Bath Panel Woes (possible DIY disaster within)

[freddiemercurystwin]

That's a rubbish design, should the silicone fail water will track back inside behind the panel.

 

[dontbelieveawordofit]

last resort......you could mask a line on the edge of the bath and dremmel it. if you have a steady hand and big balls.
good luck. wear a mask.

 

[Dazza Jones]

I don't have a Dremel but I do have a multitool and an angle grinder. The angle grinder with a cutting disc might be ok but I do find it a bit unwieldy, and it's not got an adjustable speed setting.
The multitool might be a bit more forgiving. I'll try and set up a guide somehow which should give a good cut, then just sand down to a decent finish.

What's the worst that could happen.....

 

[JohnD]

The multitool will do it. The half-moon blade makes a reasonably straight cut. Have a couple of spare blades handy.

I agree that the design is very strange, since there is no overlap to shed water.

 

[mikeey84]

Have you spoken to the bath manufacturer? If its a defect they may replace, or maybe its a purposeful design, and they have a solution?

 

[dontbelieveawordofit]

What's the worst that could happen...

your grinder or multitool will bounce off the surface and mark the acrylic as your’e trying to get a start on it!
dremel or nothing for me .

 

[Dazza Jones]

your grinder or multitool will bounce off the surface and mark the acrylic as your’e trying to get a start on it!
dremel or nothing for me .

Might be an excuse for a new tool then. What is about the Dremel tool you like for this type of job? I haven't used one before but I'm guessing they would be less aggressive with the cut? Would you use one of the thin cutting discs or any other bit/technique?

 

[dontbelieveawordofit]

Might be an excuse for a new tool then. What is about the Dremel tool you like for this type of job? I haven't used one before but I'm guessing they would be less aggressive with the cut? Would you use one of the thin cutting discs or any other bit/technique?

yep thin cutting disc. no vibration . will fly through 4mm acrylic. I also fear a steel multitool blade would heat up and want to stick itself to the plastic.

 

[Dazza Jones]

Right I'll get one ordered, will probably be a legally different 'rotory multi tool' but I'm sure they all do the same thing.

Thanks to you and everyone else who contributed to the thread.

 

[Dazza Jones]

Went through with cutting the bath. 6 hours later and I'm pleased with the result. (Looks worse in the pictures, you can't tell IRL) Couldn't have done it without a Dremel, anything else would have made a mess, and thanks for the heads up on the mask, definitely a messy job.
Last few bits to finish and I'm hanging up my tool belt....

 

[sircerebus666]

Looks good , smart looking bathroom too