How to cut a perfect 210mm circle in ceiling

[breezer]

ring of small holes?

but dont forget to check for joists first

 

[kilo_4que]

Lol Breezer ive spent weeks locating the joists its been a pain in the backside.

Finally theyve all been located apart from a little section where smaller downlights were to go in. So instead in that part of the ceiling im going to fix the downlights to a 18mm MDF panel and hang that off the ceiling around 3 inch.

So loads of drill holes and then tidy the teeth marks?

 

[kilo_4que]

any other solutions ladies and gentlemen

 

[benno5]

yes use a PADSAW

 

[Jasonb]

Padsaw as I originally said, decent tool shop or electrical suppliers will have them, the wood handle with replaceable blades are best. Failing that something like this which has a narrower blade than the drywall saws will do. 210mm should be easy a pad saw will do a decent circle down to 50mm, just keep the saw moving up&down and don't take too much off each stroke.

Jason

 

[54aardvark]

And, as mentioned earlier in this thread, just use the top couple of inches where the blade is thinner - I've cut holes of far smaller diameter nae probs!

 

[kilo_4que]

Excellent guys,

Im looking at this, what do you guys reckon
http://www.screwfix.com/search.do;j...PCFFI?_dyncharset=UTF-8&fh_search=compass+saw

 

[Jasonb]

Stop looking and get a pad saw, the SF one will probably do it if you just use the end but the rest of the blade is too wide. This is what I use

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/VA482.html

Jason

 

[kilo_4que]

Jason thats what ive been tryin to find but cant see anyone selling them. I know loads of online places but i dont really have a few days to wait, ideally I need to start cuttin tomorrow.

I have bought the SF compass saw because i got fed up of looking to be honest but as a final dig, can you tell me if the SF Compass saw is better than this
http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?isSearch=true&fh_search=pad+saw&selected=products

or vice versa

 

[Jasonb]

The B&Q one is better as the blade is narrower, you could have ordered on line from the link I posted for both pad saws

Jason

 

[kilo_4que]

But Jason they wouldnt have arrived by tomorrow lol

Thats the problem, i need to finish these for tomorrow

 

[apinnyon]

This could be because you are trying to put too much pressure on the blade/ saw too quickly. Sawing problems are nearly always caused by overenthusiasm. Go gently and let the teeth on the blade do the work. Upstroke only, unless you have a saw designed to cut on push & pull like mine. Should go round easily.

If you really can't do it, chain drill (Drill a series of holes approx 1.5cm apart and then use the padsaw to cut between the holes.

Katie

 

[kilo_4que]

No with my drywall saw the teeth are very big to cut in curves. It cuts straight only for some reason lol

 

[apinnyon]

Wow - Can you tell me where you got it? I want one. Some of my students have trouble sawing a straight line even with a panel saw!!!

 

[kilo_4que]

From Screwfix lol

I looked at 3-4 and they looked similar and this for some reason was really cheap also

I initially bought it for cutting plasterboards generally and thought it would do this job also. Excellent for straight line cuts though