Cutting a hole in drywall: Options?

Just Wondering on Thu, 18 Jun 2020 09:22:30 -0600 typed in rec.woodworking the following:

And to be honest, had not thought of the "utility knife" option.

Yeah, I know. First, I have to convince her that it should be done, and then that I can do this "quickly".

" snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com" on Wed, 17 Jun

Yep. Chain saw, circ-saw, jig saw.

I'm just wondering what's the least messy.

Main issue is that a) I'd be working up on top of the wall, B) minimizing the dust / debris, mostly so I don't have to move, cover what's in the room, or contend with the mess.

The opening is not going to be "inside" the closet, but from the room into the space "above" the closet. The back wall is the other side of the hall / utility area. It is all an add on to a house originally built in 1905. It has some"unique" features. (Once upon a time, there was an idea to open that back wall, and build in a set of cabinets / drawers/ whatever accessible from eh Washer/dryer side.)

What I am planning is to remove the drywall in the room, opening the closet from floor to ceiling. Run a pair of stringers inside the closet "about so high", and then put something down to close it off. Plywood, T&G, surplus pallet boards, whatever. Making a shelf that goes from the front to the back, side to side. what will go up there will be Christmas decorations, "Uncle Nick-Nack's winter wardrobe. Uncle Nick-Nack's summer wardrobe. Uncle Nick-Nack." etc. If I make this strong enough, could use it as a spare bed space.

The other room (AKA the Lumber Room*) has this set up already, it is what inspired me.

tschus pyotr

As a professional license contractor I cut holes in drywall with a drywall saw, rotozip tool, roofing hatchet, hammer, a boot, and my fist, on actual job sites.

You use what you have and you get the job done. Unless you are putting a box or a low voltage ring in the hole you are going to have to patch it anyway.

I must have seen your work!!!

But, if you care about the utility knife, make sure it's good and clean after. Drywall dusts seems to suck water out of the air and will rust the knife seemingly overnight.

Grind the "set" off a hacksaw ( or other high-tooth-count) blade for a sawzall and put it into a handle made for the purpose (jab saw handle" Basically grind the blade to a sharp edge but with fine teeth so it cuts better than a knife and doesn't make as much dust as a saw allows you to "drag" the blade across studs cutting the drywall right to the stud.

Is it possible that the wall is plaster (and all that goes with it) and not "drywall"?

If it's plaster - I hereby withdraw my suggestion of using a utility knife ! :-) John T.

I like that idea. I have used a sawsall blade but didn't think to grind it down. The unmodified blade wasn't very satisfactory, at least cutting outlet boxes.

My walls are truly annoying. Plaster over drywall.

We called that drywall - lath - back in the mid-60's - 16 x 32 ? inch panels - sometimes containing asbestos .. < as did the plaster > All combined with the Johns-Mansville asbestos siding ! It's a wonder we're not all dead ! :-) John T.

Those are my walls.

If you're going to grind down a sawsall blade and then cut the hole by hand, why not grind down a half-moon oscillating tool blade?

I've used a oscillating tool to cut drywall holes many times, but with toothed blades. They really don't hurt the studs very much. ;-)

Its a possibility. In the rest of the house, defiantly, but his is a late enough add on, I thing its drywall. If it is plaster, all bets are off.

snipped-for-privacy@ccanoemail.ca wrote in news:1k5oef909nt81f3dhcrt93cvthpmd1fp7h@

I'll put the utility knife back on the table:

Use it to open the box of a new tool that will be more effective on the plaster!

Puckdropper

Used to call it rock lath - full sheets were gyp rock

I have a couple lengths of industrial band saw blades, with the intent to make them into knives or scrapers or something ...