Tools, Sharpening and Power Machinery - Best tool to use for this application?
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MiamiCuse
10-05-09, 10:49 AM
Even though this is a plumbing subject I think it's more appropriate here since my question is not plumbing but has to do with what is the best tool to use to make a cut in a special situation.
It is difficult to explain, but I need to cut out a section of 4" diameter cast iron pipe on the outside of the house below grade. A sketch would help explain much better.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w67/143house/pub/cutpipe.jpg
As indicated in the sketch, the 4" pipe is below grade, about 3.5' below and runs along side the exterior wall which is on the right. The 6" thick concrete driveway is to the left and stops about 20" from the wall. This space was filled with soil and we has some plants.
I need to add a new pipe coming in from a bathroom remodeling, and that is the reason I need to cut a piece of the 4" out in order to replace it with a fitting with a new tie in.
If the space is not that tight, I normally would have used a sawzall and a cast iron blade and would be able to cut it out in about 45 minutes. But space is tight. If I jump into the excavated trench with my back against the wall, I don't have enough room to cut the pipe. In fact, the sawzall it self is so long that I cannot even operate it unless I hold it sideways tilted at a 45 degree. At that angle I don't think I can make the cut correctly and with proper pressure.
The only configuration I can possibly manage is for me to be laying down with my belly on the concrete driveway, facing down over the pipe, and hold the saw vertically and make the cut, this again would be very tiing and tricky.
I started to think about other tools. Professional plumbers use a chain snapping tool to cut CI pipe, but this has a potential problem with old CI pipe sometimes it splits the pipe longitudinally and I definitely do not want to do that, besides, the cut is typically not clean.
I don't know how effective an angle grinder would be.
If there is a recipricating saw like a sawzall, but much shorter, and cordless, it might be able to make my life a lot easier. Is there?
It is difficult to explain, but I need to cut out a section of 4" diameter cast iron pipe on the outside of the house below grade. A sketch would help explain much better.
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w67/143house/pub/cutpipe.jpg
As indicated in the sketch, the 4" pipe is below grade, about 3.5' below and runs along side the exterior wall which is on the right. The 6" thick concrete driveway is to the left and stops about 20" from the wall. This space was filled with soil and we has some plants.
I need to add a new pipe coming in from a bathroom remodeling, and that is the reason I need to cut a piece of the 4" out in order to replace it with a fitting with a new tie in.
If the space is not that tight, I normally would have used a sawzall and a cast iron blade and would be able to cut it out in about 45 minutes. But space is tight. If I jump into the excavated trench with my back against the wall, I don't have enough room to cut the pipe. In fact, the sawzall it self is so long that I cannot even operate it unless I hold it sideways tilted at a 45 degree. At that angle I don't think I can make the cut correctly and with proper pressure.
The only configuration I can possibly manage is for me to be laying down with my belly on the concrete driveway, facing down over the pipe, and hold the saw vertically and make the cut, this again would be very tiing and tricky.
I started to think about other tools. Professional plumbers use a chain snapping tool to cut CI pipe, but this has a potential problem with old CI pipe sometimes it splits the pipe longitudinally and I definitely do not want to do that, besides, the cut is typically not clean.
I don't know how effective an angle grinder would be.
If there is a recipricating saw like a sawzall, but much shorter, and cordless, it might be able to make my life a lot easier. Is there?
GregH
10-05-09, 12:10 PM
How about this?
Click image:
http://www.milwaukeetool.com/CatalogItem/Images/29743_2420-22v6.jpg (http://www.milwaukeetool.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=2420-22&CategoryName=SC%3a+Electrician%27s+Top+Tool+Choices)
Image courtesy of milwaukeetool.com
Click image:
http://www.milwaukeetool.com/CatalogItem/Images/29743_2420-22v6.jpg (http://www.milwaukeetool.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductId=2420-22&CategoryName=SC%3a+Electrician%27s+Top+Tool+Choices)
Image courtesy of milwaukeetool.com
mgmine
10-22-09, 06:30 AM
If you can get an angle grinder into the spot that's the way to go. You will be able to cut through a 4" soil pipe in under 15 minutes. It might be possible to cut the top and sides off open it up and then get to the bottom. If you have enough room to get a circular saw in the hole even better. With a metal cutting blade you can zip through the whole thing in a matter of a few minutes. I often cut 1/2 in thick steel plate with a circular saw.