I’m wondering if any of the blades that come with the FEin Multimaster can help me cut a whole in my fiber cement siding to install an outlet?
Thanks for reading
Chuck
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Replies
A carbide blade would do it easy, the same one used for grout removal. I wouldn't tempt it with a standard e-cut blade, unless you're willing to sacrafice it.
For what it's worth, I just cut those out with a utility knife. Just cut a v slot wider and deeper till you go all the way through. Utility blades are cheap.
~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.net
Meet me at House & Builder!
Edited 4/26/2009 11:25 am by Ted W.
I just bought a diamond impregnated bit for my rotozip which would also work in a drill. It;s about as thick as a 20d nail. I used it to cut large circles in the hardest porcelin tile I ever had to go through. the bit cut like butter. cost $40 at HD. You can't cut fast in the porcelin but it works great and lasted me for a half dozen large holes (4"+) and there's still plenty of meat on it to do a lot more work. Cost me $40 and worth dbl that.
I'm pretty sure that'd work nicely for Hardie...or the bits for the rotozip that go through Wonderboard for less then half the cost of the diamond bits.
Just a thought.
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
Do you remember who manufactured your diamond RotoZip blade / bit? I'd love to get a couple of those for tile! You bet I would pay $40 for it and never think twice.
I find the solid carbide tile burrs by RotoZip are generally worthless / useless unless I am trying to cut soft & thin "wall use only" tile. Useless on most floor tile - but you don't know for sure until the bit is toasted!
JimNever underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
Roto Zip makes it. I tried the small crappola ones and all they do is snap. I just coundn;t bring myself to spend $40 for one little bit but i was desperate and after I started using it I'd have paid twice the price. It's a good idea to keep squirting water on the work as you go along but you really don't have to.
And to drill smaller holes in Porcelin for towel rods ete etc plugs HD carries diamond tip bits. They're hollow and come in all diameters in The Tool Crib of HD...don't buy the one in the tile dept. The ones made by Ridgid are GREAT!!! you "have to" keep spritzing water on those bits which is why theyre hollow...so the water gets around and inside the bit. they're pretty cheap too. I think I paid about $12 for the 5/16" bit which works for almost all toilet paper and towel rod etc etc mounting plugs. I must have drilled over a dozen holes with it and it's stil good to go.
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
Thanks, I'll look for these.
I have a set of Lenox mini hole saws with diamond grit cutting sufaces. Set of 4 - 3/16", 1/4", 5/16" & 3/8" was about $45. - worth it - pretty sure they came from Lowes tool section. They carried bigger sizes as individuals, but I did not need them at the time.
JimNever underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
Check out the drilling jig towards the bottom of the page.http://www.tileprotection.com/product.php?diy_session=contractor&productid=248&cat=102page=1
Unbelievable, they stole my idea!
My version is a hardwood block pre-bored with appropriate sized hole, held to wall / floor by double stick tape.
Wet the bit, score the top surface of the tile, rewet bit and go a little deeper. Remove block when there is a full circle cut. Then bore by hand with water provided by a spray bottle.
Well, maybe their's is a little more sophisticated...........
JimNever underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
I ended up getting a rigid 1/2" for about 18 beans. Worth every penny, like all y'all said. Took 5-10 min per hole in granite. The grab bar only had 2 mounting holes, with no slop slots. Archy wanted both posts centered on diagonal tiles. Had to be pretty close on the holes. Bit worked great. Drillin' and spritzin' is a little awkward and messy, but overall, a pleasant experience.No blocking, of course. I had discovered these toggles for the last bar I did:http://www.powers.com/product_04056.htmlvery nice... just don't yank on the straps while you're going for position. Had to take a bent wire to clean out enough foam insulation to get the toggle to flip... helluva grip.Thanks for the tips... rez should give you the "useful human" award LOLhttp://www.tvwsolar.com
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"
>>>I just coundn;t bring myself to spend $40 for one little bit but i was desperate and after I started using it I'd have paid twice the price.>>>Isn't that always the case?
<!----><!----><!---->
I refuse to accept that there are limitations to what we can accomplish. Pete Draganic
Take life as a test and shoot for a better score each day. Matt Garcia
Where the f were you last week? I had to drill 6 holes for a grab bar through the hardest, thickest wall tile I have ever seen. "Sure, there's blocking there." After 4 3/16" carbide bits, I was able to assure myself there was no blocking for any of the screws.Trying to enlarge the holes for a 5/8" toggle took a succession of hammer drill bits, each one leaving a bit more of a triangular hole.Frikin' toggle wouldn't fit the triangular hole. But I did find something called maybe a Snap Tite toggle. A couple of nylon straps on a solid toggle that stays put if you have to unscrew. Nice.So, this week, I've got to put a grab bar into polished granite tile. Tile guy sez it's tough. Think the roto zip would do it. I've never tried a plunge cut in tile, how hard is it to control? Or, should I go straight for the napalm?
http://www.tvwsolar.com
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"
no no no..not the roto zip for small holes like that. Get the diamond tipped hollow drill bit from Home Depot or a tile supply place. comes in all sizes and they're pretty cheap. It;s for a drill (not for a hammer drill!) I paid $12 for a 5/16. Cuts like butter!!!
