillating tool c/w a diamond semicircle cutting tool. (They advertise them for grout removal but I see them as being ideal for what I want.)

 

[hotponyshoes]

If you have any volume of cutting to do use the ti coated blades as they last a lot longer.
That what I use for cutting casts off
You can wet the cut as well which will stop most of the dust. Flush it and the blade will last even better

 

[Agroshield]

...a diamond semicircle cutting tool.

In some sense of the word, a diamond blade does not cut, it abrades. The one above, that has actual teeth, will serve you better. You might also need a blade with a square edge. It might help to drill a small hole (4mm?) in the corner of any cutout to prevent any stress raisers.

 

[tom2207]

I am rebuilding a 1973 Lotus and am about to embark on body repairs (nothing major) - as you will all know (if you are older than 60... ) these car bodies are made up of hand laid glass fibre.
What is the ideal tool for cutting glass fibre?
"Yes" - I have angle grinders of various sizes but am mindful of the dust these generate.
Would an oscillating tool work? - (ie: like those affairs with a vibratory head that they use in a hospital for cutting off plaster casts.?
What are the people "that know" using?

very envious ,,, that will be a nice car , post plenty of pics please

 

[Dilkris]

In some sense of the word, a diamond blade does not cut, it abrades. The one above, that has actual teeth, will serve you better. You might also need a blade with a square edge. It might help to drill a small hole (4mm?) in the corner of any cutout to prevent any stress raisers.

Well noted - many thanks

 

[Dilkris]

very envious ,,, that will be a nice car , post plenty of pics please

Well.... pictures as requested.
I bought her in pieces some 21 years ago and started the journey about 5 years ago after retiring - sure, I could have achieved much more if I simply threw money at her - but where would the "achievement" have been in that?
It has taken some years to finish the "go kart" (as I call it) of her - (for non-lotus people, the body literally sits astride it).
I am now onto the body and interior and am trying to finish her either before I die, ( ) or whilst I can still get in and out of her - it is going to be a close run.

 

[Dapph2]

When I had a plastic pig I often used a progressive hacksaw blade with a taped up wrapped round handle . Cutting out the upper lh bulkhead & foot well damage was uncomfortable but having the vacuum sucking away the fibres made it an easy to do repair job .

 

[brightspark]

Well.... pictures as requested.
I bought her in pieces some 21 years ago and started the journey about 5 years ago after retiring - sure, I could have achieved much more if I simply threw money at her - but where would the "achievement" have been in that?
It has taken some years to finish the "go kart" (as I call it) of her - (for non-lotus people, the body literally sits astride it).
I am now onto the body and interior and am trying to finish her either before I die, ( ) or whilst I can still get in and out of her - it is going to be a close run.

nice model my mate had one. remember turning him up a sleeve for the shaft coming out of the gearbox that was worn to the shift linkage it worked real well

 

[mtt.tr]

My dad completed one about 6 years ago

They have some oddities. Is yours a Renault?.

 

[Keith 66]

Best tool for cutting grp is a Diamond cutting blade for a grinder, you can get tiny ones for use in a dremel for getting in tight areas.
Stone cutting wheels work too but are twice the thickness so twice the dust!

 

[Maxakarudy]

It's a Twincam with modified front suspension arms, probably Spyder.
I've just done the body on mine, inc sunroof removal, it's got a Spyder spaceframe chassis and needed a lot of repairs, especially in the rear around the shock/body mounts

 

[Dilkris]

My dad completed one about 6 years ago

They have some oddities. Is yours a Renault?.

Sort of - it runs a Renault 16 transaxle, ford block and Lotus twin cam head.

 

[Dilkris]

It's a Twincam with modified front suspension arms, probably Spyder.
I've just done the body on mine, it's got a Spyder spaceframe chassis and needed a lot of repairs, especially in the rear around the shock/body mounts

Almost....
Front suspension IS Spyder top and bottom wishbones - chassis front T section is 100% Spyder.
Sadly Spyder no longer do this work or supply this service.
You are fortunate to have a Spyder chassis - gives you plenty of options for Engine/Transaxle configurations if you opt to move away from the original.

 

[Maxakarudy]

Almost....
Front suspension IS Spyder top and bottom wishbones - chassis front T section is 100% Spyder.
Sadly Spyder no longer do this work or supply this service.
You are fortunate to have a Spyder chassis - gives you plenty of options for Engine/Transaxle configurations if you opt to move away from the original.

I didn't know that, the Spyder chassis jigs are for sale on Marketplace atm 10k

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A full set of building jigs for all types of Lotus Europa chassis including original type stress skinned chassis and also the Spyder spaceframe chassis. also includes jigs and templates for double...

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[Dilkris]

Best tool for cutting grp is a Diamond cutting blade for a grinder, you can get tiny ones for use in a dremel for getting in tight areas.
Stone cutting wheels work too but are twice the thickness so twice the dust!

That's interesting - refer Agroshield's comment above.
I'll give it a try though.