Cutting guide for oscillating multi tool on drywall

[red73mustang]

So I need to open my wall between the floors on my Bi-Level (God I miss my Colonial with the big basement!) and I like using the HF oscillating multi tool for cutting drywall. The section I'm cutting runs almost floor to ceiling about 15 inches wide between the studs. My thoughts are to screw some 8 foot 1 x 3s for a straight edge. Anyone ever try this?

Thanks, Chet

 

[FigureItOut]

You're just going to put the piece back in that you cut out, right? Just use any straight edge to make a pencil line, and cut along the line. One of the advantages of an OMT is that it's easy to be precise cutting by hand.

 

[seber]

That's going to make an amazing amount of plaster dust flying around in the air. I would just use a utility knife. Then again I'm old school.

 

[danski0224]

I'd just use a drywall jab saw and do it by hand. Use the stud as a guide.

 

[Fixed]

Multiple shallow cuts with a utility knife and a straight edge is best, IMO.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[jar944]

I typically use a laser and cut along the line, but a pencil line works just as well

Jab saw is faster, unless you are cutting along the center of a stud.

 

[Git]

It never fails that when I try to cut drywall centered on studs like your talking about - I hit about a million nails/screws that they used to attach the drywall in the first place.

In the past - instead of cutting to the center of the stud, I have actually cut to the inside edge of the studs. If you use a drywall saw, it will just follow along the edge of the stud - same thing with your oscillating tool. Then spend all of $4 (or whatever 2 new studs cost) and just nail them to the existing studs so you have a full 1 1/2" surface to nail up your new drywall. If you want to get fancy use some furring strips (2 x 2's) and slightly recess them inward. That way when you install your new drywall piece you can float across the new piece with mud and fill it in so it is flush with the existing wall