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  #11  
Old 08-24-2012, 12:52 PM
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N9331v N9331v is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Hampshire, IL
Posts: 276
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Vibrating tool 👍 very little mess, way easy.

Here is a link to a short video when I made the cuts.

http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/...29A76E20A8.mp4
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  #12  
Old 08-24-2012, 01:15 PM
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KRviator KRviator is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Sydney, Aust.
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I used a 5" angle grinder and a 1mm cutoff wheel to make the cut this week. Went beautifully. Keep the canopy warm. I made the cut in the backyard sun, around 30*C.

Whatever you use, use appropriate PPE.
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  #13  
Old 08-24-2012, 01:52 PM
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DanBaier DanBaier is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Rochester NY
Posts: 669
Default Plus 1

Quote:
Vans cut off disc in my Souix drill
It worked great
For me too.

Dan
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  #14  
Old 08-25-2012, 09:54 AM
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agirard7a agirard7a is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Newport, RI
Posts: 705
Default cut off tool

Whatever tool you choose, chances are it may be less than a perfect cut or you may need to trim a bit to make the main cut parallel to the roll bar. I used a belt sander w/ 120 grit to clean up the cut, 180, 220, 400 with a block to clean up the finished edge. I cut mine with a vans cut wheel and a die grinder, used tape as a guide line. I first cut mine 1/4" long, than used a wood block 3/4" scribe (roll bar is 1 1/2") with a pen marking the tape for a finished cut line perfectly parallel with the roll bar and centered. When you clamp the glass to the roll bar it will change the angle of your cut, promting you to have to trim it. Small trim with a belt sander larger trim with the cut off wheel.

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Last edited by agirard7a : 08-25-2012 at 10:04 AM.
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  #15  
Old 08-25-2012, 10:37 PM
jay.pearlman jay.pearlman is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Port Angeles WA
Posts: 250
Default mixed recommendation

I just finished cutting and tried three options. Cut-off tool - air, air drill - both of these used van's cut off disc. Then the dremmel tool discs (about 1" ID) and the very thin discs fro dremmel. The cut off tool turned fast and mostly melted the plexiglass along the cut line. I did the cut with light cuts along a line. The first light cut guided the others so there was not a problem of the line wandering. I did get hot plastic on my arms. The drill turned slower and was my preferred tool, again with repetitive cuts along the same line.
When I parted the windshield and the canopy, I used the dremmel with the fine disk. It gives a very precise cut and left a good edge.
Some folks say to cut all the way through and slowly move along the cut line. I am sure it works, but I didn't like it. I liked the first light cut to guide the next steps.
I practiced a lot on the edges to gain experience and that made a lot of difference in confidence level when the cuts mattered.
I worried about the whole thing forever, but the reality, once started, it was easy and went quite well.
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  #16  
Old 08-26-2012, 10:31 AM
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Buggsy2 Buggsy2 is offline
 
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Location: NorCal
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Followup: I bought a Bosch oscillating multi-tool to replace the cheapo Harbor Freight equivalent, as I wanted a 2.5 amp model and it was readily available at Home Depot (they did not stock the top-end Dremel MM-40 which is also 2.5 amp). What a difference! Much less vibration and noise than the HF tool; the HF tool would leave my hand tingling after 10 minutes of use, the Bosch, nada.

I did The Big Cut yesterday. The cut itself is a non-event if you simply follow Vans instructions to block the canopy edges (fore and aft of the cut), and every 2-3 inches stop, tape the cut line with masking tape or similar, and continue cutting. I cut all the way through, wanting the canopy either fully cut, or not; I didn't want it half cut and maybe deciding itself where to part company. Upon making the final cuts fully separating the pieces basically nothing happened; the tape and the blocks kept everything together.
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  #17  
Old 08-26-2012, 10:52 AM
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BJohnson BJohnson is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Federal Way, Wa
Posts: 264
Default Van's disk

You can't go wrong with the disk supplied and a $15 die grinder from Harbor Freight, if you have a compressor. There is minimal noise except the compressor and the rattle of the cheap bearings, and no vibration. The larger disk compared to the dremel tool disks helps keep the cut straight. There are no teeth in the disk so chipping on the exit side does not happen. Don't get overly excited about the shop temperature. The cutter wheel creates a fair bit of heat as it cuts, so it helps soften the plexiglass locally. If you don't wear gloves and sleeves, the hot plexi dust on your hand is hot but within of the tolerable range.
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