Can tin snips cut through the rear parcel shelf?

[miller]

Hello,

I am installing a new sound system in the charger, the previous owner put some junky 6x9s in the car and cut some mismatched holes in order to make them fit, i want to improve the look of the car by mounting the speakers above the shelf, and to do that I need to enlarge the holes. I don't want to use any tool that would make sparks because I don't want to remove the interior. So I figured that if I use tin snips the job should be done cleanly and without much hassle. The tin snips says they are designed for 18 gauge steel, is that about the size of the parcel shelf material?

Do you have any other suggestions about how to make the cuts?

[elitecustombody]

reciprocating air saw will make the job much cleaner and faster ,I wouldn't even attempt to use tin snips.Worse case use a jig saw with metal blade

[Patronus]

  definitely the cleanest way. have a helper with a small vacuum 

[miller]

reciprocating air saw will make the job much cleaner and faster ,I wouldn't even attempt to use tin snips.Worse case use a jig saw with metal blade

How would I go about getting these tools into the car "the glass is still in the back window". Also would these ways make any sparks? I really do not want to make the charger go up in flames because I wanted to change the audio system. Finally how much would this stuff cost? I thought of the tin snips because they were cheap (16 dollars for 3 different angles) and I have zero money.

[tan top]

yep agreed  
saber saw is the best choice , will be lots of viberation while cutting depending how well you can get the saw in the correct position to the metal while cutting !! also wear  eye protection ,  no ! no sparks  but the metal filings will be very very hot  but cool quickly!!
   tin snips can do it also  , at last resort , but them three in a pack snips , wont be any good  , buy a good pair ! &  cut the  holes in 8 straight lines wear gloves , will look neater  & less fiddly than , cutting a curve  in that position !!   could always mount the speaker the trunk side , from the under neath !  make a smaller hole , just for the sound

[b5blue]

I was a steel framer for 10 years. They make left , right, straight yes but get a quality pair of yellow handle rather than cheap 3 set. The problem you will have is gripping for leverage with your wrist at an odd angle. I'd pull the back seat out, map out clearances and think of cutting pizza slice shaped 2" chunks as your not gonna just cut freeform willy nelly around in there. 

[tan top]

I was a steel framer for 10 years. They make left , right, straight yes but get a quality pair of yellow handle rather than cheap 3 set. The problem you will have is gripping for leverage with your wrist at an odd angle. I'd pull the back seat out, map out clearances and think of cutting pizza slice shaped 2" chunks as your not gonna just cut freeform willy nelly around in there.  

good advice    , forgot about  all the stuff in the way  like the rear glass  

[elitecustombody]

reciprocating air saw will make the job much cleaner and faster ,I wouldn't even attempt to use tin snips.Worse case use a jig saw with metal blade

How would I go about getting these tools into the car "the glass is still in the back window". Also would these ways make any sparks? I really do not want to make the charger go up in flames because I wanted to change the audio system. Finally how much would this stuff cost? I thought of the tin snips because they were cheap (16 dollars for 3 different angles) and I have zero money.

Once you get the rear seats out,mark the opening for new speaker/s. If you have to, drill a starter hole,insert the saw from the bottom and cut the opening while keeping eye on it from the top, there is not much science there,common sense is plenty to manage cutting a hole in rear deck. If you're on a budget, you can pick up cheap air saw from your local Harbor Freight for around $20-25 or try Northern Tool,


If you like to hack on your car,use snips,it's your car after all  

[charger2fast4u]

i would use a air saw or jig saw as mentioned above seems to be the easiest /cleanest cut. you could try tin snips but i'm not sure if you could cut out a hole in that location fairly well might get hacked up more then what it's worth but try it and if it isn't turning out good stop there before it looks to bad and try a air saw.

[elitecustombody]

Forgot to mention, there are no sparks when using air body saw,just wear safety glasses and face shield,vacuum when done,the shavings are not hot and will not burn anything

[miller]

Well I have installed the speakers, (the right one at least, still have to buy some more nuts to finish the installation of the left). I used a jig saw along with tin snips, pliers, and a hammer (the rear deck was cobbled together by the last guy).



My last question is: Should the speaker when producing should move inwards towards the trunk, or outwards towards the glass. I just don't want to have the positive and the negative switched when I plug them in.

[doctor4766]

I should think it will move towards the glass if wired right.

[elitecustombody]

You mean  yourself? 

(the rear deck was cobbled together by the last guy).

Usually the smaller/thinner terminal is negative and the larger/thicker one is positive,the speaker should move outwards ,to be sure you can use AA or AAA battery,to figure out which terminal is which

My last question is: Should the speaker when producing should move inwards towards the trunk, or outwards towards the glass. I just don't want to have the positive and the negative switched when I plug them in.

[miller]

You mean  yourself? 

(the rear deck was cobbled together by the last guy).

Usually the smaller/thinner terminal is negative and the larger/thicker one is positive,the speaker should move outwards ,to be sure you can use AA or AAA battery,to figure out which terminal is which

My last question is: Should the speaker when producing should move inwards towards the trunk, or outwards towards the glass. I just don't want to have the positive and the negative switched when I plug them in.

Oh no, it was much worse before I started on it (I wish I would have taken a picture). Now it at least looks like an amateur job rather than a blind person with a hammer. Thank you for all of your help with this, I greatly appreciate it!