On 18 Dec 2006 07:23:09 -0800, "Heathcliff" wrote:


Puddin' Man wrote:
'allo,

I belong to a little brick bungalow in the midwest, built in
'54, old-style plaster on steel mesh lath.

Recently found that kitchen and both drain pipes were sealed
behind wall. Had to bust thru kitchen wall (tile and plaster)
to replace drain pipe.

I found that the "plaster" was more the consistency and hardness
of concrete than any plaster I seen before ...

The bath drain is overdue to roll over and die. The drain is
in a partition wall opposite a bedroom closet. To gain
access, I'd likely need to cut a large section of the
closet wall out.

It's actually strange I've never bought a sawzall, but
I've always got along with a little scroll-jig saw. Have
built partition walls but never needed to rip thru old
walls, chop thru roof, etc.

Anybody familiar with cutting the old style plaster?

Q1: Can I do it with a sawzall? If so what blade? Recall
this "plaster" looks more like flogging concrete.

Q2: If Q1 = yes, would an 8 amp sawzall likely be adequate?

Q3: If Q1 = no, what should I use? Used a hammer/cold-chisel
on the kitchen and it was a SEVERE PITA!

Any/all info/advice much appreciated.

Cheers,
Puddin'

Pease pudding hot,
Pease pudding cold,
Pease pudding in the pot
Nine days old ...

Before you try anything else, try this. Get a scoring tool that is
used for scoring and breaking cementboard (e.g., wonderboard). The
scoring tool is basically a piece of carbide, like those found on
carbide-tipped circular saw blades, mounted on a handle. You drag it
across the cementboard to score it. It is a hand tool that costs about
$10, available at any big box type home improvement store. It works
great on old, cement-like, rock-hard plaster. You just keep scoring
until it digs a little channel all the way through. Then you can use a
power tool to cut through whatever is behind the plaster, but without
all the flying sparks, dust, etc. I have done this successfully with
just your type of situation, to get at plumbing behind the plaster. It
is easier, faster, neater, and less destructive than using a power tool
to cut through the plaster. -- H

Scoring tool for maybe $10. OK, that'll get me down to the HW
or bigbox store.

Sounds viable.

Much thanks,
Puddin'

Pease pudding hot,
Pease pudding cold,
Pease pudding in the pot
Nine days old ...