Floorboard Cutting - what a chore!

[wildgoose]

Been working in a big old house, where I needed to lift multiple floorboards for access. Pipes, cables were often touching the underside of the floorboards, so needed to cut with care. Using the Bosch POF cutter to cut between them but it's hard going and the blades are rubbish so not lasting long - there must be an easier tool to do this with?

Been therefore looking at the mini mains powered circular saws with small blades that can be quickly and accurately set for depth. Various ones on the market around the £75 mark.

Any feedback/experiences out there with these saws ie:
- are the up to regularly cutting boards?
- do the blades last ?
- any makes or models recommended?

 

[Top Cat]

Usually just use my ordinary circular saw set just above depth of floor boards. Never had that much trouble but the plumber is on speed dial on mobile just in case!

 

[Des 56]

I had to have a look on google to see what cutter you are using and can honestly say,I have never used a router to cut a floorboard,never mind the fact that I don't know how to use them in the first place

Circular saw has always been my standard tool for floor boards

I rarely if ever cut a board.without lifting a little, unless I know exactly what is underneath
Its often that plumbers will have the pipe forced down by the floorboard, never mind how precise you make the depth of cut,the next joist along may be slightly thinner and that could be enough to damage whats underneath

I would say, always wedge the board up slightly before making that cut if you don't know what's below and yes circular saws are a must have
The cheapies are just as good as a good quality item if all its used for is floorboard cutting

 

[wildgoose]

I had to have a look on google to see what cutter you are using and can honestly say,I have never used a router to cut a floorboard,never mind the fact that I don't know how to use them in the first place

Circular saw has always been my standard tool for floor boards

I rarely if ever cut a board.without lifting a little, unless I know exactly what is underneath
Its often that plumbers will have the pipe forced down by the floorboard, never mind how precise you make the depth of cut,the next joist along may be slightly thinner and that could be enough to damage whats underneath

I would say, always wedge the board up slightly before making that cut if you don't know what's below and yes circular saws are a must have
The cheapies are just as good as a good quality item if all its used for is floorboard cutting

Well spotted Des56. I got my Bosch numbers wrong, should have read GOP.
Thanks for your advice about wedging the boards up first. This is fine if you already have an edge to lift but if practice thats not always possible!

 

[Geordie Spark]

Usually just use my ordinary circular saw set just above depth of floor boards. Never had that much trouble but the plumber is on speed dial on mobile just in case!

That was always my method too.

Never had a problem with it.

 

[Plonker 3]

Can't beat the good old lump hammer and bolster for lifting floor boards, especially in occupied houses.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Can't beat the good old lump hammer and bolster for lifting floor boards, especially in occupied houses.

Ohhh ............ you Rough Ar$e you !!!

 

[telectrix]

Can't beat the good old lump hammer and bolster for lifting floor boards, especially in occupied houses.

for lifting, yes. it's the initial cutting across. where possible, i try and lift the board/s at to point of cutting, even if inly by 1/2 " or so.

 

[Top Cat]

Came across metal tongues in one house now that was a problem! Anyone else seen this?

 

[drew35]

I paid £30 off eBay for an inspection camera and found multiple uses for it, one is to carefully drill a 10mm hole in a board, slide in the camera and have a look around. Once you see its all clear, gash away...

 

[Top Cat]

I paid £30 off eBay for an inspection camera and found multiple uses for it, one is to carefully drill a 10mm hole in a board, slide in the camera and have a look around. Once you see its all clear, gash away...

Secret cameras, gash's! you could get arrested for that! Lol

 

[a12jpm]

Dewalt 18v rip snorter set just shy of board thickness. So far not gone through any pipes but it's going to happen at some point I'm sure.

The way I see it if I go through a pipe every few hundred cuts then that's pretty good odds.

 

[sythai]

Came across metal tongues in one house now that was a problem! Anyone else seen this?

Bet that was interesting with a circular saw :uhoh2:

 

[Top Cat]

Bet that was interesting with a circular saw :uhoh2:

Certainly was on the first cut with sparks flying everywhere! Only way i could do it was with a hammer and bolster.

 

[telectrix]

thought you would have done it with your claws, TC.

 

[Mark_Burgess]

Screwfix are doing an Evolution circular saw for just under £50, those blades are bloody amazing. I have the evolution 255 mitre saw, last week I was cutting 60mm box section 4mm thick to make a sliding gate, the blade is still in A1 condition.
I highly recommend their cutting products.

As for using the GOP, you do have to be gentle and get a rhythm with them to cut efficiently and last a long time.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Came across metal tongues in one house now that was a problem! Anyone else seen this?

