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[Dan Rosa]

 I had an idea to cut the louvers in my side panels thinking of using a radial compound arm saw with a diamond blade or carbide blade for stone cutting, my question is has any one tyred to do this ????? Dan

[James Cochran]

Dan,
I had thought about doing the same thing with my side panels. Here is a site that has a fiberglass hood with louvers. The photo of the underside appears like the glass has been ground down from the underside until the openings appear. That was the process that I was thinking about doing. I was thinking at the time while my side panel was face down, to build up the fiberglass in the valleys between the ridges, then when I grind down my ridges I would have a sturdier and thicker piece of fiberglass left. I could probably also control my depth of grinding that way. Grinding fiberglass will throw out a lot of particles, so cover up, good respirator, and outdoor work space with blower or strong fan to kick the fibered dust away, was my process plan. I was going to use my belt sander with vacuum attachment also. I would think the radial arm saw would work also and probably allow better control of the depth since it runs on the arm, just a lot of cuts. I have used carbide tipped blades on fiberglass and it does fine.

James

JasCochran40428.615162037

[Dan Rosa]

  James ,, that is a good idea too I figured I would try this in the winter not the driving season,, I was thinking cutting from the back side, at the high to the low side  of the fake louvers following the center line . when on the car, venting to the out side I don’t think i would sand  but use a cut disc saw blade no teeth and plenty of water . as for keeping it all strong I will reinforce it with glassed in aluminum in a frame around the louvers, or use fiberglass screen and epoxy —we have 2 weeks of car shows ,we had more ,,”terrorists “—-OH tourists here this labor day than ever!! I am going to try to take off next weekend that is the Rod run week ,,this week is shades of the past,  they are using Dolly Woods parking lot this year WOW that is alot of cars         &n bsp;  Dan

[James Cochran]

Dan,

I like your idea much better. Is this is about what you’re thinking about? Hey Shades of the Past….sounds like lots of fun!

JasCochran40428.7219907407

[edward ericson]

Wow. You guys are hard core. I was thinking this winter I’d maybe get a heavier Sharpie and draw the black lines in my “louvers” a little thicker.

Another possibility (for y’all front engine dudes): a Dremel or Rotozip drywall saw with a rip gauge.

[James Cochran]

Ed,

I seriously thought of a Sharpie, but then figured I’d sneeze – oops, so then I thought of pinstriping, figured it peel off. I like the Rotozip idea. My Dremel will probably die half way thru, but the Rotozip should be good to go.

[edward ericson]

I do better with my Rotozip now that I run it at like half speed most of the time and change the blade after every other cut. It runs away from me a lot less now. Rip guide for this job might be as simple as clay pressed into the insides of the louvers with a steel straight edge pressed into the edge of the clay. 

[Dan Rosa]

 James , good art that is what  i was thinking on that line, Dremel drills are to slow and i am not that steady that is why i think a radial arm saw would work better for me. But a Rotozip would work . The car shows are cool all types are there for sale  and show .

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