Cutting the lines where you want them!?

[MikeWz]

Working on the blade skills...and let's just say they're not quite up to par. Trying to cut along some lines on my crowd pleazer body (along the lines of the roll bar and such) and having some trouble keeping them straight. Any tips on how to go about doing this?

[desfjr1300]

I know exactly what you mean. I cant even draw a straight line, but what works for me is to use an old plastic (flexible) ruler. Cut it to size, tape it to the body, follow the edge for score lines. You aren't trying to cut thru on one pass, right? If the area is too curved or lumpy for the ruler trick, layer 4 or 5 pieces of masking tape along your cut line and use that as a guide. Of course if your pushing too hard you can hack thru the tape and end up with a crooked line, so be sure to go slowly and carefully.

That or find some 12 year old wonderkid and make him do it!

[broncobill]

I am in the process of cutting my first body out. I am using a Dremel with a cutting wheel to get it close, the a grinding wheel. I am not that good at it. So I stopped last night, and will start again today. I need to take my time with this. When I get it done, I'll put up a pic or two.

[desfjr1300]

Gotta love those Dremel tools! A million and one uses! Only problem is they take a steady hand-one little slip and you've just separated your bed from the rest of the truck! Oh, the carnage!

Anyway, good luck and make sure to post the piccies when you're done!

[LEADFOOT]

bill, I don't think that's what he meant ;)

Mike, trim off some of the lexan around the body...the flat rectangular portion. Use that as a straight edge. It is flexible enough to use inside the body to conform to the curves, but you can still use the factory cut edge as a straight edge.

[dhutch]

I use a noramal ruler, get the body of the corner of the table and use a Stanley Hobbie Knife to score the line, and the you just snap along the scored line.
- For curves i use a sharp pair of nail scissors.
- And for wheel archs/cooling hole, i use a circle cutter the score, and then snap it out.

The snaping technique works very well and give you smooth clean lines.


Daniel

[MikeWz]

Lol, guys leadfoot was right. I'm talking about cutting the mask inside the body for painting. I'm actually using liquid mask, so I can score it in just one pass because it cuts easily (is it okay if I got just a little over where I want the cut to stop, or is the paint going to leak into that?) but I can't seem to get the cuts straight. I'll give that lexan peice trick a try, and if that doesn't work I'll snag a little plastic ruler and some masking tape...just trying to avoid buying anything I don't have to, being a poor college student and all :o

[desfjr1300]

Doh! (I'm beating my head against the desk) Sorry! Thought you meant cutting the body!

I've donned my dunce cap and will go sit in the corner now.....

[MikeWz]

Des - No worries man, I could use some help with the dremel too :p . The best way I've found is getting a drum sander like this one http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXC541&P=7 and put the speed of the dremel real high, and just barely touch the body. For sanding straight lines (like the bottom edges of the body) I found it helps to take a straight edge to the inside using painters masking tape so you don't tear off the paint when you take the tape off. Works well for me :o

[dhutch]

Thought you meant cutting the body!

Yep, same here! :confused: