Removing fiberglass panels with a chisel
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 438
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From: Houston, Texas
Removing fiberglass panels with a chisel
I need to remove some of the panels from my 69 to get access to some birdcage rust. I always seem to have heard that you use a chisel and split the glass apart at the bonding seams. However, the glue seems stronger than the fiberglass, so this is just making a big mess of everything. Do I have this right or do I need to cut the seams instead. I pretty much need to remove the front clip. After studying pictures of those that have done it, I have identified all the bonding seams that need to be cut.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
Re: Removing fiberglass panels with a chisel (noskillz)
I use chisels, putty knives and wedges.
I always start by carefully looking where to break the adhesive, then I use a small sharp chisel to just tap the seams till the seam starts to crack, doi this along the entire length of seam, you don't have to or want to seperate the panels just yet, just weaken the cement. Then I get a small putty knife and try to seperate the panels, if they won't budge, back to the chisel and so on. When I have a section loose I use the wedges to hold the seam as wide as possible without cracking the glass.
Patience is the key. I see a lot of shops and people here take of front ends and they end with tears and/or entire sections of glass broken off
Marck
I always start by carefully looking where to break the adhesive, then I use a small sharp chisel to just tap the seams till the seam starts to crack, doi this along the entire length of seam, you don't have to or want to seperate the panels just yet, just weaken the cement. Then I get a small putty knife and try to seperate the panels, if they won't budge, back to the chisel and so on. When I have a section loose I use the wedges to hold the seam as wide as possible without cracking the glass.
Patience is the key. I see a lot of shops and people here take of front ends and they end with tears and/or entire sections of glass broken off
Marck
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 931
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From: MI
Re: Removing fiberglass panels with a chisel (noskillz)
Use a stiff putty knife. start by cheasling the knife in between the adhesive and the bonding strip or the body panel. You will not be able to break the cement this way, instead trying to seperate the cement and the glass.
After the knife got through, hold the knife by the handle and tap on the side of the blade to seperate the glass further until the entire panel come loose. Like mention above, be patient! Not to pull or pry on the glass while it's still bonded. This is how people tear them apart!
I removed the damaged front clip on my car and the donor one for swapping out with out a single damaged glass on either clips! It took time, but well worth.
[Modified by Ki m Le, 12:44 PM 6/12/2003]
After the knife got through, hold the knife by the handle and tap on the side of the blade to seperate the glass further until the entire panel come loose. Like mention above, be patient! Not to pull or pry on the glass while it's still bonded. This is how people tear them apart!
I removed the damaged front clip on my car and the donor one for swapping out with out a single damaged glass on either clips! It took time, but well worth.
[Modified by Ki m Le, 12:44 PM 6/12/2003]
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 4,078
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From: Northeast South Dakota
Re: Removing fiberglass panels with a chisel (Twin_Turbo)
Twin Turbo has it right. The thing to remember is that once you get to the point where you are going to remove the front end you are already in for a complete body and paint job so as long as you don't damage the front end real, real bad, you can just fix it back up before you go back together.
-Justin
-Justin
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Re: Removing fiberglass panels with a chisel (Dalannex)
For the most part, I have used two wood chisels to split the seams.
Like TT said - you need to work along a small section and weaken the
bond (you'll hear it give little snaps and cracks). When the seam starts to
break apart, I leave one chisel in the gap, then use the second to start
working the seam a little 'downstream'. Some of my bonds were like cement,
while others pulled apart by hand. In most cases the adhesive will stay intact,
and the surface of the fiberglass will pull off - leaving bare fiberglass exposed
with some strands hanging out. When I got this, I did no more to finish the
area for rebonding - I think this is a perfect surface to bond to. You will break
some pieces and corners off. They can be fixed during re-install. You will
punch the chisel through a panel or two - fix B4 re-assembly.
Good luck. I just got my front clip back on, after all the WS frame and BC
work. Search for my posts in archives - I posted many pics along the way.
:seeya
Like TT said - you need to work along a small section and weaken the
bond (you'll hear it give little snaps and cracks). When the seam starts to
break apart, I leave one chisel in the gap, then use the second to start
working the seam a little 'downstream'. Some of my bonds were like cement,
while others pulled apart by hand. In most cases the adhesive will stay intact,
and the surface of the fiberglass will pull off - leaving bare fiberglass exposed
with some strands hanging out. When I got this, I did no more to finish the
area for rebonding - I think this is a perfect surface to bond to. You will break
some pieces and corners off. They can be fixed during re-install. You will
punch the chisel through a panel or two - fix B4 re-assembly.
Good luck. I just got my front clip back on, after all the WS frame and BC
work. Search for my posts in archives - I posted many pics along the way.
:seeya
