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Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:36 pm
by Dylan7262
Hey guys, so i basically want to take off my standard liberty grille and remove all the middle wing and fins and attach some black mesh i have purchased. basically i would like it too look like this one, what other tools will i need as i have my grille off and have the mesh ready to do it!!!

Credit to seanmau5 for uloading the pic, i found it in another thread and really like it

Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:48 pm
by HoFF
Just a basic dremel kit is all I used to do mine.

Re: Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:55 pm
by zch91
Dremel, sandpaper and sikaflex.

Re: Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:32 pm
by Dylan7262
Thanks for the super quick reply guy's!!

i have the sandpaper and sikaflex already. i will go and get a dremel asap but there is 3 models too choose from


Dremel 130W 30 Piece Rotary Tool Kit

Rotary Tool Corded Dremel 130w 26pce Acc Kit

Dremel 175W 50 Piece Rotary Tool Kit

i would prefer to get the cheaper one as i will be mostlycutting through plastic. would that one be ok?

Re: Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 4:28 pm
by zch91
I used an Ozito tool which is exactly the same, got it from Bunnings for about $30, 3 year replacement warranty.

Re: Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 5:03 pm
by Bond
ozito ftw!

Re: Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:01 pm
by Dylan7262
Haha, just dropped $130 on a Dremel... now i gotta just decide whether to keep the Chrome look on the outside of the grille or sand it back and paint it black to match the rest of my car.

Thoughts?

Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 6:11 pm
by HoFF
Haha yeah ozito was the way to go ;)

My chrome was starting to peel. So I peeled off as much as I could. Tried to sand as much as I could to rough it up and smooth the edge.
The painters did a real thick layer of undercoat to make sure it was seamless.

Re: Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:53 pm
by wogboy_9000
hey mate, there is a DIY around here somewhere that I used.
When you cut the middle section out, it will leave holes that you will need to fibreglass and fill with bodyfilller.
to do it so it's looks great, you'll have to spend some serious time on cutting, fibreglassing and bodyfilling.

Re: Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 7:47 pm
by seanmau5
Cheers mate. I was happy with how it turned out but it really needs a respray, think I'll just go with Corazon ;)

Re: Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:40 pm
by Dylan7262
seanmau5 wrote:Cheers mate. I was happy with how it turned out but it really needs a respray, think I'll just go with Corazon ;)


Haha, i'm all set too go with mine mate. Just one last question. what bog filler did you use? and also did you use bog to fill in the gaps where you cut the centre out? and then fibreglass over that than sand it so it was all smooth.?

Yeah that is why i haven't brought any spray cans yet because i have not found one that will "standup" to the job... So when i get the grille finished and filled i will take it to the local auto shop and they can put some thick coats on it for me :mrgreen:

Re: Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:41 am
by bosc0
Buy quality tools ONCE as a rule!

Re: Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:41 am
by seanmau5
I cut the grill so it was shallower and didn't have to fibreglass. Went to supercheap and bought some auto body filler to fix any imperfections, and the little dip at the bottom in the middle I just left. It was just a temporary solution until I sourced my Corazon..

Have you considered Plastidip?

Re: Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 2:01 pm
by Dylan7262
No mate i havent really thought to far ahead of the cutting, filling process tbh. i literally just starting cutting now.


EDIT: When you were using the body filler, what did you use to hold in in place til it dried and you could sand it?
I just put abit of paper down under the part i wanted to fill then used some grip clamps to hold the grille firmly on the piece of paper... then used the filler on that


As you can see below

Re: Best tools for cutting grille, and inserting some mesh

PostPosted: Sat Jan 26, 2013 5:01 pm
by wogboy_9000
What are you going to do where you cut the horizontal area of the grille out?
You really need something to hold the body filler in permanently - otherwise it's just going to crack and fall out.

A cheap fibreglass kit from Repco is $30 and extremely easy to use.