Recommendations for a wall chaser and other tools for rewire.

[HappyHippyDad]

I seem to be getting more rewires than usual and am considering buying certain tools that aid rewires as they are bloody hard work.

At present I use an sds with chisel (gently) to make a line down each side of the chase, its a pain! So, any recommendations for a wall chaser? Do they all come with hose attachment for dust extractor?

I just use an sds with chisel to take out the middle of the chase, anything better?

Also, I realise there are no good reviews on box cutters, but they may be useful for at least making a small initial indent, rather than an sds?

Any other useful, helpful tools for a rewire? No, I don't have an apprentice

Cheers guys.

 

[telectrix]

i bought a cheap twin blade unit from aldi, was about £40. coupled to henry .takes out 90% of the dust.

 

[happysteve]

For nice neat cuts for boxes, I use a multi-tool on the plaster, then SDS for the brick/blockwork behind. Possibly not really relevant for a rewire, though, where time is of the essence (and the multi-tool is dusty).

In my early days, when I was assisting another electrician on a re-wire, he hired an Arbortech Allsaw, and it was brilliant. Eats through anything, with reasonable dust extraction, and because the counter-oscillating blades are not going stupidly fast, doesn't create the sort of dust you get from a cutting disk/multi-tool.

Link: https://www.allsaw-online.com/

 

[JBW175]

i use this on my SDS drill, it's pricey but the amount of time and effort it's saved me on jobs has paid for itself alone.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Armeg-EBS-TCINST-Set-Tri-Cut-Complete-Channelling/dp/B00MIS382Y

I've also got a twin disk titan chasing tool that connects to a vacuum but it gets little use these days as the above does the trick.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

i use this on my SDS drill, it's pricey but the amount of time and effort it's saved me on jobs has paid for itself alone.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Armeg-EBS-TCINST-Set-Tri-Cut-Complete-Channelling/dp/B00MIS382Y

I've also got a twin disk titan chasing tool that connects to a vacuum but it gets little use these days as the above does the trick.

I like the look of that! I may invest, cheers.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

For nice neat cuts for boxes, I use a multi-tool on the plaster, then SDS for the brick/blockwork behind. Possibly not really relevant for a rewire, though, where time is of the essence (and the multi-tool is dusty).

In my early days, when I was assisting another electrician on a re-wire, he hired an Arbortech Allsaw, and it was brilliant. Eats through anything, with reasonable dust extraction, and because the counter-oscillating blades are not going stupidly fast, doesn't create the sort of dust you get from a cutting disk/multi-tool.

Link: https://www.allsaw-online.com/

The multi tool isn't a bad idea Steve. Like you said doesn't really save time, neater and easier though.

 

[JBW175]

I like the look of that! I may invest, cheers.

No worries, you're welcome mate.

 

[telectrix]

i use this on my SDS drill, it's pricey but the amount of time and effort it's saved me on jobs has paid for itself alone.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Armeg-EBS-TCINST-Set-Tri-Cut-Complete-Channelling/dp/B00MIS382Y

I've also got a twin disk titan chasing tool that connects to a vacuum but it gets little use these days as the above does the trick.

Phew! that's £200 thatwould be better spent on beer. chase with hammer and chisel for daily excercise. winner 2 ways.

 

[JBW175]

Phew! that's £200 thatwould be better spent on beer. chase with hammer and chisel for daily excercise. winner 2 ways.

But this way i have more time to drink beer Tel... :-D

 

[HappyHippyDad]

No worries, you're welcome mate.

Just having a look at it. Do you have any cleverways of holding the dust extractor with it?

 

[telectrix]

but too much drinking time is bad for your health, my doctor told me 28 units ( 14 pints) . I thought he meant a day, not a week.

 

[mattg4321]

I have the Metabo MFE30. Absolutely brilliant. Bash the middle out with sds chisel. Nice neat quick chase.

The Metabo MFE40 has now replaced it and looks epic. The triple blade removes all the wall material for you so no need to bash out. Tempted to get one but would like to hear from someone who has used one.

 

[JBW175]

Just having a look at it. Do you have any cleverways of holding the dust extractor with it?

the dust extractor just hangs there while you're drilling and stops debris from flying across the room. to be fair though, i tend to use it on lower speed settings on my drill and it doesn't kick out as much muck.

