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#61345 01/22/06 03:45 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 231
R
RobbieD Offline OP
Member
Wondering what has worked well in the past for you guys WRT putting rework boxes into old plaster walls with that annoying steel mesh inside them. Looking for the best way to avoid chipping the outter surface so it is a clean job. I was planning to trace, drill, and then use a recip saw with steel blades. Any suggestions?

#61346 01/22/06 04:22 PM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,876
E
e57 Offline
Member
4" diamond blade on a grinder. Get as deep as you can with that to your out line. Knock out the middle portion to expose the lath and snip that out with tin snips.

From what I understand, Roto Zip makes a smaller diamond wheel for thier grinder accessory. That might make it easier to get deeper on the shorter dimentions of the top and bottom of the box outline.

--------------------------------
Also Roto Zip makes a carbide router bit that will make it through the plaster well, but will get hung up on the lath.

[This message has been edited by e57 (edited 01-22-2006).]


Mark Heller
"Well - I oughta....." -Jackie Gleason
#61347 01/22/06 05:09 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 361
C
Member
Deep scan stud finder.

Rotozip blade with carbide blade, Klien BX snips (or tin snips), Rotozip with wood blade.

...and a little painter's tape around the outline so as not to mar the finished wall. The tape comes in handy when twisting the snake about the cut-out, too.

Labor intensive install- yes; but virtually zero "finish work".


~~ CELTIC ~~
...-= NJ =-...
#61348 01/22/06 07:56 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 886
H
Member
I prefer the old fashioned way, an old screwdriver and my linesman's to carefully chip away the plaster. Then cut the lath with your dykes or tin snips. No dust all over and probably just as quick.

By the way, try doing one as you plan with a sawzall and you will quickly see why that won't work. I advise doing it somewhere where it won't matter cause you're gonna have a big hole.

-Hal

[This message has been edited by hbiss (edited 01-22-2006).]

#61349 01/22/06 10:24 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 231
R
RobbieD Offline OP
Member
Thanks guys. I will try your methods.

#61350 01/22/06 10:39 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 821
S
Member
The rotozip works nicely for cutting out the plaster. After that I like to use a half-inch speed bit and make a little 'swiss cheese' in the lathe, then use dykes to cut the lathe out. I also prefer using metal cut-in gem boxes instead of the plastic ones because the metal box isn't as big as the plastic and the hole to be cutout doesn't have to be as large if I were using a plastic box. Did the make any sense?

#61351 01/22/06 10:51 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 361
C
Member
ummm..no, at least not to me [Linked Image]

I like the plastic OW box because it IS big - more room to fit my fat hand in the wall
LOL.


~~ CELTIC ~~
...-= NJ =-...
#61352 01/23/06 01:20 AM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 37
E
Member
Grinder,Rotozip & dykes. A dust mask is +

#61353 01/23/06 09:31 AM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 28
B
Member
Hal, I agree with you, alittle patiance & care can go a long way when you work with old plaster. One slip and O well explain away to the home owner and hope there understanding.

#61354 01/23/06 10:17 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 687
A
Member
Screw driver and kleins for me too. Chip away around the sides then bash in with hammer. Then cut the mesh with side cutters. I allways tell the customer their is no guarantee with plaster as far as damage. I allways have been lucky.

Tom

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