Tools used when rewiring domestic property.

[BALDRICK]

Good Morning. Can anyone tell me what tools would be used when cutting channels into plaster when rewiring an occupied home?

House has solid walls, not plaster board and electricians used jackhammers to channel out, without extraction. I know rewiring is messy but the house was like a building site.

Is this usual practice? I have been told that electricions have cutting tools and use extraction and have had a previous house rewired (solid walls) and can’t remember this level of mess.

thank you.

 

[haptism]

No but treat your clients with some respect. They are not there for your benefit, they are paying for your custom.

not paying for my custom, hes paid for a load of E Europens by the looks of it, and they look v untidy in that video, you get what you pay for !

 

[multimick]

got a call this morning from a landlord (yes i know some are genuine) my heart sank when he mentioned rcd main swich,sank again when he said his sparks was busy ,sank again when he said intermmitent tripping,

 

[FatAlan]

Moved a socket for a client last week well after he’d started decorating. Minimal dust but it was just one back box. He texted me last night wanting another one done! I texted back saying that he was supposed to do the messy stuff first! His response was ... ‘tell me about it!’ Very understanding with expectations managed.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Ha yes and I didnt know how to edit it. And the house is occupied.

I don't think most small one man bands have wall chasers and dust extraction, I don't. I would make a lot of mess when re-wiring a house but I would have a tidy up each night with regards all the plaster/brickwork on the floor. I would cover all carpets with a dust sheet, but there would still be some dust that penetrates. Even if the house was not lived in during the rewire I would still clear up (to a degree) all the mess so that the next day I don't return to a bomb site as this is horrible to work in. If it was lived during the rewire (nightmare) I would have had a chat with the homeowner before hand about the degree of cleanliness that is required each night after finish of work.

Have a chat with the electricians and ask them to clear it up, I expect they will.

Ps.. That is extremely messy though!

 

[haptism]

To finish off (see the pun there) to the OP, dont feel so bad about this it can be decorated and made good again, and a chance for a good spring clean and fresh lick of paint !

 

[123]

I don't think most small one man bands have wall chasers and dust extraction, I don't. I would make a lot of mess when re-wiring a house but I would have a tidy up each night with regards all the plaster/brickwork on the floor. I would cover all carpets with a dust sheet, but there would still be some dust that penetrates. Even if the house was not lived in during the rewire I would still clear up (to a degree) all the mess so that the next day I don't return to a bomb site as this is horrible to work in. If it was lived during the rewire (nightmare) I would have had a chat with the homeowner before hand about the degree of cleanliness that is required each night after finish of work.

Have a chat with the electricians and ask them to clear it up, I expect they will.

Ps.. That is extremely messy though!

Really? I would expect most to have it, I know I certainly do and have had since I started up on my own many moons ago.

 

[Midwest]

Really? I would expect most to have it, I know I certainly do and have had since I started up on my own many moons ago.

Depends if you’re doing lots of rewires. I did mainly refurbishments, like kitchens. Most of which were gutted, so I used angle grinder, vac and opened the windows, and kept the doors shut. Sometimes I had to take a break to let the dust settle.
Mind you, if I was a younger man, I would of bought one of those Metabo ones.

 

[Dave OCD]

I just stitch drill carefully then use a 40-50mm SDS chisel when chasing, I think using any kind of disc cutter in an occupied home is just ridiculous, the dust is horrific.
We clean up after every chase by brushing up all the larger mess first then vacuuming and you can keep it well under control. It also helps to take as much as possible out of the room being worked in and cover everything else thoroughly. In some places it can end up cleaner than before you started.

 

[Andy78]

I just stitch drill carefully then use a 40-50mm SDS chisel when chasing, I think using any kind of disc cutter in an occupied home is just ridiculous, the dust is horrific.
We clean up after every chase by brushing up all the larger mess first then vacuuming and you can keep it well under control. It also helps to take as much as possible out of the room being worked in and cover everything else thoroughly. In some places it can end up cleaner than before you started.

You stitch drill every chase ? Would this apply to a full rewire and how long would it take you ?

 

[123]

I just stitch drill carefully then use a 40-50mm SDS chisel when chasing, I think using any kind of disc cutter in an occupied home is just ridiculous, the dust is horrific.
We clean up after every chase by brushing up all the larger mess first then vacuuming and you can keep it well under control. It also helps to take as much as possible out of the room being worked in and cover everything else thoroughly. In some places it can end up cleaner than before you started.

