I want to cut a hole in a cf panel for a speaker (speaker will lie behind the panel, not mounted on it) and fab up some kind of grill cover. Panel is too big to fit on a sabersaw table easily, and I'm worried about using any kind of power tool in case it cracks the clear coat.

Rather do this myself, as I've never trusted anyone I've met in a stereo shop. TIA!

I have never cut CF, but I would suggest using blue painter's tape to control splintering at the cut site. Rotozip style tool or dremel may give you the best results with controlled cuts.

Originally posted by CODE4
I have never cut CF, but I would suggest using blue painter's tape to control splintering at the cut site. Rotozip style tool or dremel may give you the best results with controlled cuts.

x2

Dremel
Tape
Respirator

Hole saw and slow speed drill.

Originally posted by eclipse982nrRST
Hole saw and slow speed drill.

Hmm, no tape, lol? Gotta be steady-ass steady, she gonna want to flex and walk a little. I've actually made throttle body butterflies with a hole saw, so it can be done. But Like Mike said "slow speed drill".

Originally posted by bullettdsm

Originally posted by eclipse982nrRST Hole saw and slow speed drill.

Hmm, no tape, lol? Gotta be steady-ass steady, she gonna want to flex and walk a little. I've actually made throttle body butterflies with a hole saw, so it can be done. But Like Mike said "slow speed drill".

I never used tape on my hold CF hoods, and I had 4 before I went with a straight fiberglass hood.

A hole saw and a slow speed drill will do it.

So I have to locate a hole saw with a 4-5 inch diameter, and with small enough teeth that it won't grab the panel suddenly. hard to find and prolly expensive IMO, but I'll scope out home depot

maybe this should be more in the audio section, but where can I pick up a nice speaker grill with a backing that can somehow attach to the other side of the hole. I don't know quite how to explain it - basically I want the grill to stay attached to the door.

Originally posted by ez
So I have to locate a hole saw with a 4-5 inch diameter, and with small enough teeth that it won't grab the panel suddenly. hard to find and prolly expensive IMO, but I'll scope out home depot

www.fastenal.com

About the speaker grill ez, I would probably get some nice ones and fit it to contour the door.

That way it looks contoured to fit :shrug

And you would most likely need to use small screw through the back of the panel to attach them.

I would get an audio shop to do them if it were, dont want to screw up CF panels.

If I trusted anyone I've ever met in an audio shop, I would let them do it.

I've done so many other "firsts" on this car, figure I might as well do this too.

I just have to source some nice grill covers.

what about making a little trim ring and wrapping it in grill cloth? If you took your time you could even use a piece of rubber edging and use that to hold the grill cloth in place. That would keep it nice and conformed to the shape of the panel.