Brief Description: Cutting vinyl around rivet lines
I have kept the protective blue vinyl coating on as long as possible to protect the Alclad surface of the aluminum skin and ribs. In order to match-drill the skin to the ribs, I already removed the vinyl on the inside of the VS skin. However, on the exterior of the skin, I only need to uncover the areas along the rivet lines. To cut the strips of vinyl along the rivet lines, I used a soldering iron with the tip grinded down smooth, so as not to scratch the aluminum. Then I just ran the hot iron down a straight-edge to melt through the vinyl is straight strips.