Dunno aboot metal bonny lad ... but me Pikey lass has a sharp tongue. (No ..... DON'T go there!!)

 

[Guest111]

Came across metal tongues in one house now that was a problem! Anyone else seen this?

You lucky sod waited years to see one of them,remember reading about them when I was doing my time apparently they were very popular during the victorian period.Best way to get a floorboard up if you don,t know whats under it is chop the tongues off with a bolster then lever up one side slightly and push a thick screwdriver in,put bolster in other side and lever up then push screwdriver in until it rest on the board s at either side then cut through raised board with a handsaw.this is called SPRINGING a board and is usefull when board is trapped under a wall at both ends.

 

[Top Cat]

You lucky sod waited years to see one of them,remember reading about them when I was doing my time apparently they were very popular during the victorian period.Best way to get a floorboard up if you don,t know whats under it is chop the tongues off with a bolster then lever up one side slightly and push a thick screwdriver in,put bolster in other side and lever up then push screwdriver in until it rest on the board s at either side then cut through raised board with a handsaw.this is called SPRINGING a board and is usefull when board is trapped under a wall at both ends.

Lucky sod was not what i thought at the time Phil!

 

[geordie]

i got one of these makes cutting the board so easy
[h=1]Bosch GSA 18VLI-N 18V Multipurpose Saw[/h]

 

[MarkieSparkie]

Came across metal tongues in one house now that was a problem! Anyone else seen this?

Only where the wife is forced to wear a scold's bridle.:reddevil:

 

[richy3333]

I paid £30 off eBay for an inspection camera and found multiple uses for it, one is to carefully drill a 10mm hole in a board, slide in the camera and have a look around. Once you see its all clear, gash away...

That's a great idea, but knowing my luck the 10mm hole for the inspection camera would go straight through a pipe!

 

[Tonkatoy27]

I use the bosch 18V cordless circular, same batteries as my drills etc, perfect for board cutting and really handy as it's cordless. I'm on my 2nd blade in 5 years! Although when I changed it I presumed the printing went on the outside then wondered why it wouldn't cut very well, I'd put the blade on backwards......
My 10.8V GOP is invaluble too though, especially if you're forced to lift boards that are part of an exposed floor.

 

[louy]

i use a jigsaw with the footplate removed, its not foolproof but i nearly took my kneecap off using a circular saw.

 

[Strima]

i use a jigsaw with the footplate removed, its not foolproof but i nearly took my kneecap off using a circular saw.

So you nearly took your kneecap off with a circular saw so decided to modify a jigsaw to do the job... Does your carer allow you to use power tools without supervision??? :lol:

 

[HandySparks]

i use a jigsaw with the footplate removed, its not foolproof but i nearly took my kneecap off using a circular saw.

So, how does removing the footplate make it better for cutting floorboards?

 

[HandySparks]

Anybody tried the Makita 10.8V HS300D for cutting floorboards? I had a quick look at one at the tool show at Kempton Park on Friday. The blade is only 85mm diameter but it will cut 25.5mm depth, so enough for floorboards. One advantage, if the boards are on show, appears to be the very narrow blade used, so no great gaps when the boards are replaced. Also, it looks like it would be good for confined spaces.

Makita HS300DWE 10.8V li-ion 85mm Circular Saw (2 Batteries) (HS-300-DWE)

 

[Geordie Spark]

So, how does removing the footplate make it better for cutting floorboards?

That's what I was wondering, but was afraid to ask !!! :uhoh2:

 

[Top Cat]

Was speaking to a plumber the other day. He said he was working on a house and an "electrician" was working upstairs. He heard so much banging that he went to investigate. He found the guy was trying to get up chipboard flooring with just a hammer and bolster! He offered him his circular saw but he said oh i have never used one of those before!

I asked how old the guy was and he said about mid thirties so I presume he must be a Electrical Trainee!

Mind you he told the plumber he was NICEIC registered!

Don't get me started!

 

[tidyboiler]

Dunno aboot metal bonny lad ... but me Pikey lass has a sharp tongue. (No ..... DON'T go there!!)

:lips:

 

[sythai]

Anybody tried the Makita 10.8V HS300D for cutting floorboards? I had a quick look at one at the tool show at Kempton Park on Friday. The blade is only 85mm diameter but it will cut 25.5mm depth, so enough for floorboards. One advantage, if the boards are on show, appears to be the very narrow blade used, so no great gaps when the boards are replaced. Also, it looks like it would be good for confined spaces.

Makita HS300DWE 10.8V li-ion 85mm Circular Saw (2 Batteries) (HS-300-DWE)

Like the look out that little one, any excuse to buy some more 10.8v Makita toys.... just treated myself to the little radio. See they do a reciprocating saw also now.

