lathe and plaster and downlights!!!

[J.C.E]

Any tips on cutting 76mm holes (20+) for LED downlights in L+P ceilings??

brand new 76mm yellow starrett cutter and 36v drill.....barely scratched the surface on ONE hole and the teeth are already near blunt!

cheers guys

 

[robertshaw81]

If the ceiling is that tough screwfix do a 78mm diamond core drill for under £30

 

[Octopus]

Tear it down and reboard it!

 

[amlu]

managed 12 on lathe and plaster boarded up with plasterboard. just a standard holesaw and a beefy mains drill. had to cool the holesaw in a bucket of water after each hole. plus lots of swearing! holesaw was knackered after the job.

 

[Dave OCD]

I wouldn't attempt downlights in lath and plaster, bad enough sinking boxes for sockets and switches into it without making a right mess.

 

[i=p/u]

Just smash them through

 

[uksparks]

I have only done it a few times but has success with the Bosch progressor hole cutters on a 36v drill. It's never great though and personally I'd turn the job down in the future unless they reboard.

 

[uksparks]

Just smash them through

That works quite well

 

[amlu]

sinking boxes is easy, cut the wall with multicutter, either fit the box on exposed wood structure underneath or make a bigger hole and fix some wood in there and box into it . board up with a piece of plasterboard, make good with easifill, job done.

 

[i=p/u]

I remember getting that type of ceiling once, and once you start there's no going back

 

[sparksburnout]

What a bunch of pusseys. Half the ceilings round here are L&P. You have to worry when half of it falls down never mind making a decent hole. I have done loads with a cheapo screwfix holesaw, you just have to do it slow and steady, then speed it up once you have gone through the plaster to take out the laths. The worst bit is all the stuff above in an ageing, sh**ty loft full of pigeon poo.
Don't know what it is but some of them give off a strangely attractive odour when you are drilling them.

 

[NDG Elecs]

I have done a good few with no probs. Always used the Bosch holesaw. I sometimes find it harder to cut out for sockets in L&P without any issues, but ceilings have always been fine. I find the laths can vibrate to hell when doing sockets.

Must be a special mix of super tough plaster you have there!

 

[murray2707]

Had this before with tougher plaster than normal, was almost like a concrete skim. used the holesaw to mark the circle then used a 6mm drill to make a series of holes right round the circle then followed through with the holesaw

 

[Delboybully]

I use the bosch multi construction holesaw. Sails through lathe and plaster. They last for ages!!!! They look like a core drill. More expensive than standard holesaws but much much quicker. Once you use one you will realise what great value for money they are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-MPWxmMUl4

Bosch 2608580871 10 Piece Speed Multi Construction Holesaw Set in Case

 

[Dave OCD]

Ever considered what that ancient plaster contains ?

 

[ruston]

Ever considered what that ancient plaster contains ?

I know what coloured the whitewash on the farm lol.

 

[rich.250]

Have done a lot of down lights in lathe and plaster.
Going slow with a hole saw is the best way. Or cut out the plaster first with a padsaw, then get the hole saw on the lathes.
When I was an apprentice we cut them in all by hand no matter what the ceiling was made of...
Just aim smaller than you need as it will get bigger lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ruston]

You have to have an investigation of the ceiling before you start , If there are large areas of 'noisy as you tap ', you have a mountain to climb.

 

[snowhead]

If there are large areas of 'noisy as you tap ', you have a mountain to climb.

And best take a brush, dustpan and large builders bucket up there with you..

 

[ruston]

And best take a brush, dustpan and large builders bucket up there with you..

Aye , and one of the jobs where eye protection is essential.

 

[snowhead]

Aye , and one of the jobs where eye protection is essential.

And hard hat.

 

[NDG Elecs]

I use https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/FXDADE.html

They tend to catch 95% of the carp I have found.

 

[Wonderwall]

I've installed downlights in l&p, ceilings many times without any comeback. It does,however make you wonder because you are installing lights in contact with a flammable surface. But apart from this place , the other place is the real world. In the world of regulation you wouldn't install a downlights in a l&p ceiling , would we ?

 

[GETWIRED]

Tell them a suspended ceiling will look better lol

 

[Richard Burns]

Lath and plaster is generally a nightmare for installing anything.
However grit edged or carbide edged hole saws do cut through the plaster OK and the wood eventually and it saves losing a hole saw jut for some downlights.

 

[stevethesparks]

I use https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/FXDADE.html

They tend to catch 95% of the carp I have found.

They are excellent, very pleased with mine

 

[stevethesparks]

I've installed downlights in l&p, ceilings many times without any comeback. It does,however make you wonder because you are installing lights in contact with a flammable surface. But apart from this place , the other place is the real world. In the world of regulation you wouldn't install a downlights in a l&p ceiling , would we ?

Can also depend on the manufacturers instructions. Some I installed the other day said not to be installed on a flamable surface if using 50W halogens, but ok if using 35W or led.
Trouble there is with GU10, any numpty could replace later on with 50W.

The ceiling I was installing on was plasterboard mounted on plywood? Never seen that before, I first thought I was hitting joist with my tiny exploratory screwdriver.

The first hole in the plasterboard was a nice cut, until proceeding through the ply, which in some places snagged and knocked bits off the edge of the nice hole in the plasterboard.

 

[jackhammerJIM]

a tungsten carbide holesaw will cut like a normal hole saw through plasterboard.



It would be advisable to overboard the ceiling

 

[rfears]

Ever considered what that ancient plaster contains ?

hair - if you're lucky its horsehair...

 

[Welchyboy1]

Lath and plaster is generally a nightmare for installing anything.
However grit edged or carbide edged hole saws do cut through the plaster OK and the wood eventually and it saves losing a hole saw jut for some downlights.

I do them with grit edged holesaw through the plaster to expose the wood slats knock out the plaster inbetween then change over
to anice new sharp one for the wood


nice job everytime