Cutting Glass Canopy Back Strips

[BlueRusty]

I have had an Aqueon 125 glass canopy on my tank for a few weeks no but only recently have completed (hopefully) adding equipment. So now I am begining to cut the clear plastic/vinyl back strip trim for equipment openings and I'm having a bit of trouble.

The Back stripping is quite thicker than many other canopies I have had and I can't seem to find any write-ups on the best thing to use to trim it with. I have tried industrial scissors, mechanics cutters, fresh razor blades/knifes, and dremel tools with many attachments. There seems to be no good way to trim these up fast. The scissors stress or crack the stuff, cutters crack it, razors take FOR EVER and dremel tools melt the stuff on low speeds.

PLEASE help me out here, I have many small individual openings to cut still.

 

[creepyoldguy]

Dang! Sounds like some pretty tough stuff! Maybe try soaking it in hot water to heat up the plastic to make it easier to work with.

 

[Brian_Indiana]

I have always used vinyl snips to cut mine without incident.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...log_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCYQ8wIwAg#

 

[BlueRusty]

They look similar to what i have been trying just a bit longer:
http://compare.ebay.com/like/200538...fa8484b&itemid=200538021930&ff4=263602_304662

The real problem is getting past the rib on either side without cracking the plastic.

 

[12 Volt Man]

I cut mine carefully with a metal ruler and box cutter.

 

[BlueRusty]

Dang! Sounds like some pretty tough stuff! Maybe try soaking it in hot water to heat up the plastic to make it easier to work with.

It is starting to dip into the high 20's where I'm at so heating isn't a bad idea but i believe i will still need a new cutting method.

 

[BlueRusty]

I cut mine carefully with a metal ruler and box cutter.

I think that is how i must do it. It's the only way that worked so far but it is just so damn sloww. Especially the forked end. Cutting all the openings i need could take a good 2-3 hours. It took me 20 minutes to cut off 2 straight pieces for the ends of where my AQ 110 filter is and i cracked it twice.

 

[creepyoldguy]

Better idea just came to mind. What about a cutting torch?

 

[BlueRusty]

I actually tried a hand saw and a table saw on my last set but both to no avail. The hand saw chipped it a little and the table saw (of coarse it was the huge tooth) melted it and chipped it. I just sold the 4 foot acetylene torch to my snap-on driver...

 

[BlueRusty]

I especially like how in the little index car instruction it included in the box it said "Each Versa-Top features a clear vinyl back strip that can be easily cut to custom fit your accessories."

I wonder why my set didn't come with any of that?