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cutting canopy

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jef.vervoortw(at)telenet.
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 7:15 am Post subject: cutting canopy

Not very long ago there was an article in EAA-SPORTAVIATION that explained and suggested to make the cut using a cutting bit in a Dremel tool with a cutting guide.  

I think it was written by an RV builder.  

   

I cannot find the article anymore.  

   

Anyone know the details, or has experience with this method ? Should you recommend it?  

   

Jef Vervoort 91031; Belgium.  

        [quote][b]

crowbotham(at)hotmail.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:27 am Post subject: cutting canopy

Jef,

  

 We used a cut off disc in Dremel tool but we did it free hand.  One note of caution - allow some extra overhang (beyound the line on the canopy). The overhang will not interfere with fitting the canopy to the frame or drilling your holes. After you have fitted the canopy canopy, drilled your holes and clecoed the canopy to the fame you can mark the excess for removal.

  

 BTW we tried the plexiglass drill bits and had much better results but drilling the initial hole with anew #40 drill bit and then opening up the hole with the small Uni-Bit. We did have the garage at 60 degrees C (85 degress F) for 24 hours before we drilled the canopy holes.

  

 Best Wishes,

  

 Chuck & Dave Rowbotham

 RV-8A



  	  Quote: 	
		    From: jef.vervoortw(at)telenet.be

To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: RV-List: cutting canopy

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 17:14:07 +0200



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Not very long ago there was an article in EAA-SPORTAVIATION that explained and suggested to make the cut using a cutting bit in a Dremel tool with a cutting guide. 

I think it was written by an RV builder. 

  

I cannot find the article anymore. 

  

Anyone know the details, or has experience with this method ? Should you recommend it? 

  

Jef Vervoort 91031; Belgium.

 	  Quote: 	
		   	
	
Boo! Scare awnews' target='_new'>Try now!  [quote][b]

n616tb(at)btsapps.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:56 am Post subject: cutting canopy

Hi Chuck,  

   

I would question just one thing you mentioned here.  The problem with a regular drill bit on plexi is the amount of twist in the bit will allow it to try to pull through the plexi causing a crack.  You mentioned using a new # 40 bit, but in reality I think you are better off with a dull one.  I used a regular “dull” bit to drill my initial holes in the canopy.  Then I used the plexi bits to open them up to the size I needed.  

   

Anyway, I could be wrong but it seems this is how I remember how it goes.  

Tim  

           

  

From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Charles Rowbotham

 Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 12:27 PM

 To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: RE: cutting canopy  

  

   

Jef,

  

 We used a cut off disc in Dremel tool but we did it free hand.  One note of caution - allow some extra overhang (beyound the line on the canopy). The overhang will not interfere with fitting the canopy to the frame or drilling your holes. After you have fitted the canopy canopy, drilled your holes and clecoed the canopy to the fame you can mark the excess for removal.

  

 BTW we tried the plexiglass drill bits and had much better results but drilling the initial hole with anew #40 drill bit and then opening up the hole with the small Uni-Bit. We did have the garage at 60 degrees C (85 degress F) for 24 hours before we drilled the canopy holes.

  

 Best Wishes,

  

 Chuck & Dave Rowbotham

 RV-8A      

  

From: jef.vervoortw(at)telenet.be

 To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: cutting canopy

 Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 17:14:07 +0200    

Not very long ago there was an article in EAA-SPORTAVIATION that explained and suggested to make the cut using a cutting bit in a Dremel tool with a cutting guide.  

I think it was written by an RV builder.  

   

I cannot find the article anymore.  

   

Anyone know the details, or has experience with this method ? Should you recommend it?  

   

Jef Vervoort 91031; Belgium.  

   	  Quote: 	
		   	
  

       

  

Boo! Scare awnews' target='_new'>Try now!    	  Quote: 	
		    http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV-List 	
0 	  Quote: 	
		   	
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       [quote][b]

bmeyette(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 10:37 am Post subject: cutting canopy

I agree with you on sharp vs dull, Tim.  

For cutting mine, I did it freehand, using a 4” cutoff wheel in my battery drill.   Using one in a die grinder should work just as well.  

IMHO, the Dremel cutters are too fine for what’s needed here – no need for such a fine cut, with larger diameter cutter, you can get wheel more perpendicular to the work, and the fine Dremel wheels break easily.  

Details here:  

http://brian76.mystarband.net/canopy.htm - plexi work beginning end of September  

if it’s cold out when you work on plexi, just put the canopy on sawhorses & put a little camping heater under the bubble for awhile ot get plexi nice & warm  

brian  

         

  

From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Tim Bryan

 Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 1:55 PM

 To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: RE: cutting canopy  

  

   

Hi Chuck,  

   

I would question just one thing you mentioned here.  The problem with a regular drill bit on plexi is the amount of twist in the bit will allow it to try to pull through the plexi causing a crack.  You mentioned using a new # 40 bit, but in reality I think you are better off with a dull one.  I used a regular “dull” bit to drill my initial holes in the canopy.  Then I used the plexi bits to open them up to the size I needed.  

