Quick EZ tip for cutting doors and other body panels in cars and trucks

[DustyMojave]

An old friend of mine and multi contest winner, Armando Flores, builder of gorgeous low rider models, uses sewing thread to make cuts like opening doors, trunks, etc. Hold it like flossing teeth. Extremely narrow kerf and clean cut. Goes right around corners. Gets to places a metal saw can't imagine going. When the thread breaks, you just pull a little more off the spool.

 

[Snake45]

Yup. Amazingly, this works. You won't believe it till you try it. 

[Dave Van]

That has been around for years.......PRACTICE on a junker if you want to try.....I never mastered it.....cut wandered on me and never was happy with results.....but I am sure there are more skilled folks here!! 

[crazyjim]

I was taught that the thread has to be cotton.

[Snake45]

Instead of hand-holding the thread like floss, you can also put it in a jeweler's saw or coping saw. Or you can use some imagination and industry and fabricate your own C- or V-shaped frame to hold the thread. 

[crazyjim]

I make a loop and attach one end to a drawer knob, thread the thread through a tiny drilled hole in the door, trunk, and hold the other end in my hand.  Once you get going, it's pretty fast and is excellent for cutting those rounded corners.

[John Pol]

you can also use a flex file handle for the thread

[Ace-Garageguy]

Anybody got any pix?

[vintagercr]

On ‎12‎/‎22‎/‎2017 at 12:45 PM, John Pol said:

you can also use a flex file handle for the thread

That's a good idea, John

[MrObsessive]

Good suggestions for using thread! I tried this once years ago, trying to hold the model between my legs. Needless to say, that didn't work out very well!

As far as going around corners, I've never had much trouble with that as I've learned to go quite slowly around radii. If I make a scratch around surrounding bodywork.......well, that's where good 'ole superglue and Zip Kicker comes in mighty handy!

[Darren B]

On 12/22/2017 at 10:45 AM, John Pol said:

you can also use a flex file handle for the thread

yup!

[peteski]

On 12/23/2017 at 8:27 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Anybody got any pix?

Or better yet - a video of the process?

[John Pol]

Look for Darrel Cooper he has a video on how he did it

[Casey]

See Skip, this is why pinned posts aren't always effective...there may even be a Tree Hugger Dave sighting in this topic, so beware! 

 

Edited December 27, 2017 by Casey