I've learn't the hard way from going in with too much power on my SDS, having bricks explode on me and then having a game trying to fix.

 

[UNG]

For nice neat cuts for boxes, I use a multi-tool on the plaster, then SDS for the brick/blockwork behind. Possibly not really relevant for a rewire, though, where time is of the essence (and the multi-tool is dusty).

In my early days, when I was assisting another electrician on a re-wire, he hired an Arbortech Allsaw, and it was brilliant. Eats through anything, with reasonable dust extraction, and because the counter-oscillating blades are not going stupidly fast, doesn't create the sort of dust you get from a cutting disk/multi-tool.

Link: https://www.allsaw-online.com/

The Arbortech Allsaw is a very versatile piece of kit the only negative is how much it costs
It would cut out chases and boxes with little effort

 

[01laverickd]

I use the metabo mfe30 (twin blade) with the metabo asr35m dust extractor. Would highly recommend the both of them. The magnet design on the filters is fantastic. ?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I have the Metabo MFE30. Absolutely brilliant. Bash the middle out with sds chisel. Nice neat quick chase.

The Metabo MFE40 has now replaced it and looks epic. The triple blade removes all the wall material for you so no need to bash out. Tempted to get one but would like to hear from someone who has used one.

I use the metabo mfe30 (twin blade) with the metabo asr35m dust extractor. Would highly recommend the both of them. The magnet design on the filters is fantastic. ?

It does look pretty good. Why is it so much more expensive than others though? What is better about it?

Edit... Actually, it doesn't look too expensive compared to some!

 

[01laverickd]

It does look pretty good. Why is it so much more expensive than others though? What is better about it?

Edit... Actually, it doesn't look too expensive compared to some!

Yeah I think it's reasonable. I've had more expensive vaccums before and they are terrible. This one is really powerful, and using the metabo MFE chasing machines you can plug them directly into the vacuum and it will start automatically when you start the chasing machine and then stay on for 20 seconds after you stop the chasing machine to collect dust while the blades stop.

 

[01laverickd]

Yeah I think it's reasonable. I've had more expensive vaccums before and they are terrible. This one is really powerful, and using the metabo MFE chasing machines you can plug them directly into the vacuum and it will start automatically when you start the chasing machine and then stay on for 20 seconds after you stop the chasing machine to collect dust while the blades stop.

If you go for the MFE40 you can get the blades that will actually take the material out in between the chases for you meaning you don't have to then use a breaker to break it out ( the worst part!) albeit they say it can only be really reliable on a breeze block type substance.

 

[01laverickd]

I have the Metabo MFE30. Absolutely brilliant. Bash the middle out with sds chisel. Nice neat quick chase.

The Metabo MFE40 has now replaced it and looks epic. The triple blade removes all the wall material for you so no need to bash out. Tempted to get one but would like to hear from someone who has used one.

I done one job with MFE 30 then looked into replacing it with the 40, only because of the blade. Surely there will be a blade out for the mfe30 soon? What put me off was that they said the blade is only good for breeze block type materials

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Another question about wall chasers... They seem to cut a maximum channel width of about 37mm. A piece of standard size capping is 47mm wide. Do you just cut another chase, half over the first one?

 

[01laverickd]

Another question about wall chasers... They seem to cut a maximum channel width of about 37mm. A piece of standard size capping is 47mm wide. Do you just cut another chase, half over the first one?

Oval conduit is your friend! Often if you can get the right size stuff you won't need nails to hold it in place. It really makes a huge difference.

 

[nicebutdim]

Or round conduit bushed into boxes.

 

[mattg4321]

I normally use 25mm oval and it fits in the chase very snugly. Looks much more professional imo than bashing 7 bells out of the wall with the sds chisel.

I’ve actually been using my Metabo with an old Henry with fairly good results surprisingly. He’s nearly gone to meet his maker now though so I’ll be upgrading to a proper dust extraction unit soon

 

[7029 dave]

Dust is a problem, know nothing about dust extraction , but mech aids just sends it everywhere.