Using a twin disc grinder and a good dust extractor would create a lot less dust than stitch drilling.

 

[Dave OCD]

You stitch drill every chase ? Would this apply to a full rewire and how long would it take you ?

I do Andy , but we don't do enough of it to justify the full on kit really. A long chase from the ceiling down to a socket for example would take no more than half an hour with the box sitting dead flush and even with the twin disc chasing tools you still have to chop out the bit in between.
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Using a twin disc grinder and a good dust extractor would create a lot less dust than stitch drilling.

But you still have to chop out the bit in the middle.

 

[Andy78]

I do Andy , but we don't do enough of it to justify the full on kit really. A long chase from the ceiling down to a socket for example would take no more than half an hour with the box sitting dead flush and even with the twin disc chasing tools you still have to chop out the bit in between.

Doesn't have to cost loads at all. My chaser was £99 from screwfix and works well enough with my Henry clone vacuum. Little bit of dust on the plunge and then almost dust free grinding. The middle flies out with a sds chisel after grinding. Probably 5 mins per chase.

Worth trying out for £99.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Really? I would expect most to have it, I know I certainly do and have had since I started up on my own many moons ago.

You may be right, I guess it depends on how many rewires you do per year. I do 1, sometimes 2.

 

[SparkySy]

I have a twin disk wall cutter that I bought from Aldi for £60 about 3 years ago, and a Henry. I do anywhere from 4-10 domestic rewire's a year and it's still going strong apart from New disks it owes me nothing and has saved me months of tedious work!

 

[7029 dave]

In this situation, using mechanical aids is a no no, hand chasing is less messy dust etc. Just MO.

 

[123]

Depends if you’re doing lots of rewires. I did mainly refurbishments, like kitchens. Most of which were gutted, so I used angle grinder, vac and opened the windows, and kept the doors shut. Sometimes I had to take a break to let the dust settle.
Mind you, if I was a younger man, I would of bought one of those Metabo ones.

I don't do occupied rewires, do a lot of refurbs and kitchens. The kitchen jobs generally the house is either occupied or fully furnished. I couldn't work in the place if an angle grinder was used to cut the chases, the dust would be colossal. Don't think it would take long for a cheap twin blade grinder and dust extractor to pay for itself on those types of jobs.

 

[Dave OCD]

I do Andy , but we don't do enough of it to justify the full on kit really. A long chase from the ceiling down to a socket for example would take no more than half an hour with the box sitting dead flush and even with the twin disc chasing tools you still have to chop out the bit in between.
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But you still have to chop out the bit in the middle.

In this situation, using mechanical aids is a no no, hand chasing is less messy dust etc. Just MO.

That's way too much like hard work for the younger generation Dave.

 

[7029 dave]

That's way too much like hard work for the younger generation Dave.

Its all about rush and tear today Dave. lol Yeah and its to hard for the young ones. (sad)

 

[ipf]

As a direct answer to the thread Head......'house bashers'

 

[SparkySy]

Don't get me wrong I have done my fair share of chases by hand over the years but given the option I would use the wall chaser every time! Mine was cheap as chips and with a good Hoover it hardly causes any dust at all, mainly just on the first plunge! I would rather spend my time doing the more enjoyable parts of the job than doing donkey work. Just my 2 penith worth!

 

[Midwest]

I don't do occupied rewires, do a lot of refurbs and kitchens. The kitchen jobs generally the house is either occupied or fully furnished. I couldn't work in the place if an angle grinder was used to cut the chases, the dust would be colossal. Don't think it would take long for a cheap twin blade grinder and dust extractor to pay for itself on those types of jobs.

If I was still trading, I might consider getting a dedicated chaser and vac.

i hired a couple of chasers with vacuum attachments. They were quite frankly useless; too heavy and didn’t cut down on the dust. I did subby for someone who had a proper Metabo chaser & bespoke vacuum. It was absolutely brill, manageable and NO dust, but cost him about £800.

Thats what I’d buy, not a cheapo one.

 

[radiohead]

I use a twin disc machine with extraction, can be done with minimal mess.....but there will always be some. I once went to a job where a number of additional flush sockets were to be installed only for the homeowner to say 'I've just glossed the skirtings, there wont be any dust will there?'
There's no hope for some.