Tidy Blockwork Routing

[rednaxela]

What is the best way to chase out channels for electrical conduit into Blockwork?
Chisel, Chain Drill, Circular Saw, Router??? I have no clue.. I want a quick method, but I also want it to be tidy (and safe)

thanks, Alex.

 

[SparkyMarky]

Last time I did it I used my SDS drill on hammer stop with one of these:

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=101988&ts=37603&id=16724

Works quite well as long as the blocks are fairly soft, but I imagine it would blunt and chip fairly soon on dense block or brick. This one makes quite a wide channel, but I think you can get narrower ones. Makes a fairly tidy job of it.

I've also chased channels using an angle grinder to cut two parallel lines then a good old fashioned hammer and bolster to chop out the middle. You get left with a fairly neat channel of the size you want, but you may have a job actually seeing it through the layer of dust which will cover the job, you, the room, the rest of your house, and probably anything else downwind! Best kept for vacant properties I think...

 

[rednaxela]

Thanks for the info.
Am I right in thinking that you would need a SDS Drill for this tool, or could it be used manually with a hammer?
I have a hammer drill, but you can't turn off the rotation.

 

[Spark123]

I think you will need an SDS drill with rotary stop, if you try hitting the SDS attachment with a hammer you can either break something or end up doing yourself damage. How neat do you need to be, can you drill a sequence of holes, join them together to form a line on both sides of the channel and then take out the middle with a bolster chissel?

 

[RF Lighting]

One of these
And one of these

 

[Lectrician]

One of these
And one of these

I agree, but would substitute the second one for an SDS one

 

[RF Lighting]

I broke my SDS drill with roto stop. The replacement I ordered doesn't have roto stop . so cold chisel for me.

Keeps you fit too

My other suggestion for chopping walls would be to use an apprentice

 

[JohnD]

One of these ...

that's great! a dust-making machine

 

[RF Lighting]

Yeah.

Disclaimer: Do not use in any occupied premises, or where dust is a problem. They are shocking dust makers even with dust extraction fitted.

 

[Pensdown]

Blockwork is so soft you could almost use a sharp knife!. I like the look of the SDS chasing tool mainly because it looks like your not working at 90deg to the blocks which should preserve the other side.

I have seen disposable wood saws used but I don't know how long they last.

 

[rednaxela]

I AM the apprentice .....
I like the look of the routing machine! Need to talk to the Mrs to see if I am allowed to buy it. (She is in charge of dusting the house!).
The extension has very few knock throughs, so a bit of dust would be ok.

Thanks for all your advice! I didn't realise such tools existed.

Alex.

 

[JohnD]

...a bit of dust would be ok...

wait till you see it!

sahara sandstorm with grit and dust.

Take all the curtains and carpets outside and hose them down

Not just in the room where you were working

wash all your books and CDs

hoover out the inside of the TV

 

[rednaxela]

It will (mostly) be blockwork, so I guess it will go through like butter.
I have at least 20 channels to do, so I think from a time point of view, it should be worth while + it should look nice.
(won't be showing the MRS this particular series of posts.. )

 

[rednaxela]

went for a bosch SDS Plus 220. Used it to chisel out half a fence post so far its great! will look forward to getting the extension wall to play with..

thanks again for all your advice.