 

[buzzlightyear]

I normaly give the persons who's house I work in a mask and a hammer and chisel, go on then start knocking it off then. I sit in the chair
What the bar stools work while sit in their chairs drinking a beer and watch a dust bowl. Lol. Or use a angle grinder shouting isn't dusty in hear.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

I have the Titan wall chaser in the garage and with 2 blades does just as good a job, there is currently loads of dust guards/shrouds being advertised online for disc cutters which when conencted to a dust vacuum would do a good enough job.
I am soon to order the Metabo with the 3 blade attachment as I got 2 rewires in the new year where it will be very useful. that said getting hold of the triple blade is hard at moment as there is a shortage it seems.
A company called Rhodius do make a triple blade for chasers, there used to be a list of compatible chasers etc but from what i have been told if you have a nice powerful motor in the chaser then the rhodius blade will fit most and do what you need without any difficulty cutting the wall.

 

[nicebutdim]

I have the Titan wall chaser in the garage and with 2 blades does just as good a job, there is currently loads of dust guards/shrouds being advertised online for disc cutters which when conencted to a dust vacuum would do a good enough job.
I am soon to order the Metabo with the 3 blade attachment as I got 2 rewires in the new year where it will be very useful. that said getting hold of the triple blade is hard at moment as there is a shortage it seems.
A company called Rhodius do make a triple blade for chasers, there used to be a list of compatible chasers etc but from what i have been told if you have a nice powerful motor in the chaser then the rhodius blade will fit most and do what you need without any difficulty cutting the wall.

This is the Rhodius blade for chasing and removing material. Four blades and cuts roughly a 30mm channel.

Interesting product, but google hasn't found me a UK stockist (yet).

 

[01laverickd]

This is the Rhodius blade for chasing and removing material. Four blades and cuts roughly a 30mm channel.

Interesting product, but google hasn't found me a UK stockist (yet).

I've literally just got one off amazon. (125mm disc)

 

[nicebutdim]

I've literally just got one off amazon. (125mm disc)

Just found the LD403 on Amazon, which I think is the blade initially referred to.

Strangely I didn't find that on the Rhodius website, but instead found the 4 blade LD404 that I'd linked and can not find available for sale in the UK.

For anyone interested this is the Amazon link to LD403

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Just finishing up the rewire.
Metabo mfe40 with triple blade... bought!
Armeg box sinking complete set... bought!
Pity I didn't buy them before the rewire!
Cheers for the recommendations guys?

 

[nicebutdim]

That'll help cut your tax liability for October. Next up, Metabo extractor ?

 

[HappyHippyDad]

That'll help cut your tax liability for October. Next up, Metabo extractor ?

I've just bought the nilfisk 26-21 so no way can I justify another extractor.... yet.?

 

[Micktw68]

Ive not read all the replies so may be repeating someone else here, my chasing kit consists of a Hitachi twin blade chaser for the errr chases , a Small 6” bosch Angle grinder with the dust collector attachment for cutting in the boxes, a pair of Armeg Chasing chisels one wide for boxes and one narrow for chases. A bosch 110v drill with hammer Action only for use of. A henry hoover with quick release attachments for each machine. I’ve also got an Armeg box cutter doobry,that doesn't get too much use because its far too aggressive and tends to smash the bricks to bits meaning fixings become difficult. For dot and dab/plasterboard work a multitool is essential. A decent set of hole saws for Downlighters Go for a decent make (Starrett or Bosch) is a worthwhile purchase as well as a flat bit set or a set of augers . Oh and a set of superrods comes in handy.
Oh and I have a clarke dust extraction system when I need to get the dust out of the house quickly if its an occupied house .

 

[tony clark]

I have the Metabo MFE30. Absolutely brilliant. Bash the middle out with sds chisel. Nice neat quick chase.

The Metabo MFE40 has now replaced it and looks epic. The triple blade removes all the wall material for you so no need to bash out. Tempted to get one but would like to hear from someone who has used one.

i have the new metabo coupled up with dust extra is the nuts
allso got a makita on which is queit good

 

[mattg4321]

What’s the triple blade like on brick?

 

[Dobes_88]

I've literally just got one off amazon. (125mm disc)

Any feedback on this so far?

 

[01laverickd]

Any feedback on this so far?

I'm out in Taiwan until the middle of November!

I cna let you know then, sorry.

I contacted metabo and they said that theirs won't fit the mfe30, I've bought this one with it being a different manufacturer, hopefully it fits and works. (my thinking was why would metabo do one that directly fits an older model as noone would by the newer one) ??