 What is the best tool for bobbing a fender?
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 363
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 363 |
Well, winter is finally here, and I am spending more time in the garage staring at my bike. I have decided to go forward with bobbing my rear fender and was curious to hear from others what tool they have used to cut their fenders. What worked?
What didn't?
Any tips?
Anything I should avoid?
Thanks for any help
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Re: What is the best tool for bobbing a fender?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Painting after or trying not to paint? I used a plasma cutter on mine after I had the paint stripped off. Shaped and cleaned up the edge with a grinder.
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Re: What is the best tool for bobbing a fender?
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
Assuming you don't want to repaint. You can tape (Duct works) the area you intend to cut, both sides and do your layout on the tape, I left a 1/32nd-64th" extra material and brought the cut up to the line with a sharp mill file (goes surprisingly quick).Refrain from getting the fender too hot (spray bottle w/water)and you will only need to touch up the bare metal of the cut edge. I'm a lucky guy, I have a lot of tools, so I used my pneumatic mini sawzall, but you can use a side grinder with a thin cut off disk or even a Dremel or whatever you have at your disposal. Go slow, and measure twice and just cut once. BTW, if you intend to use any type of metal saw, seek and find blades with the highest number of teeth per inch you can find.
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Re: What is the best tool for bobbing a fender?
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 363
Adjunct
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OP
Adjunct
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 363 |
I would like to get away with not repainting the fender if possible. I just got a chop saw or hot saw for christmas with a cutting wheel that can probably cut all the way through with one cut, but I am worried about heat. I also have an angle grider or dremel tool I could use.
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Re: What is the best tool for bobbing a fender?
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
"worried about heat"
That is what the spray bottle and the water I mentioned was for, probably wouldn't hurt to have a helper doing the squirting/cooling job, so that you can concentrate on making a precise cut with an abrasive cut off tool. I wouldn't use a chop saw, go with the angle grinder and a Dremel for the sharper radius cuts. Most important is the prep you do before the cutting, got good lighting so you can see the layout line? Clamp the fender down so it's stable. Even a practice swing without the tool running will show you if the cord binds mid cut or you muscles feel un natural in that position. Poor prep precedes piss poor results. Don't ask me how I know that.
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Re: What is the best tool for bobbing a fender?
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
How about using a jigsaw?
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: What is the best tool for bobbing a fender?
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6,432 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
How about using a jigsaw?
My experience with a jig saw leaves a bit to be desired as the plunging and pulling motion of the blade tends to distort the edge. I had to leave a fair bit proud of the cutting line to file to a smooth finish all the while wishing for a nice cutting wheel on a angle grinder. Good tip about the use of tape for the cutting line, that'll really save you when your cutting tool wants to ruin the area just adjacent the cut that you didn't want to mar.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)
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Re: What is the best tool for bobbing a fender?
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
Quote:
How about using a jigsaw?
A jigsaw would work, the hard part is finding a metal cutting blade with an absolute minimum of 24 teeth per inch, 28 would be a lot better. Remember 9th grade shop class, choose a hacksaw blade that engages the thickness of the material with 2 teeth at all times to ensure a smooth cut? That applies on sheet metal fenders as well.
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Re: What is the best tool for bobbing a fender?
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
An axe works best......Ok all joking aside. I say do it with a dremel and cut off wheels. It will take 3 or 4 wheels leave a bit 1/16 inch or so then use a DA sander to take the rest off.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: What is the best tool for bobbing a fender?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,243 Likes: 64
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,243 Likes: 64 |
An abrasive jigsaw blade would work well but as with any cutting tool you need to keep the fender cool if you don't want to repaint.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: What is the best tool for bobbing a fender?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,459 Likes: 1
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,459 Likes: 1 |
I intended to paint and had to use a bit of filler as I used a crashed back guard. I cut with an angle grinder with a cutting disc, the profile was then carved with a flapper disc. 
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