Cutting Fibreglass Battens

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eckas
eckas
NSW
323 posts
NSW, 323 posts
24 Apr 2014 9:18am
Just about to cut to length some cannibalised battens from older sails in order to effect some repairs to my newer sails.

I was thinking to just tightly tape the cut area (to prevent splintering of the fibreglass battens), then just lop them off with a drop saw.

Is this too simplistic? Are the any tips or tricks to cutting fibreglass battens?

Cheers...Eckas
DavMen
DavMen
NSW
1510 posts
NSW, 1510 posts
24 Apr 2014 9:37am
Eckas

You really ought to talk to your GPSTC team Captain (Glen) he's a guru at this stuff - he repaired a snapped top batten for me down at Lake George with stuff in his trailer (yeah OK ...its a big trailer)- set a PB on the repaired sail the next day.

Cheers
Mark _australia
Mark _australia
WA
23647 posts
WA, 23647 posts
24 Apr 2014 8:20am
Spot on eckas
FormulaNova
FormulaNova
WA
15100 posts
WA, 15100 posts
24 Apr 2014 8:44am
Cut it off a bit longer first in case it splinters it. They are only compressed fibres, I forget the name of it, but the fibres run lengthwise, and I would be worried that the coarse teeth on a drop saw might splinter them.

Try it first, or use a hacksaw with a finer blade.

MikeyS
MikeyS
VIC
1509 posts
VIC, 1509 posts
24 Apr 2014 12:26pm
I'd suggest using a fine blade hacksaw too. And don't just cut from the top to the bottom- cut and roll the batten progressively so you've scored it all round first, then do the final cut all the way through. Otherwise you'll risk splitting off the fibres as you finish the cut at the bottom.
ikw777
ikw777
QLD
2995 posts
QLD, 2995 posts
24 Apr 2014 2:07pm
Drop-saw is overkill and will spray glass fibres all over the place.
Glad to see you're trying the repair though.
Simon100
Simon100
QLD
490 posts
QLD, 490 posts
24 Apr 2014 5:22pm
Just cut it with anything normally a hack saw though if it splinters a bit it doesn't really matter

Mark _australia
Mark _australia
WA
23647 posts
WA, 23647 posts
24 Apr 2014 6:16pm
I was assuming by drop saw he means the one that is used for metal or stone, with an abrasive disc, not a wood saw with teeth

Fast cutting surface and minimally sized (or no) teeth is obviously best.


Haveused fine hacksaw, like 32tpi, and masking tape, just fine previously

Subsonic
Subsonic
WA
3413 posts
WA, 3413 posts
24 Apr 2014 7:00pm
MikeyS said...
I'd suggest using a fine blade hacksaw too. And don't just cut from the top to the bottom- cut and roll the batten progressively so you've scored it all round first, then do the final cut all the way through. Otherwise you'll risk splitting off the fibres as you finish the cut at the bottom.


+1

I've watched someone do it with a drop saw, I was glad to be standing well enough away when he did it. Like Miley said, cut around the batten first, to cut the outer fibres , then cut through. Do it with a hacksaw, not a drop saw
clarence
clarence
TAS
979 posts
TAS, 979 posts
24 Apr 2014 9:35pm
I cut some down a while back, I think with a hacksaw from memory.

A fine tooth hacksaw or diamond blade in an angle grinder would be the best option.

General rule of thumb for drop saw (or any powered saw) is that the gap between the teeth of the blade should be smaller than the dimension of the stock which is being cut. A negative pitch tooth on the drop saw (ie joinery/plastic cutting blade) would help. Otherwise put the batten between two solid blocks of timber to prevent blowout of fibres and grabbing. Overall the dropsaw would be an awful lot of hassle and cost for a few battens when a hacksaw would do the job.

Clarence
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