How to cut the screen?

[Greenman14]

I've just fitted some Renthals and the hand guards are fouling the screen on full lock. I need to trim off a segment of 35mm at the widest point. Any experience of the right tool for the job?

I have a Bosch multi tool (high speed oscillating device) with a quadrant shape fine tooth blade, or an electric jig saw. I thought maybe the Bosch as it would be hard to keep the jigsaw sole plate in good contact with the screEn.

 

[Simmo]

Dremel with half inch diameter sanding disc.
Like this:
http://blueroofdesigns.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/attach-sander-1.jpg
Fastes speed
Sort of melts it as it removes leaving a nice finish

 

[Greenman14]

There's quite a lot of material to just sand it off, and I don't have a Dremel. Though I have been looking for an excuse to buy one!

 

[Simmo]

It removes it quite quickly and doesn’t vibrate like when using a saw, so there’s less chance of cracking the screen.
Does make a fair amount of debris though

 

[Bumhead]

use the dremel tile cutter tool

http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/dremel-tile-cutting-bit-523284

this bad boy will cut anything, I mean anything!

 

[Simmo]

I think that the tile cutter bit would ‘dig in’ as it’s not a very big diameter.

 

[Fanum]

There's quite a lot of material to just sand it off, and I don't have a Dremel. Though I have been looking for an excuse to buy one!

Don't fall for the branding.....Dremel have only made themselves the market leader by spending the big money to make themselves into the big name.

Nearly all 'rotary multi tools' are fully compatible with Dremel accessories and vice versa........you'll pay half the money for essentially the same tool


I'd agree though, a dremel type thingy with a fine cutting disc set to max rpm........practice first by slicing across a bit of the 'dead' material then go to about 2 mm outside of the line......you can sand perspex easily to finish, or use a solvent to give a totally smooth and optically clear finish.

 

[bikemad]

Best way is to masking tape both sides mark equal amounts,I used a linisher to do mine but you could just as well get a sanding drum to use on a standard drill.

Dremel type tools are not up for hefty work in my opinion,be careful when sanding/cutting you can either melt or split Perspex materials

 

[Bendy toy]

You can buy drills specially ground for cutting Perspex. Though looking in eBay I can't find any.
I have some double ground Dewalt drills with a stepped cutting edge. These might be less likely to cause splits as they exit the material.

 

[bikemad]

You can buy drills specially ground for cutting Perspex. Though looking in eBay I can't find any.
I have some double ground Dewalt drills with a stepped cutting edge. These might be less likely to cause splits as they exit the material.

He's not drilling holes he's got to cut some off the edges where replacemement bars touch,I'd sand it off with a drill fixed in a vice or linish it off like I did to one of mine.

 

[Greenman14]

From these replies, and from Google, I masked up the edges and used a hand fret saw. It worked ok though the edges were quite rough. A fine file, followed by emery paper and rubbing compound finished off the edges. It's not perfect yet, but that's because I got bored. It's gonna have to wait for a rainy day to get rid of the last few saw marks.

I did find that using the high speed orbital Bosch sander melted the edges and didn't work too well, slow and steady worked just fine. Washed off all the debris this afternoon, and there was a lot of it, I can't imagine what state it would have been in if I'd abraded the whole section!

 

[Bendy toy]

I've cut the flip off a screen with a sharp hand saw no problems but that was straight across. I felt that hack saws or narrow blades risked snagging and cracking. The small drum sanders work for trimming but tend to jump about when going too slow.

 

[Mistacat]

Klingspor 1mm slitting discs (I use them on stainless steel) but they cut plastics / acrylics etc. well.