Hi all,
I've just borrowed my mate's SDS+ drill and purchased the Armeg EBS Extended
20mm Channelling Chisel (from ScrewFix) to begin channelling plaster/breeze block for running 20mm oval conduit to some new boxes (12 ceiling-to-box chases and 12 floor-to-box chases) and I'm just wondering where to start! My electrician has already chased the plaster, which is not thick enough to cover/contain the conduit, which means I have the job of chasing slightly deeper channels in the breeze block (the electrician will not install conduit - only galvanised capping). I require conduit for the low voltage/data cabling to provide flexibility in the future!Unfortunately, this is my first house and my DIY experience is rather limited! Consequently, I would like to ask the following question(s) (please):
- What's the best way to mark cutting/chiselling/channelling lines on breeze block that has lots of "lines" from an angle grinder (chalk or something better?)? A big marker pen is fine on plaster, but not on breeze block!
- Is it best to "score" or "define" the channels/chases (e.g. manually with a cold/bolster chisel) before going in with the SDS+ channelling chisel or can I just put the chisel to the breeze block and follow the marked lines like a maniac (I don't know because I've never used an SDS+ drill)?
- Do the channelling chisels (or any SDS+ chisel attachment) have a tendency to "wander" if you're not very very careful?
- Is it likely that I will accidentally channel through into my neighbour's house if I'm not very very (extremely) careful when channelling the breeze block wall?
- Will a 20mm (wide) x 10mm (deep) ceiling-to-box or floor-to-box channel weaken my breeze block wall considerably?
- With two channels per box, there's a total of about 70 metres of channelling to do (for the whole house)...Am I being irrational in tackling the job with such tools?
- Will the SDS+ drill with channelling attachment be quicker (and tidier) than an angle grinder and cold/bolster chisel?
- Approximately how long does it take to channel 1 metre of breeze block using an SDS+ drill with the correct attachment? 2 minutes? 10 minutes? 1 hour?
- Alternatively, shall I just get my gloves and goggles on and learn from my first channel!?
Evidently, I consider the conduit to be critical to completing the project, which means I'm willing to complete the work myself...
I would appreciate any suggestions regarding the nature of this work...
Thanks in advance.
Kind regards,
Scott McGowan