How to remove plastic film?

[Bdflies]

Hi guys. This is a question, rather than a technique or hint. When I bought my project, I was impressed that the original builder had very neatly removed the plastic film, from aluminum sheets, wherever holes were drilled or rivets driven. When the surrounding film was removed, there is absolutely no hint of the cut line, other than the difference in tarnish of the surface. I'm past the point of needing to drill and work aluminum sheet, but I'm a bit puzzled. I've tried everything I can imagine to cut the film cleanly, while not leaving a scratch on the surface, but I've never been as consistently successful as Dick Smith (the craftsman who started my project).
So, how do you guys cut the plastic film and not scratch the underlying aluminum?

Bill

[S Lathrop]

I use a soldering iron and draw a box around the area I want to remove the plastic. I then just peal the center of the box out. The heat is not sufficient to burn through the plastic but is thins it out so it will tear along the like I drew.

[Bearhawkdoc]

Be sure and round off the tip of the soldering iron to avoid scratching the aluminum.

[Bdflies]

The soldering pencil sounds like the way to do it! I tried EVERYTHING and kept leaving scratches...

Thanks!

Bill