cutting in high hat

[countryss]

I got to cut in a high hat but its in a plaster ceiling. the hole has to be around 5 1/2 inches. a hole saw that size is around 100 dollars. any other methods i can do this??

 

[bobadame]

Drill a bunch of 1/4"in a circle.

 

[ishiboo]

Jig saw would probably be free, or get a circle cutter for 10 bucks.

 

[countryss]

i guess the jig saw would do it. beats having to buy that damn hole saw!!

 

[Gooch]

Roto-Zip or Jabsaw(unless it's Plaster on Lath, but will be fine if it's Plaster on Plaster board)

 

[Lotek]

You should be able to get one hole out of a regular holesaw before it is destroyed,35 bucks or so. Or invest in a Hole Pro cutter with a shield to keep the dust down if you think you may need it again.

 

[countryss]

its plaster on lathe. i need to do 4 holes

 

[danski0224]

Fein Multimaster with the carbide grout blade to cut out the plaster. Universal wood blade to cut out the lath.

Hole Pro offers carbide holesaws designed specifically for plaster. These things go through it like a hot knife through butter. I have heard good things about their flycutting setup & dust catcher, but have not used it.

Greenlee has shallow carbide encrusted holesaws.

You might get 4 holes out of a Lenox carbide tipped holesaw.

Any reciprocating saw (jigsaw or Sawzall) will destroy the plaster keys behind the lath. You will be left with loose plaster near the opening.

Locate the hole close to a joist on 1 side, if possible.

If the lath is wire, good luck.

Anything over a 3" holesaw has huge potential to cause serious injury. Pay attention when you are using one.

 

[Lotek]

Man law...Think of it as an excuse to buy a tool, this isn't the time for a H/F moment. Hadn't thought of the potential for the holesaw to catch a nail or something, I use mine on fiberglass and wood, but that should be a concern, especially on a ladder with plaster dust raining down. The hole pro is the way to go. The only issue I had was that the dust catcher left a slight impression on the cottage cheese ceiling, but that's going away in the next round anyway.

 

[yyc_ranger_4x4]

I'll second the hole-pro. I've used to the use it all the time while installing custom home audio setups, and a few times at my father's place for some pot lights.

No mess from it is probably the best feature. I see that they also have an option to hook up a shop-vac now. Spend the money for one and you'll be a ways ahead!

 

[Steevo]

When you just need one hole, the high dollar tools are hard to justify.

I usually use a circle cutter like the picture below, then a drywall saw like in the second picture to finish the cut through, especially if there is lath behind.

 

[Mr_fixit]

its plaster on lathe. i need to do 4 holes

I'd use a jig saw with a regular blade, one per hole. Or better yet, use one of these tungsten carbide jig saw blades, home depot or lowes sells them for about 4 bucks.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...9x00001a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=SPM2381542102

 

[ishiboo]

I like how the $100 hole saw was too expensive, but the suggestions were a $330 Fein with a $40 blade, and a special $130 hole saw

It's 4 holes.

 

[Fast Orange]

Cheap trick if going holesaw or circle cutter route.Get an old basketballor simular sized inflated ball,cut it in half,drill a hole in the bottom of the bowl side of the ball.Assemble holesaw/cutter so that ball is on arbor next to drill chuck.Place pilot drill on x mark on ceiling,allow ball to touch ceiling and cut hole-keeping ball from spinning against ceiling.The ball will catch the dust and make for less clean-up and less dust that you'll be eating.

 

[countryss]

I like how the $100 hole saw was too expensive, but the suggestions were a $330 Fein with a $40 blade, and a special $130 hole saw

It's 4 holes.

haha I was just thinking of that

 

[Lotek]

I like how the $100 hole saw was too expensive, but the suggestions were a $330 Fein with a $40 blade, and a special $130 hole saw

It's 4 holes.

We are talking about tools here, could we see your mancard please.

If these are the last 4 holes you are ever going to put in a ceiling, then get the hand drywall saw and go to town, but the roi goes up every time you use something like the hole pro, and if you have ever cut in cans or speakers in a finished room you will understand the benefit of the dust capture shield, Wives don't appreciate dust all over everything because you wanted surround sound.


I speak from experience here...


Here's a thought, buy the tool, use it , sell it on C/L or here, "used 1x", 25% off new, your cost $35 or so.

 

[mobetta]

router w/ a jig. that is sure to get dust everywhere.

 

[hidollartoys]

Plaster on lath is VERY tricky. You can do a bunch of damage if you are not careful. I assume this is an old structure. You will need to invest in a carbid tipped hole saw to penetrate the plaster stopping short of the lath. Change to fine tooth whole saw to penetrate the lath. Be very careful not to "snag" the lath or you could break out a big section of the adjoining plaster. This is a sensitive project. If you do not proceed with caution you could destroy the ceiling.

 

[danski0224]

I like how the $100 hole saw was too expensive, but the suggestions were a $330 Fein with a $40 blade, and a special $130 hole saw

It's 4 holes.

Yeah, I guess just using a Sawzall and (potentially) destroying the ceiling is a better choice.

I'll ASSume that you haven't cut too many overhead holes in a plaster ceiling...

 

[Joe92GT]

Rip down plaster ceiling and sheet-rock?

I have used the 6 inch regular carbide hole saws, they don't last to long. Maybe a dremel or rotozip with the right bit may work. A jig saw even with fine tip blade is very tricky, and you may need 2 blades per hole.

 

[ishiboo]

Yeah, I guess just using a Sawzall and (potentially) destroying the ceiling is a better choice.

I'll ASSume that you haven't cut too many overhead holes in a plaster ceiling...

I never said Sawzall.

Have cut many holes in plaster, never had much of an issue with a fine-toothed jigsaw blade and drill. If the plaster's crumbling you're not going to have any better luck with a $300 hole saw The point of the Hole Pro is it's a cheap circle cutter (like I recommended) with a dust shield.

 

[danski0224]

I never said Sawzall.

Have cut many holes in plaster, never had much of an issue with a fine-toothed jigsaw blade and drill. If the plaster's crumbling you're not going to have any better luck with a $300 hole saw The point of the Hole Pro is it's a cheap circle cutter (like I recommended) with a dust shield.

The shield is almost $100, plus the hole saw: http://www.holepro.com/holesawshield.html

Twin blade cutters start at just over $100, but include a shield: http://www.holepro.com/powerseries.html

This looks cool- never used one: http://www.build.com/malco-hf14-5-5...ipped-hole-saw/p861586?source=ntg_861586&aid=

The jigsaw works, but it throws around a lot more dust than a holesaw.

 

[Lotek]

CL220 will cut 8 5/8" and costs $130, enough tool for the job.

 

[countryss]

So the job is complete. It ended up being 3/8" sheetrock on top of plaster with lathe. So what I used was a drill to do multiple 1/4" holes to cut the dimension in the sheetrock fist then popped that piece out. I then did the same but with a mason bit into the plaster followed by a hammer and chisel following the holes. I then pryed that piece out. Then with a spade bit drilled a 1" hole on either side of the lathe and took the piece out. To clean up the hole i used a sharp keyhole saw. Specifically this one: http://www.milwaukeetool.com/tools/...s-top-tool-choices/rasping-jab-saw/48-22-0304..
All in all it just cost me $3.00 for two bottles of water the tools i had.
** I also cut in two 8" ceiling speakers using the same method. Very little dust easier to clean up chunks then to vac up dust everywhere. Thanks all for your inputs.
-- Country