Marine Stereo "in dash", what tool for cut out?

[Expidia]

My new Kenwood Stereo from Pond Tunes should arrive tomorrow!

Can anyone suggest what would be the best tool to do the cut out in the plastic dash to mount the head unit in?

I have tools like a roto zip, hacksaw blade, jig saw, Dremel etc
But I hate to attack my new boat with the wrong tool to do the job.

I wouldn't mind having to buy a tool that I may not have already if it would mean I would not do damage to the dash trying this with something like a jig saw.

I suppose I could drill a few starter holes in the corners within the template area and use a heated knife blade moving a few inches at a time re heating the blade each time with a propane torch. Isn't there an accessory that can be attached to a propane bottle to do this?

Suggestions please for a better way to do this before I butcher it up

I'll be mounting it on the right side under the row of switches. I might have to pull the steering wheel to get better access to the area which has to be cut out especially if I use the jig saw.

I'm hoping this picture is deceiving as to the size of the space because from the looks of this picture the CD won't clear the steering wheel when I load and un load it. But I think the wheel is actually farther away from the dash than it looks here.






Thx

 

[jtexas]

Re: Marine Stereo "in dash", what tool for cut out?

dremel/cutoff wheel......not so fast that it melts the plastic......

 

[PondTunes]

Re: Marine Stereo "in dash", what tool for cut out?

Rotozip and a steady hand are my choice tools for cutting holes in most anything. I recommend the heavy duty cutting blades for cutting marine plywood for speakers but you should be fine with the standard fiberglass/plastic bits for your dash.

Be sure to measure twice and cut once as its pretty hard to put material back if you cut too much, a cardboard template works great as you can cut it to fit your radio cage/housing then use it to mark the dash.

Cut with a rotozip by yours truly.

 

[C-VENN]

Re: Marine Stereo "in dash", what tool for cut out?

how thick is the plastic? If it has some thickness I would use a jigsaw with a metal blade being careful of how hot it gets. Make sure to tape up the both sides to be safe.

 

[PondTunes]

Re: Marine Stereo "in dash", what tool for cut out?

I don't recommend a jig saw if you have a rotozip, Jig saws have a nasty habit of not working good on things that are flexible, they like to grab and beat the crap out of whatever you are cutting. The blades also chip up the gelcoat on fiberglass real bad, where as a rotozip will leave a nice clean cut.

I've also found you can put a rotozip in a much smaller spot than a big bulky jig saw.

 

[QuadManiac]

Re: Marine Stereo "in dash", what tool for cut out?

Make a 1/4" plywood template for the cutout, foam double stick it to the dash and then roto-zip. If you make the plywood the inner part of the cutout, make sure it's smaller in both dimensions by 2 times the roto-zip cutter's width and cut carefully so as not to go into good dashboard area. If instead, you make the template with a hole in it that matches your desired coutout, make it the proper dimensions, and you won't worry about accidentally slipping outside the line.

Good Luck!

 

[luckyinkentucky]

Re: Marine Stereo "in dash", what tool for cut out?

I would use a dremel or rotozip type tool if I didn't have a router with table available. If you doubt your abilities and patience you can always mark out what needs to be cut, and take it to a machine shop to have them do it. That way if they mess it up then they will replace it. A buddy of mine who owns a local tool and die business took mine in on a Saturday and cut it out on his water jet machine. It looks like a laser cut it with it being so smooth and precise.

 

[slia67]

Re: Marine Stereo "in dash", what tool for cut out?

Make a 1/4" plywood template for the cutout, foam double stick it to the dash and then roto-zip. If you make the plywood the inner part of the cutout, make sure it's smaller in both dimensions by 2 times the roto-zip cutter's width and cut carefully so as not to go into good dashboard area. If instead, you make the template with a hole in it that matches your desired coutout, make it the proper dimensions, and you won't worry about accidentally slipping outside the line.

Good Luck!

That's a great idea. I wish I had read this before cutting the holes for speakers in my bow.

The roto-zip is a wonderful tool for cutting holes such as this.

Doug

 

[Expidia]

Re: Marine Stereo "in dash", what tool for cut out?

Thanks for your responses. Stereo came today from Pond Tunes . . .

Used the Rotozip for the dash cut out. It cut ttrough the plastic like it was butter.

Had to use a jigsaw with a metal blade for the speaker cut outs because I kept snapping $3 a piece Rotozip bits on the carpeted aluminum sides where I was mounting the speakers. The jig saw worked fine for these speaker holes. Cut each circle hole out in about 1 minute.

Thanks again!