I'll be back with a link for you later for the bit that comes with this great contraption to drop water on it as well as guide it into the hole in the exact place you want it...CHEAP TOO! Be back later...promise.
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
<Be back later...promise.>That's exactly what my parents said when they booked me on the Andrea Doriahttp://www.tvwsolar.com
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"
Here ya go http://www.contractorsdirect.com/Tile-Tools/Diamond-Hole-Saws-Core-Bits/Dewalt-Diamond-Drill-Bits
Home depot has em in all sizes in the tool crib...my tile supplier has them in a kit with a guide so you can line it up on your wall EXACTLY where you want it and has a resovoir of water that drops water on it as you drill. I saw the kit on line somewhere but I forget where.
I just spritzed water on it with a windex bottle. You HAVE TO keep water sprayed on it!
For large holes they sell a big fat solid bit with diamonds all over it made by roto zip for $40 in the tool coral. You can cut any shape you want with it.
I was flipping out until I found these two bits. What a lifesaver!!!
EDIT: The ones at Home Depot are by Ridgid and are GREAT! Gets expenive if you need one of those really big so go for the roto zip one for $40 in that case.
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
Edited 4/26/2009 9:18 pm ET by andybuildz
Been racing through Google cause I gotta be somewhere but I found this..its VERY similar to the kit I saw. I think the whole kit was about $30. This place is obviously from the Uk but I saw it at my tile supplier and on line..here it is just to give you an idea http://www.choiceful.com/choiceful-id-103992-Plasplugs-Diamond-Porcelain-Tile-Drill-8mm.html
Brand Rotozip Power Tools Rotozip Accessories Rotozip Zip Bits Roto-Zip XB-FT1 Porcelain & Granite Floor Tile XBIT
Roto-Zip XB-FT1 Porcelain & Granite Floor Tile XBIT
Maximize Close [x]
Features: Roto-Zip XB-FT1 Porcelain & Granite Floor Tile
Allows you to make plunge cuts in porcelain, granite, glass, and ceramic.
2.5 carats of diamond grit for fast, precise cuts.
Cuts over 13 linear feet of floor tile.
Makes over 45 plunges in porcelain tile.
Cuts tile up to 1/2" thick
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
Edited 4/26/2009 9:49 pm ET by andybuildz
The HD one looks like it'll do it... how do you keep it from skating when ya start? I'm betting there's no blocking for this bar, either, think it would drill a one shot 1/2" hole?http://www.tvwsolar.com
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"
Home depot carries both of em. It doesn't skate. Just hold it steady for a second or two till it just etches the tile then it goes in easy.
http://www.amazon.com/Plasplugs-PDWTK025-4-Inch-Diamond-Porcelain/dp/B000HDB1DA
Home Depot has all sizes in the Tool Crib..not in the tile dept. In the tile dept they just have one size. Ridgid bits are in the Tool Crib and work great.
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
Edited 4/26/2009 10:22 pm ET by andybuildz
I tilt the bit to start and as it digs in I level it out.
They are pretty amazing, The brand I have been getting is packaged by Hitachi but I think they are all made the same.
The watering device has suction cups and a reservoir with different diameter holes.
ANDYSZ2WHY DO I HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT BEING A SOLE PROPRIETOR IS A REAL JOB?
REMODELER/PUNCHOUT SPECIALIST
Here;s the roto zip bit for cutting any shape you want. $40 at HD
http://www.rotoziptools.com/?gclid=COLZrPf3j5oCFQNbxwodwxIn-g
http://www.cliffordrenovations.com
http://www.ramdass.org
Wingit anchors and a carbide hole saw.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
I like that napalm idea..............
My electrician showed me a low tech trick for cutting holes in hardi. Scribe off the outline of your box, then punch around the line with a flat tip screwdriver.
Now I wish I could give Brother Bill his great thrill
I would set him in chains at the top of the hill
Then send out for some pillars and Cecil B. DeMille
He could die happily ever after"
No kidding?View Image
i have a ryobi that is about 8 years old and it does great.i don't think they make em like it anymore though.
YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T
MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE
DUCT TAPE.