How To: Shave/Cut your Plastics! (700 or 660)

[Krandall]

Gonna try something new, a "How It's Done" theme could be useful. 

Things you will need:
1. Cleaning materials to wash your atv.
2. Highlighter (or Sharpie)
3. Electrical tape (Preferably not Duct Tape)
4. Jigsaw (Air Grinder)
5. Sand paper (rough grit (120), and fine grit(900)
6. Lighter or propane torch.


1. Make sure your quad is clean. A pressure nozzle or power washer works good. Spray it down, and get all the big chunks of mud off. Next, spray simple green everywhere on the quad. Let it sit for about 5 minutes. Then spray the whole quad again with the power washer. Dry everything off with rags thouroghly. Spray armoral plastic shiner and finisher on the plastics. Then wipe down good with dry rags.

2. After it's clean, take a highlighter (I used a Sharpie) and make lines on your plastics to get a general idea of where you want to make your cuts. Put Electrical tape(duct tape can leave funny residue on the plastics) on the lines. Check that both sides are even and line up. Make sure you are happy with the design before you cut (cant go back after you cut) After you put the electrical tape on you are ready for the next step.

3. Now, a good, clean way to cut the plastics is a Jig Saw. I used an air grinder w/ a metal cutting wheel on it. Took a while, but got a nice cut. Jig saw would be better of the 2. The best way to cut the plastics is while they are still on the machine. Cut up against the line of the electrical tape. You can fine tune later, but just get the main part of the plastics off for now. Just dont make it to sloppy.

4. After you have got the main bulk off. Look at the plastics from up above. You want the lines to have a nice clean look to them and not all wavy. Try to smooth out any noticable waves with the saw. Repeat on the other side.

5. After you have everything fine tuned, take some course sand paper (120 grit is nice) and sand the edges. This gets all the rough shavings off. Then do the same with a finer grit sand paper (I used 900), untill the sides are smooth. You might see some white on the parts you sanded. That completely fine, it will go away in the next step!

6. Now, take a lighter or a propane torch, and heat up the part were you did all of the cuts. This takes out all the crappy looking unfinished look and gives it a nice polished, smooth, and refined factory finish!!

from: http://www.raptorsource.com/forum/index.php?topic=2807.0

[DL700]

A belt sander with 220 grit works awesome after the main portion has been removed, this allows a smooth consistent cut and shaping at the same time....the best way ive found 

[Geo]

CUTCO Scissors...