Help with dash hacking and new paint

[pat]

I screwed up and had my cab painted before I cut the dash for a stereo. Whats the best way for me to make a new cd player fit without messing up the paint, burning it, or anything else. I figured a cut off wheel would burn up the paint. Maybe some kind of tin snips tool?
What did you all do to make yours fit. Do I need to weld in the bracket or will the tabs on the deck be enough to support it?