 

[Rauer]

Not this thread again!

 

[Geordie Spark]

Not this thread again!

Don't take it too seriously ...... it's just to get us a bit closer to the 3000 club innit.

 

[Strima]

I asked how old the guy was and he said about mid thirties so I presume he must be a Electrical Trainee!

That's how its taught on the courses now, how outdated are you??? :lol:

 

[Top Cat]

That's how its taught on the courses now, how outdated are you??? :lol:

Very outdated, still got my brace and bit and rawlplug jumper!:smug:

 

[cogsey133]

Very outdated, still got my brace and bit and rawlplug jumper!:smug:

geez never used one of these in years....lol

 

[Rauer]

Don't take it too seriously ...... it's just to get us a bit closer to the 3000 club innit.

That's 2for me now!

 

[richy3333]

Was speaking to a plumber the other day. He said he was working on a house and an "electrician" was working upstairs. He heard so much banging that he went to investigate. He found the guy was trying to get up chipboard flooring with just a hammer and bolster! He offered him his circular saw but he said oh i have never used one of those before!

I asked how old the guy was and he said about mid thirties so I presume he must be a Electrical Trainee!

Mind you he told the plumber he was NICEIC registered!

Don't get me started!

Meooow, some of us NICEIC club members have used circular saws you know. The NICEIC run a 26 week course on using one, along with all the other inane courses they offer. You get a CSE qualification at the end of the course (CSE = Circular Saw Expert)

 

[Rauer]

I'm a circular saw expert ! I have scribed skirting boards with a circular in the past........ Yeeeeeehaaaaaa

 

[amlu]

got a basic £40 clarke multicutter in machine mart, blades are not that bad 40-50 floorboards comfortably, be carefull not to hit nails.

 

[ExArmy]

I use my multitool, dead easy. blades are expensive but for the time it saves i reckon it's worth it
I was working for a firm doing council houses, and we were told to use a hammer and bolster and smash them through and call the joiners in afterwards!

 

[Geordie Spark]

I use my multitool, dead easy. blades are expensive but for the time it saves i reckon it's worth it
I was working for a firm doing council houses, and we were told to use a hammer and bolster and smash them through and call the joiners in afterwards!

I've seen that done & the bloke who did it was a time-served cabinet maker. mg_smile:

 

[edexlab]

I went to a job last week and the customer had an old tool which pulled floorboard nails up with ease , it had a long handle which was like a slide hammer and at the other end a pincer with a curved short handle ,you positioned the open pincer jaws over the nail whack the sliding part of the handle down which sank the pincer into the wood slightly, then you used the long handle as a lever against the short curved handle which is pressed against the floorboard and out comes the nail .
The bloke wouldn't sell it so I've asked him to leave it to me in his will!
Has anyone ever seen one of these ?

 

[edexlab]

just googled it as I never thought such an old tool would still be made, but Faithfull do one in various sizes upto around £41.00

 

[Geordie Spark]

I went to a job last week and the customer had an old tool which pulled floorboard nails up with ease , it had a long handle which was like a slide hammer and at the other end a pincer with a curved short handle ,you positioned the open pincer jaws over the nail whack the sliding part of the handle down which sank the pincer into the wood slightly, then you used the long handle as a lever against the short curved handle which is pressed against the floorboard and out comes the nail .
The bloke wouldn't sell it so I've asked him to leave it to me in his will!
Has anyone ever seen one of these ?

Bahco make - or made - them.

 

[DNS1]

What ever circular saw you use, make sure the depth setting knob stays in place tight while in use. Used a cheap one a while back and the vibrations caused the saw to sink while in use... Before I knew it I was cutting 10mm below the boards... Miraculously didn't do any damage!

 

[PJK]

I use a Makita 18volt lithium ion cordless circular saw, very powerful and well made tool. I find it the best and fastest tool for cutting through the tongue then across the board. Just set the depth accordingly and avoid nails if possible!!! Springing the board a little is a good idea, also have used a pipe detector in suspect areas, though no doubt I am due a cut pipe at some stage. I keep some self sealing tape in the van until the plumbers gets there!!!!

 

[dagrat]

Springing the board prior to cutting is a must in my opinion, just not worth the risk.
All these years and I still get a little nervy when cutting boards.

 

[cheeky_blue]

I've been using the 10.8v makita circular saw our about 6 months now. It's great. I wouldn't part with it. Especially useful when cutting a floorboard where the nails are banged in the joist quite tightly together as it has a narrower blade to get between them.