He used a dremel also.

While the cutoff wheel will work well. The sanding drum is what he used to cut the opening and finish it. Before seeing him do it this way, I would have used the cutoff as well, but after seeing how easy and nice a job he did just using the sanding drum, I won't use the cutoff on a cowl again.

If you tip the dremel on a 45 degree angle from the surface your cutting, you can run the sanding drum right into it without having to create a starter hole. Jut tip it on a 45 and pull the whole dremel downwards. Not pushing down like if you were drilling, but sliding down. Don't be to near an edge though. Stay in a little ways in case you goof.

Mark the area you want to cutout with a black magic marker and when you do the initial cutout, don't try to go right up to the line. Stay about an 1/8th of an inch away from it until you get the piece out.

You might want to put a drop of CA glue on the cut edge of the gold stripes. It peels back easily at any openings.

Jack