About to cut my dash - advice required

**meep** · 07-30-2009, 08:32 PM

Hi Knowledgable People

I'm installing an 8" lilliput in my HiLux (see blog) and need to cut a section out from my center console fascia, (the crossbar in the picture below).

I've no idea what the material is (certainly not wood!!) and I want to make the cleanest cut possible. Any advice on tools or techniques? Should heat be involved?

Thanks in advance

Peter

**kraimer21** · 08-04-2009, 03:03 PM

if its not pvc plastic then some composite. You won't be able cut the excess piece and have a clean looking part without doing some molding/shaping/sanding/painting. If you do just want to cut it off, the cleanest cut you can probably get with a dremel and a steady hand.
good luck!

**Sonicxtacy02** · 08-04-2009, 03:36 PM

had the same stuff in my altima years back. You can use a dremel with a cutoff wheel... but be very careful to cut right at the thinnest part of the joint to avoid having to sand too much away and ruining the angles.

**Nexson** · 08-09-2009, 04:54 PM

I hate to be non-optimistic here, but I just see no way of cutting that woodgrain bezel and making it look clean after it is cut. Even I can't cut a 100% straight line. I have a really good steady hand with my dremel, but even after a cut, you will have little jagged ends that need to be sanded down. Anyways even if you don't sand them down, the inner cut edge will be white and not wood grain.

This is a tough one. I suggest molding it in and ditching the wood grain. Or paying some decent $, and mold it in and get it re-wood grained.

It is your choiuce, it depends on how anal you are.

**MindDrive** · 08-10-2009, 08:59 AM

^^^^^^^ if Nexson says "dont do it" then i really would listen to what he says.... look at his portfolio... its sick the way he makes oem projects look well... oem LOL

Props to ya Nexson for lookin out for this guy

**Nexson** · 08-10-2009, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by MindDrive

^^^^^^^ if Nexson says "dont do it" then i really would listen to what he says.... look at his portfolio... its sick the way he makes oem projects look well... oem LOL

Props to ya Nexson for lookin out for this guy

Thank you!! I really value your kind words!!! I figure it is the least I can do to help out

**meep** · 08-11-2009, 09:15 AM

Many thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm not too concerned about it being 100% oem, I'm happy to live with some rough edges - it's a work vehicle after all.

**strikeback03** · 08-11-2009, 09:21 AM

I doubt that crossbar is solid, so you might have holes where the ends were once you cut it out.

**meep** · 08-11-2009, 09:26 AM

Oh, I know I will.

Here's a pic from a guy who's done something similar in the same type of vehicle:

I'm going to have to think about how I deal with that.

Peter

**rdholtz** · 08-11-2009, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by meep

Oh, I know I will.

Here's a pic from a guy who's done something similar in the same type of vehicle:

I'm going to have to think about how I deal with that.

Peter

If you're willing to give up all of the woodgrain, you'd have the same issues he did. But there may be a way around that.

If you'd be willing to give up some of the woodgrain, you could make your modifications to get the parts smooth, keeping your work in a narrow area. Then choose a comfortable line around that area, and paint the edges you worked on. For instance, you might leave the face woodgrain, but bring the inner area to the dash color. You might even be able to scribe a narrow line between the two; if you could put a very dark gray or flat black paint (or ink, or tape) into that line, it would be a good visual demarcation.

Nexson can guide you on that. His version of OEM is often better than OEM.