I am enlarging the radio opening to accept a double din radio, the last step I need to do is enlarge the center console opening. Yeah I wish I had access to a laser cutter or a CNC, but I don't.

Any suggestions on cutting the wood trim?

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The "shadetree" method would be to tape the veneer side with masking tape to prevent cracking, and a fine blade scroll saw to cut.

I wonder though, didn't the later models come with the full-screen computer display? Those would be a double-DIN size. It would be much cleaner to get a console from a later-series R129.

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I would think one of those Dremel looking saws ("Rotozip"?) would work well. I think there is even a saw blade (looks like a drill bit) for the Dremel.

If you are going to use a saw, I would clamp a thin sheet of plywood against the veneer side, and cut through both the veneer and plywood. That way all of the splinters end up on the plywood and the veneer looks perfect.

You can put a sheet of paper towel between the veneer and plywood to stop the veneer side from scratching. That way you just cut through all of the layers and have a perfect finished piece.

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If you launch straight in with a saw you'll risk chip-out, and plywood will only prevent chip-out if it's clamped tight.

The face veneer is a thin layer. The varnish can be brittle. Cut through those 2 layers cleanly and you're away and laughing.

You'll need to cut through the veneer wood grain before using G-Benz's saw and tape to complete the cut.

- Scribe the line of cut using a razor-sharp knife/scalpel and a straight edge
- Go over the cutting line again with the knife guided by the straight edge, cutting through the varnish and well into/through the first layer of veneer
- Use clear tape over the cut line
- Cut out the waste wood with a fine saw on the waste side of the cut (I'd use a coping saw if you're OK using hand tools -- much more precise -- otherwise use a thin blade with as many teeth as possible).
Cheers
John

if you are going to use any sort of power saw or dremel bit use Kiwis recomendations and do all cutting from the back side to reduce chances of splintering. My $.02 Don

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