Cutting Fiberglass tube

[High Desert Rocketry]

Ok, after doing a search and scrolling through hundreds of treads, I guess I'll start my own. How to cut fiberglass undoubtedly has been covered in 'build posts' but maybe not a thread itself.

In desperation, I cut a 38mm fiberglass tube for an avionics bay using just an old outdoor chop saw. And I mean old. The blade has cut all sorts of stuff from wood to metal and even a rock.

My dad taught me to wrap a layer of tape on things to limit/prevent splinters and fraying. Knowing the blade was anything but sharp, I hoped for the best and it surprised me. The cut was real nice.

Pictures of the cut (tape removed off one end) and the blade...notice broken and missing carbide teeth



and the fit with the motor case.



To prevent the fiberglass ends from splintering/fraying, is CA the best thing to use?

Rick

 

[High Desert Rocketry]

Wouldn't you know it, after I post this thread I find one from 2012 with the same title!

https://www.rocketryforum.com/threads/cutting-fiberglass-tube.40839/

Rick

 

[JohnCoker]

And if you want to build your own jig:
Cheap Tube Saw

 

[jimzcatz]

I just use a standard hacksaw . If I do use electricity I always use metal cutting blades or carbide tipped.

 

[Wayco]

Wet tile saw. Smooth edges and no fiberglass dust.

 

[jqavins]

And if you want to build your own jig:
Cheap Tube Saw

The link seems to be troublesome if not broken. Not a 404 error, but rather a 504 - Gateway timeout.

Anyway, from this and the other thread linked above, the upshot seems to be that cutting fiberglass is no biggie.

 

[JohnCoker]

The link seems to be troublesome if not broken. Not a 404 error, but rather a 504 - Gateway timeout.

Hmm, not sure. It seems to be working now.

Anyway, from this and the other thread linked above, the upshot seems to be that cutting fiberglass is no biggie.

Well, the dust produced can be a "biggie" for sure. It will also dull HSS and Carbide tools very quickly.

 

[Rob702Martinez]

Wet tile saw. Smooth edges and no fiberglass dust.

Wonder if that small HF tile saw would work.

 

[OverTheTop]

Dremel in the toolpost of the lathe with a cutoff wheel, or alternatively, a dental drill with a diamond burr. I have done it both ways. Chuck running quite slow. Need to use a vac to keep the dust constrained. No frayed edges.

 

[OZRoc]

Diamond blade in a drop saw. Sweet as.

Large fan behind you and all the dust goes out the door.
Cheers

 

[JohnCoker]

Wonder if that small HF tile saw would work.

Yep, it sure does. (See my post above about cutting large tubes with a jig built around it.)