Cutting Hole in Dash?

[Silk]

What's the best way to cut a hole in a leather-covered fiberglass dash? I'm adding a starter button, which requires about a 3/4" hole. My biggest concern is not shredding the leather. Options I can think of: metal die cutter; regular drill bit with wood clamped on either side of the dash to prevent tearing/fragmenting; or a well-aimed .306 and a file. Suggestions appreciated.

[steve G]

If you want to do this in situ, make a small hole (smaller than you want to end up with)in the leather - leave enough of the leather to fold into the hole, and glue on the rear of the dash, otherwise it might pull out & leave wrinkles on the dash area., use a dremel with a ceramic tile cutter to grind out the fibreglass to a good size. then use a dremel sanding drum to smooth out the edge.

if you are taking the dash out, use the tile cutter with a fixed depth gauge to "scroll out" the hole you need. you should be able to avoid going deep & cutting the leather easily.

Don't try to drill leather at all. It stretches, grabs & wraps around the the cutters and is almost impossible to clamp effectively as it compresses and is uneven in thickness. the best way to cut leather is a very sharp utility blade.

Steve

[Okiesnake]

I would recommend first making a "X" with a razor blade through the outside vinyl at the center point of where you want the hole. Then make a small pilot hole from the front side of the dash. Next make several more cuts through the vinyl from the outer diameter of where the final hole is going to be towards the center of the circle. My drill bit of choice when making holes through fiberglass is one of those cone shaped bits that can cut bigger and bigger holes the deeper you drill. They are a little expensive but are the perfect tool for the job. A Dremel with a small drum sander also works well to slightly enlarge a hole.
Remember to pull back the pie shaped wedges in the vinyl when drilling. When you are done you can push the wedges through the hole when installing the starter button and not worry about the vinyl ever pulling away from the hole.

[Roscoe]

Assuming you cannot get in from the back end of the dash I would cut away the leather and use a Forstner bit the size of the hole you need. It will make a VERY clean, neat hole and not rip the glass.

Roscoe

[Ikestaa]

Hey Silk
We were planning on doing a starter button as well. How are you going to wire yours?

[Silk]

Steve, Okie, Roscoe

Thanks for the input. As you all suggested, I'll cut away the leather first. Then probably use the cutting tool I'm most comfortable with.

Ikestaa (You're an Eskimo perhaps? )

For my ignition setup, I think it's just a matter of running a wire from the ACC terminal on the ignition switch to one starter button terminal, and a wire from the other starter button terminal back to the ST terminal on the starter switch. With the ignition switch in the on position, you can then start the car either by hitting the starter button or by turning the key all the way on the ignition switch. Key words here - "I think." I've come close to electrocution just doing simple household wiring tasks, so I can't promise anything.

[Ikestaa]

I known what you mean. I rewired the lights in one of the rooms in our basement. I can't tell you how many times I forgot to turn off the lights before splicing the wires....yyyyeeeeeooooowwww!!!
That's the way I had in mind, but I figured I'd better be pretty sure before we actually tried it.

Not an eskimo; unfortunately, I'm a Hoosier.