I have a fiberglass jetted tub with a front panel for access to the
pump. The panel runs the length of the tub. Recently I added wall
tiles along the walls where the panel sits. This means I have to cut
the panel's length down by about an inch to fit in between the two
newly tiled walls. My question is in regards to cutting the
fiberglass panel. Is it fairly easy to cut it with a circular saw
with a cross-cutting blade? I only have one shot at cutting this
panel, and I don't want to damage it.

Rob

rlz wrote:
I have a fiberglass jetted tub with a front panel for access to the
pump. The panel runs the length of the tub. Recently I added wall
tiles along the walls where the panel sits. This means I have to cut
the panel's length down by about an inch to fit in between the two
newly tiled walls. My question is in regards to cutting the
fiberglass panel. Is it fairly easy to cut it with a circular saw
with a cross-cutting blade? I only have one shot at cutting this
panel, and I don't want to damage it.

That will cut it easily but may chip the edges. I think you might be better
off using a saber saw with a relatively fine - 10-12TPI - blade.



--

dadiOH
____________________________

Winters getting colder? Tired of the rat race?
Maybe just ready for a change? Check it out...
http://www.floridaloghouse.net

On Jul 10, 11:55*am, rlz wrote:

I have a fiberglass jetted tub with a front panel for access to the
pump. *The panel runs the length of the tub. *Recently I added wall
tiles along the walls where the panel sits. *This means I have to cut
the panel's length down by about an inch to fit in between the two
newly tiled walls. *My question is in regards to cutting the
fiberglass panel. *Is it fairly easy to cut it with a circular saw
with a cross-cutting blade? I only have one shot at cutting this
panel, and I don't want to damage it.

If you need a very clean cut with essentially zero risk, borrow or buy
an oscillating multi-tool, such as the Fein (expensive), Dremel, B&D,
Bosch, etc. Harbor Freight sells cheapo knockoffs that work.

Oscillating tools are a sure way to get super clean cuts in just about
anything. They don't jump or kickback, and you're unlikely to damage
yourself or the panel. The only drawback is that they are slower than
other methods, but life is full of such compromises.

R

On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:17:45 -0400, "dadiOH"
wrote:

rlz wrote:
I have a fiberglass jetted tub with a front panel for access to the
pump. The panel runs the length of the tub. Recently I added wall
tiles along the walls where the panel sits. This means I have to cut
the panel's length down by about an inch to fit in between the two
newly tiled walls. My question is in regards to cutting the
fiberglass panel. Is it fairly easy to cut it with a circular saw
with a cross-cutting blade? I only have one shot at cutting this
panel, and I don't want to damage it.

That will cut it easily but may chip the edges. I think you might be better
off using a saber saw with a relatively fine - 10-12TPI - blade.
Fine tooth carbide plywood blade, cut from behind with a double layer
of masking tape on the front surface

On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 09:34:22 -0700 (PDT), RicodJour
wrote:

On Jul 10, 11:55Â*am, rlz wrote:

I have a fiberglass jetted tub with a front panel for access to the
pump. Â*The panel runs the length of the tub. Â*Recently I added wall
tiles along the walls where the panel sits. Â*This means I have to cut
the panel's length down by about an inch to fit in between the two
newly tiled walls. Â*My question is in regards to cutting the
fiberglass panel. Â*Is it fairly easy to cut it with a circular saw
with a cross-cutting blade? I only have one shot at cutting this
panel, and I don't want to damage it.

If you need a very clean cut with essentially zero risk, borrow or buy
an oscillating multi-tool, such as the Fein (expensive), Dremel, B&D,
Bosch, etc. Harbor Freight sells cheapo knockoffs that work.

Oscillating tools are a sure way to get super clean cuts in just about
anything. They don't jump or kickback, and you're unlikely to damage
yourself or the panel. The only drawback is that they are slower than
other methods, but life is full of such compromises.

R
And you DEFINITELY want a variable speed - full speed on a Fein will
melt and burn as much as it cuts.

On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:55:16 -0700 (PDT), rlz
wrote:

I have a fiberglass jetted tub with a front panel for access to the
pump. The panel runs the length of the tub. Recently I added wall
tiles along the walls where the panel sits. This means I have to cut
the panel's length down by about an inch to fit in between the two
newly tiled walls. My question is in regards to cutting the
fiberglass panel. Is it fairly easy to cut it with a circular saw
with a cross-cutting blade? I only have one shot at cutting this
panel, and I don't want to damage it.

Rob

Vinyl siding is cut with a circ. saw blade installed in reverse. A
fine tooth blade is used. It prevents chipping, etc.

I have no idea if this will work on the fiberglass tub? Anybody?

I'd surely mask the cut line, mark, before cutting the fiberglass to
reduce chances of chipping.

2 cents....

On Jul 10, 1:14*pm, Oren wrote:
On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 08:55:16 -0700 (PDT), rlz
wrote:

I have a fiberglass jetted tub with a front panel for access to the
pump. *The panel runs the length of the tub. *Recently I added wall
tiles along the walls where the panel sits. *This means I have to cut
the panel's length down by about an inch to fit in between the two
newly tiled walls. *My question is in regards to cutting the
fiberglass panel. *Is it fairly easy to cut it with a circular saw
with a cross-cutting blade? I only have one shot at cutting this
panel, and I don't want to damage it.

