Help On How To Cut A Bike Fender

[SLED]

Just need some advice on cutting about 10mm off the bottom of my bike's fender without destroying the paint with excessive heat.

It constantly bottoms out going down kerbs and needs a trim.......where it's marked roughly with a silver marker.

I originally used a small angle grinder with a 1mm disc to cut & shape the fender then a dremmel to clean it up..........but that was before paint.

The black will be easy to fix, but I don't want heat to lift the airbrushed stuff.

[timo31]

maybe use tin snips or a nibbler

[SLED]

yeah unfortunately I don't think there's a pair of tinsnips on the planet that will cut through 12 gauge steel..........nibbler would struggle as well

[Import S13]

deffently take it to a pro pete. then if something goes wrong youve got someone else to blame

only way i can think of though that would get you a decent finish would be the angle grinder. maybe do a few seconds of grinding and dip it in water to get it cool to try and save the paint? theres not a whole lot to cut off so you might get away with it? also try calling someone like 69 customs, they might be able to give you some pointers on cutting airbrushed things?

but really, i wouldnt go off something i or anyone off here says. id really go to someone whos done this before haha

[Stol]

If you do it bit by bit with a 1mm disc on an angle grinder you shouldn't damage it too much (the heat will want to stay in the smaller end anyway). Having said that I'm pretty sure you would need to get some of the air brush touched up. I'm a fourth year metal fabricator and have cut a bit of powder coated/ two pack stuff but never any airbrush..

PM Craved (you will find him in the fabrication section), he seems to be a wealth of knowledge.

[SLED]

yeah thanks for the info guys.

I was actually planning on going at it with a 1mm disc and wet rag dipped in iced water every few seconds????????

[RubyRS4]

Pete,

Ive done this kinda work before ... many years ago.

Mask up the line you want to cut along, then mark it up with a texta. Find the finest, finest cutting tool you can (maybe in your case a fine cutting blade on a grinder and/or dremel). Peal off the tape when you are done as soon as you can, because water and masking tape can leave the tape glue behind (and some of the paper). You will more than likely require a small touch up around the cutting edge.

If you need a good bloke for the touch up ... try Daniel Stone Paint and Panel at Hackham. He's an old riding buddy of mine and hes done work to my Stageas. He's done body work for custom Harleys as well as jap crap bikes Tell him ruby sent you and hell look after you.

Edited October 26, 2008 by RubyRS4

[SLED]

yeah touch up of the edge after I can handle cause it'll be in the black area.......as long as the heat doesn't lift the paint further into the airbrush area I reckon I should be OK..........I hope

[RubyRS4]

yeah touch up of the edge after I can handle cause it'll be in the black area.......as long as the heat doesn't lift the paint further into the airbrush area I reckon I should be OK..........I hope

You'll be fine then.

Use the tape to eliminate any potnetial chipping or burring of the paint.

Use the finest cutting edge/blade you can and take your time. It is a piece of cake.

[DSTROY]

If you need a good bloke for the touch up ... try Daniel Stone Paint and Panel at Hackham. He's an old riding buddy of mine and hes done work to my Stageas. He's done body work for custom Harleys as well as jap crap bikes Tell him ruby sent you and hell look after you.

+1 he did the paint on my GTR rims.

Maybe try and run some water over it when your making the cut with a grinder it will help keep the metal nice and cool while cutting.

[SLED]

yeah I might even stick a wet sponge underneath as I'm cutting........any volunteers to hold the sponge

[4door_Sleeper]

If you want to be sure not to lift the paint, use a file.

Sure it will take a while but there will be no heat buildup, and if you file from the paint side (apply tape along the finish line to protect from acidents/mistakes) into the fender you should have minimal paint damage.

[SLED]

yeah I thought of that Guy but it would take ages and I've got no way of supporting the fender for that long.

I wonder how a tungsten bit on the die grinder would go?

[skyhighR33]

alright pete i didn't read all of this post but mut some masking tape on the fender draw your line on top of the tape and cut it with the 1mm disc just let it cool a bit before cutting all the way through, ive seen it done and its worked but yeah you might want to go and see a professional good luck either way.

cheers... michael

[SLED]

thanks guys

[RubyRS4]

Most importantly ... don't lose any fingers in the process.

Its hard to ride with missing digits.

[Fabs_32]

I wonder how a tungsten bit on the die grinder would go?

That's what I would go with. Perhaps try and use an air hacksaw for the bulk of it (minimal heat) then u could just die grind it for a smooth finish....

[SLED]

Troy from Nightmare Designs is giving me a hand to cut it with a paper thin disc and running water tomorrow.

Check out his website and see if you recognize any bikes..........he's been crowned the best bike painter in the country in 2007 at the nationals (Bike Week) on the Gold Coast.

[tryandcatchme]

yeah I might even stick a wet sponge underneath as I'm cutting........any volunteers to hold the sponge

Just take it easy pete,slowly is always the key,you know bikes are like woman,like roo said mark up with tape etc,use smallest blade possible and just go slow,it wont heat up that much then,need a hand let me know

[SLED]

cheers for that & thanks Damo