Cutting my windshield..
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Cutting my windshield..
My windshield doesn't want to cooperate with my 16in gangster apes. Its hitting my clutch and brake line line and pushing it against ape hangers. I need to cut & notch the windshield to work around the ape hangers. Has anyone tried this, if so got any help? Any info? Thanks
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 105
Likes: 36
From: Winnipeg
cuttin windshield
Assuming it is plexiglass or acrylic it can be cut with a very fine tooth blade on a jigsaw. simply tape over the area you want to cut, mark it out, slowly cut it. then sand the cut edge with fine sandpaper (220 grit)to remove any saw marks and lightly i repeat lightly torch the cut edge with a butane torch to bring it back to a clear edge. I cut acrylic like this all the time with no problems.
good luck
good luck
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Assuming it is plexiglass or acrylic it can be cut with a very fine tooth blade on a jigsaw. simply tape over the area you want to cut, mark it out, slowly cut it. then sand the cut edge with fine sandpaper (220 grit)to remove any saw marks and lightly i repeat lightly torch the cut edge with a butane torch to bring it back to a clear edge. I cut acrylic like this all the time with no problems. good luck
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
I would add that you should radius the notch corners. Doesn't need to be dramatic or big. Just that a hard or sharp corner will be prone to starting a crack. Drilling the corners then saw cutting is a good way to do this.
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Didnt know how many people have done this, or what should be used to cut
I've cut a bunch of shields...
I used my bandsaw.
LOTS of blue tape is your friend, and don't take the blue tap off until you are DONE.
I cut, then clamp with a bunch of towels in a vice, then start with a file, then sandpaper, on down to 2000 grit, then finished with Novus #3 on a washcloth on my Mouse sander, then Novus #2.
Comes out glass smooth.
My method and 2 cents.
I used my bandsaw.
LOTS of blue tape is your friend, and don't take the blue tap off until you are DONE.
I cut, then clamp with a bunch of towels in a vice, then start with a file, then sandpaper, on down to 2000 grit, then finished with Novus #3 on a washcloth on my Mouse sander, then Novus #2.
Comes out glass smooth.
My method and 2 cents.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 975
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From: Midwest
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Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 37
From: Rockland County, NY
All good advice. You should do a search on this subject. Many people have done it. I work with this kind of plastic. If you're careful it's easy and the results can be very good.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,521
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From: Ft Myers FL
My windshield doesn't want to cooperate with my 16in gangster apes. Its hitting my clutch and brake line line and pushing it against ape hangers. I need to cut & notch the windshield to work around the ape hangers. Has anyone tried this, if so got any help? Any info? Thanks
Here's what my windshield looks like with my apes.....
Novice
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: North Dakota
I have cut several shields just as the others have mentioned. Only thing I do differently is after sanding and getting the cut smooth I will use acetone on a paper towel to "melt" the edges instead of using a torch as someone else suggested.