Interesting... Metal cutting disks on fiberglass.

[Zach]

I did not want to create a dust storm this weekend cutting out some fiberglass tabbing. I picked up my 4.5 inch grinder with a cut off wheel on it. Figured what the heck, fired it up and gave a test cut. Goes through tabbing fast enough to be dangerous to boats, so I left a short lip and didn't try to get right down to the hull. (Grin)

Thought this tidbit might come in handy for someone in need of making a trip to the hardware store, as I've never seen/heard of any wheels bigger than a dremel being used... It's also possible that everybody uses them, and figure it the obvious tool of choice. (Bigger grin.)

Zach

[bcooke]

If you really want to feel like a man you can take a cold chisel and hammer to that tabbing. No dust and it gets into the tightest spots. I always keep one in my toolbag and I use it more often than I like to admit. Not my good chisel mind you but I try to keep it sharp.

[heartofgold]

Not my good chisel mind you but I try to keep it sharp.

Well, it doesn't stay sharp for long, but it is a good starting point.

[bcooke]

I did say try :-)

[Zach]

Yeah... Chisels definetly beat flathead screwdrivers with bent tips... (Grin)

I had to sharpen my chisel with a round file this weekend. Some things in life are just wrong. (Bigger grin)

Zach

[Hirilondë]

I keep 2 high carbon chisels in my tool bag. I sharpen them with considerably less angle than my good set as I often use them for tasks that only a chisel will do well, but reek havoc on them. Cutting tabbing would seem a task they would work well on.

[CharlieJ]

Yep- I have two or three old "knock-about" chisels I keep for just that sort of jobs.One smaller and one larger one.

I've cut a good bit of tabbing using those. Just use the belt sander to put a rough edge back on quickly ( DON'T overheat it!!!)

[deckhand]

I second the belt sander quickie sharpen. I have a tiny little 36" belt sander that lives in the boat (bigger jobs call for the 3 hp monster in the shop), with an 80 grit belt and a cup of water you're good to go. Love my messed up chisels for spooge mistakes.

another great thing on tabbing is a sawzall with a remgrit/carbide blade, tons less dust

[CharlieJ]

By the way Zach- Thanks for the tip.

I am repairing a broken rub rail on a dinghy for a customer and yesterday laid up the new glass over the rolled edge. Allowed the excess to run well past the edge so I could cut it flush. I tried out a cutting disc in my angle grinder- SLICK!!

Took mere seconds to cut to the line and created SO much less dust than grinding back would have.

Another arrow in the quiver- thanks again.

[Zach]

Glad it came in handy!

Used it again cutting the skin off of the deck, where the circular saw wouldn't quite reach all the way... Cuts faster than a saw. (Scary.)

[Zach]

Minor update: Concrete cutting discs last twice as long as the ones for metal... which means... forever.

Flap discs are another machine shop to boat work transition... though the 36 grit ones don't wear fast enough to keep fresh grit showing, start out with something that you have to hold about the same pressure as you'd want to scratch your back with a wire brush... and after an hour or so work like a normal 36 grit hard backed disc. Dangerous...

Zach

[Rich P]

I used the diamond tipped metal discs for fibreglass tabbing (the thin ones) they work very well! And last a while. Still plenty of dust though haha!

[Oscar]

I have multiple grinders with various thickness cutting discs on them.....love them, and use them for lots of different things. But, having laid a new cloth on both ama's there was one tool that cut the excess afterwards perfectly flush with almost no dust....yup, the multimax.