   

Anyway, I could be wrong but it seems this is how I remember how it goes.  

Tim  

           

  

From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Charles Rowbotham

 Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 12:27 PM

 To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: RE: cutting canopy  

  

   

Jef,

  

 We used a cut off disc in Dremel tool but we did it free hand.  One note of caution - allow some extra overhang (beyound the line on the canopy). The overhang will not interfere with fitting the canopy to the frame or drilling your holes. After you have fitted the canopy canopy, drilled your holes and clecoed the canopy to the fame you can mark the excess for removal.

  

 BTW we tried the plexiglass drill bits and had much better results but drilling the initial hole with anew #40 drill bit and then opening up the hole with the small Uni-Bit. We did have the garage at 60 degrees C (85 degress F) for 24 hours before we drilled the canopy holes.

  

 Best Wishes,

  

 Chuck & Dave Rowbotham

 RV-8A      

  

From: jef.vervoortw(at)telenet.be

 To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: cutting canopy

 Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 17:14:07 +0200    

Not very long ago there was an article in EAA-SPORTAVIATION that explained and suggested to make the cut using a cutting bit in a Dremel tool with a cutting guide.  

I think it was written by an RV builder.  

   

I cannot find the article anymore.  

   

Anyone know the details, or has experience with this method ? Should you recommend it?  

   

Jef Vervoort 91031; Belgium.  

   	  Quote: 	
		   	
  

       

  

Boo! Scare awnews' target='_new'>Try now!    	  Quote: 	
		     	
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     Release Date: 10/8/2007 4:54 PM 

  10/8/2007 4:54 PM

     [quote][b]

dale1rv6(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 10:45 am Post subject: cutting canopy

Tim is correct. Plexiglass drill bits have been made with about half the cutting angle of regular metal cutting bits. This restrains them from getting too much bite and starting a crack. Use moderate drill speed (not slow) and low pressure. Test your dull bit on scrap first.  

   

Dale  

         

  

From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Tim Bryan

 Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 1:55 PM

 To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: RE: cutting canopy  

  

   

Hi Chuck,  

   

I would question just one thing you mentioned here.  The problem with a regular drill bit on plexi is the amount of twist in the bit will allow it to try to pull through the plexi causing a crack.  You mentioned using a new # 40 bit, but in reality I think you are better off with a dull one.  I used a regular “dull” bit to drill my initial holes in the canopy.  Then I used the plexi bits to open them up to the size I needed.  

   

Anyway, I could be wrong but it seems this is how I remember how it goes.  

Tim  

           

  

From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Charles Rowbotham

 Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 12:27 PM

 To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: RE: cutting canopy  

  

   

Jef,

  

 We used a cut off disc in Dremel tool but we did it free hand.  One note of caution - allow some extra overhang (beyound the line on the canopy). The overhang will not interfere with fitting the canopy to the frame or drilling your holes. After you have fitted the canopy canopy, drilled your holes and clecoed the canopy to the fame you can mark the excess for removal.

  

 BTW we tried the plexiglass drill bits and had much better results but drilling the initial hole with anew #40 drill bit and then opening up the hole with the small Uni-Bit. We did have the garage at 60 degrees C (85 degress F) for 24 hours before we drilled the canopy holes.

  

 Best Wishes,

  

 Chuck & Dave Rowbotham

 RV-8A  

    	  Quote: 	
		     	
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Bob Collins

Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 470
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:02 am Post subject: Re: cutting canopy

 	  dale1rv6(at)comcast.net wrote: 	
		   Use moderate drill speed (not slow) and low pressure. Test your dull bit on scrap first.    

Dale  

         	




Too late for me now but I'm curious if I've introduced a problem into my canopy project unwittingly. I turned my drill VERY slowly when drilling the canopy, exerting very little pressure. My goal was to scrape...not cut... when I drilled.  What have I done by drilling too slowly?

_________________
Bob Collins
St. Paul, Minn.
Letters from Flyover Country
http://rvnewsletter.blogspot.com/

dale1rv6(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:43 am Post subject: cutting canopy

No problem, the light pressure is the most important. If you don't see any

cracks you are a winner. Some who go slow push harder when they don't see

the hole developing and that can start a crack. The ideal combination of

speed and pressure will produce a thin rather steady chip. A machinist

judges his progress based on the chip output.

Dale



--

bo124rs(at)hotmail.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 11:47 am Post subject: cutting canopy

Bob, I don't know about your question but this is a quote right out of the plans, "When drilling the canopy you can pre-drill all of the holes in the frame #40 and then drill through the canopy to them with a plexi bit.  The canopy is transparent of course, and it is relatively easy to hit the holes already in the frame.  Alternatively, you can drill the hole in the canopy (using a special 1/8" plexiglass bit) until the tip of the bit makes a mark on the frame.  The holes in the frame will be drilled with a regular bit when the plexiglass is removed".  On down they say to machine countersink the plexi then drill out the holes to 5/32 with a plexi bit or 5/32 with a unibit.  I used plexi bits.

