Mini-wrench report: Cutting windscreen

Ok ... I hit the "why-the-fuck-not" point today and decided to cut down my
windscreen. Picked up a fine toothed saber saw blade and some blue painters
tape. First I carefully created a template to use to mark the windshield. Sat
on bike to determine where I wanted to cut ... made mark with grease pencil ...
positioned template and checked it twice ... and then checked it again. Tacked
it in place using a couple of pieces of tape. Then I taped the reverse side
making sure I had a good layer of tape down. Once that was done I removed the
template and taped the front side using the taping I had already done as a
guide, and finally repositioned the template onto the front of the windsreen and
taped it in place. I then used a fine Sharpie to mark where I would cut, and
removed the template. It all looked good, so i got ready to cut. I used WD-40
to keep the blade lubricated and proceeded to cut the windscreen as accurately
as I could. Once the cutting was done, I used varying grits of sandpaper and a
sander to shape and smooth the edge.

Final grade: C-
Critique: I just couldn't hold the saw steady enough and it isn't the smoothest
cut. Not real bad, but noticeable when you look at it. Also, I slipped while
sanding and put some scratches on the face and back on one edge.

Oh well ... it works.

--
Grumpy DOF #-2, BS#193, MINCE
00 FLSTC "Babe"
"It's a dog eat dog world, and I'm wearin' Milkbone underwear." - Norm Peterson
---------
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"Michael Hewitt" <mdhewitt.RemoveThis@pacbell.net> wrote in message

 > Ok ... I hit the "why-the-fuck-not" point today and decided to cut down
my
 > windscreen. Picked up a fine toothed saber saw blade and some blue
painters
 > tape. First I carefully created a template to use to mark the
windshield. Sat
 > on bike to determine where I wanted to cut ... made mark with grease
pencil ...
 > positioned template and checked it twice ... and then checked it again.
Tacked
 > it in place using a couple of pieces of tape. Then I taped the reverse
side
 > making sure I had a good layer of tape down. Once that was done I removed
the
 > template and taped the front side using the taping I had already done as
a
 > guide, and finally repositioned the template onto the front of the
windsreen and
 > taped it in place. I then used a fine Sharpie to mark where I would cut,
and
 > removed the template. It all looked good, so i got ready to cut. I used
WD-40
 > to keep the blade lubricated and proceeded to cut the windscreen as
accurately
 > as I could. Once the cutting was done, I used varying grits of sandpaper
and a
 > sander to shape and smooth the edge.
 >
 > Final grade: C-
 > Critique: I just couldn't hold the saw steady enough and it isn't the
smoothest
 > cut. Not real bad, but noticeable when you look at it. Also, I slipped
while
 > sanding and put some scratches on the face and back on one edge.
 >
 > Oh well ... it works.

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://hometown.aol.com/FastAireOne" target="_blank">http://hometown.aol.com/FastAireOne</a>

For $29 you can just buy one already cut down, and if it gets screwed up
after a few years a new one is only $29. I just bought a 8" smoked grey
and I think the quality is the same as the H-D factory part. Can't go
wrong for that kind of money.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->