Rob

Vinyl siding is cut with a circ. saw blade installed in reverse. *A
fine tooth blade is used. It prevents chipping, etc.

I have no idea if this will work on the fiberglass tub? Anybody?

I'd surely mask the cut line, mark, before cutting the fiberglass to
reduce chances of chipping.

2 cents....

I have seen exactly that suggestion for cutting fiberglass on other
websites.

Fine tooth blade installed in reverse.

Taping the cutline is always a good idea in any type of thin or
laminated or veneered material.

On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:53:38 -0400, "
wrote:

A reverse blade will melt Plexiglass. It makes a real mess. DAMHIK.

Thanks for sharing.

rlz wrote:
I have a fiberglass jetted tub with a front panel for access to the
pump. The panel runs the length of the tub. Recently I added wall
tiles along the walls where the panel sits. This means I have to cut
the panel's length down by about an inch to fit in between the two
newly tiled walls. My question is in regards to cutting the
fiberglass panel. Is it fairly easy to cut it with a circular saw
with a cross-cutting blade? I only have one shot at cutting this
panel, and I don't want to damage it.

Rob

Here's a YouTube link that I found in case it helps:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj9mteIGgBM . It was a little hard for me to
tell what they were actually doing on the video, but I finally figured out
that the fiberglass that they were cutting was the big sheet underneath and
the piece on top is just a guide to guide the tool.

Also, since you said you have to cut off about an inch, I wonder if it would
make any sense for you to try whatever method you are going to use first by
only making the first cut off be about 1/4 inch or so. That way, you could
see how the material cuts before making the final cut.

Good luck.

On Jul 10, 3:11*pm, "TomR" wrote:
rlz wrote:
I have a fiberglass jetted tub with a front panel for access to the
pump. *The panel runs the length of the tub. *Recently I added wall
tiles along the walls where the panel sits. *This means I have to cut
the panel's length down by about an inch to fit in between the two
newly tiled walls. *My question is in regards to cutting the
fiberglass panel. *Is it fairly easy to cut it with a circular saw
with a cross-cutting blade? I only have one shot at cutting this
panel, and I don't want to damage it.

Rob

Here's a YouTube link that I found in case it helps:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj9mteIGgBM. *It was a little hard for me to
tell what they were actually doing on the video, but I finally figured out
that the fiberglass that they were cutting was the big sheet underneath and
the piece on top is just a guide to guide the tool.

Also, since you said you have to cut off about an inch, I wonder if it would
make any sense for you to try whatever method you are going to use first by
only making the first cut off be about 1/4 inch or so. *That way, you could
see how the material cuts before making the final cut.

Good luck.

The OP didn't say if it was to be a 1/2 inch on each end or 1" all off
one end. Depends on how it is fastened to the rest of the tub.

On Jul 11, 2:04*pm, "hr(bob) "
wrote:
On Jul 10, 3:11*pm, "TomR" wrote:





rlz wrote:
I have a fiberglass jetted tub with a front panel for access to the
pump. *The panel runs the length of the tub. *Recently I added wall
tiles along the walls where the panel sits. *This means I have to cut
the panel's length down by about an inch to fit in between the two
newly tiled walls. *My question is in regards to cutting the
fiberglass panel. *Is it fairly easy to cut it with a circular saw
with a cross-cutting blade? I only have one shot at cutting this
panel, and I don't want to damage it.

Rob

Here's a YouTube link that I found in case it helps:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj9mteIGgBM. *It was a little hard for me to
tell what they were actually doing on the video, but I finally figured out
that the fiberglass that they were cutting was the big sheet underneath and
the piece on top is just a guide to guide the tool.

Also, since you said you have to cut off about an inch, I wonder if it would
make any sense for you to try whatever method you are going to use first by
only making the first cut off be about 1/4 inch or so. *That way, you could
see how the material cuts before making the final cut.

Good luck.

The OP didn't say if it was to be a 1/2 inch on each end or 1" all off
one end. *Depends on how it is fastened to the rest of the tub.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Also depends on whether it has a design on it or not. It might need to
be cut from both ends for balance.

On Jul 11, 2:13*pm, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Jul 11, 2:04*pm, "hr(bob) " wrote:
On Jul 10, 3:11*pm, "TomR" wrote:

Also, since you said you have to cut off about an inch, I wonder if it would
make any sense for you to try whatever method you are going to use first by
only making the first cut off be about 1/4 inch or so. *That way, you could
see how the material cuts before making the final cut.

The OP didn't say if it was to be a 1/2 inch on each end or 1" all off
one end. *Depends on how it is fastened to the rest of the tub.

Also depends on whether it has a design on it or not. It might need to
be cut from both ends for balance.

Maybe it doesn't have to be balanced on the center. It could be a
cantilevered whirlpool tub.

R