Work for me right of the plans.  

Dana Overall 

Richmond, KY i39

RV-7 slider, Imron black, "Black Magic" 

O 360 A1A, C/S C2YK-1BF/F7666A4

http://rvflying.tripod.com/blackwing1.jpg

http://rvflying.tripod.com

do not archive 

 	  Quote: 	
		   Subject: Re: cutting canopy

 From: bcollinsrv7a(at)comcast.net

 Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 12:02:42 -0700

 To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

 --> RV-List message posted by: "Bob Collins" <bcollinsrv7a(at)comcast.net>

 dale1rv6(at)comcast.net wrote:

 >  Use moderate drill speed (not slow) and low pressure. Test your dull bit on scrap first.    

 > Dale  

 >          

 Too late for me now but I'm curious if I've introduced a problem into my canopy project unwittingly. I turned my drill VERY slowly when drilling the canopy, exerting very little pressure. My goal was to scrape...not cut... when I drilled.  What have I done by drilling too slowly?

 --------

 Bob Collins

 St. Paul, Minn.

 Letters from Flyover Country

 http://rvnewsletter.blogspot.com/

 Read this topic online here:

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=138991#138991

 =======================

&g=========

[quote] 

Help yourself to FREE treats served up daily at the Messenger Café. Stop by today!   	  Quote: 	
		  [b]

acepilot(at)bloomer.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:36 pm Post subject: cutting canopy

Added a year to the project?    Seriously, if it didn't crack, you're 

almost home free!

do not archive

Scott

http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/

Gotta Fly or Gonna Die

Building RV-4 (Super Slow Build Version)

Bob Collins wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  >         

>    

>

Too late for me now but I'm curious if I've introduced a problem into my canopy project unwittingly. I turned my drill VERY slowly when drilling the canopy, exerting very little pressure. My goal was to scrape...not cut... when I drilled.  What have I done by drilling too slowly?

--------

Bob Collins

St. Paul, Minn.

Letters from Flyover Country

http://rvnewsletter.blogspot.com/

Bob Collins

Joined: 11 Mar 2006
Posts: 470
Location: St. Paul, Minnesota

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:39 pm Post subject: Re: cutting canopy

Right. Saw that.  Followed it. But the question wasn't about the procedure, it was about the speed at which a drill bit should turn in plexi.

_________________
Bob Collins
St. Paul, Minn.
Letters from Flyover Country
http://rvnewsletter.blogspot.com/

bmeyette(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:55 pm Post subject: cutting canopy

I'd say if you didn't crack anything, you are good to go

brian



--

crowbotham(at)hotmail.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 6:10 am Post subject: cutting canopy

Jef,

  

 I also suggest that you take a small piece of scrap plexi (from the excess cut off thecanopy) and try the differnt methods first. 

  

 Regards,

  

 Chuck Rowbotham 

  	  Quote: 	
		    From: n616tb(at)btsapps.com

To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: RE: RV-List: cutting canopy

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 12:54:44 -0500



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Hi Chuck, 

  

I would question just one thing you mentioned here.  The problem with a regular drill bit on plexi is the amount of twist in the bit will allow it to try to pull through the plexi causing a crack.  You mentioned using a new # 40 bit, but in reality I think you are better off with a dull one.  I used a regular “dull” bit to drill my initial holes in the canopy.  Then I used the plexi bits to open them up to the size I needed. 

  

Anyway, I could be wrong but it seems this is how I remember how it goes. 

Tim 

      

 

From: owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Charles Rowbotham

Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2007 12:27 PM

To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: RE: cutting canopy

 

  

Jef,

 

We used a cut off disc in Dremel tool but we did it free hand.  One note of caution - allow some extra overhang (beyound the line on the canopy). The overhang will not interfere with fitting the canopy to the frame or drilling your holes. After you have fitted the canopy canopy, drilled your holes and clecoed the canopy to the fame you can mark the excess for removal.

 

BTW we tried the plexiglass drill bits and had much better results but drilling the initial hole with anew #40 drill bit and then opening up the hole with the small Uni-Bit. We did have the garage at 60 degrees C (85 degress F) for 24 hours before we drilled the canopy holes.

 

Best Wishes,

 

Chuck & Dave Rowbotham

RV-8A   

 

From: jef.vervoortw(at)telenet.be

To: rv-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: cutting canopy

Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 17:14:07 +0200  

Not very long ago there was an article in EAA-SPORTAVIATION that explained and suggested to make the cut using a cutting bit in a Dremel tool with a cutting guide. 

I think it was written by an RV builder. 

  

I cannot find the article anymore. 

  

Anyone know the details, or has experience with this method ? Should you recommend it? 

  

Jef Vervoort 91031; Belgium.

 	  Quote: 	
		   	
 

    

 

Boo! Scare awnews' target='_new'>Try now!  	  Quote: 	
		       	
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Boo! Scare away worms, viruses com/standard/en-us/purchase/trial.aspx?s_cid=wl_hotmailnews' target='_new'>Try now!  [quote][b]

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