Best tool to cut hole in baseboard for inspection pit?

[Nick G]

Evening all, just wondering what is the best way to cut a long rectangular hole in a baseboard to fit a inspection pit. What tool do people use?

[DCB]

Depends on the baseboard surface, Stanley knife for fibre board then scoop out the middle with a chisel, Jig saw for ply. 

[muddys-blues]

Hi Nick I would go for drilling a series of smaller holes inside the area that needs cutting then use a pad saw or a rat tail file to tidy up

 

Hope this helps

Craig

Edited October 25, 2017 by muddys-blues

[Nick G]

Depends on the baseboard surface, 

 

 

 

I should have said, the baseboard is Ply.

[muddys-blues]

Nick, ply is easy to cut out with a load of drill holes, or if you have a jigsaw one or two decent corner holes and zip round with the jigsaw

[Nick G]

Nick, ply is easy to cut out with a load of drill holes, or if you have a jigsaw one or two decent corner holes and zip round with the jigsaw

 

 

Thanks Craig, I have cut 2 holes in the 'ends' of the boards today where the tracks exit to the fiddle yard. I used the lots of drilled holes method. I was just wondering if there was a neater/easier way for the two long narrow holes I need to cut in the baseboard surface. I think I may opt for the jigsaw method.

[Enterprisingwestern]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/oscillating-multi-tool

 

Mike.

[barrowroad]

Evening all, just wondering what is the best way to cut a long rectangular hole in a baseboard to fit a inspection pit. What tool do people use?

 

 I used a router on Bristol Barrow Road making up a jig screwed into position whilst routing out each pit with the router.  This tool gives accurate and consistent holes in the baseboard a benefit when a large number of pits is required. If only one or two are needed then a jigsaw is probably the way to go.

[Gwiwer]

Definitely a jig saw having started with a couple of decent-sized drill-holes to permit the blade access through the board.  Mask and goggles on when cutting ply as it can splinter - though they are sensible precautions any time when using power tools.

[LBRJ]

Cut a hole at each end of the proposed pit with an appropriately sized mortice chisel bit and join em up with  a jig saw

[jcm@gwr]

My weapon of choice would definitely be the multi-tool,

there is a good range of blades, in varying widths.

Used carefully, you can achieve very neat square or

rectangular holes.

[chris p bacon]

Drill a hole at each end and then join them up with a Stanley knife against a metal edge, it'll take a few minutes but won't rag the edge like a jigsaw does,  and if you're inside you won't get dust as you would from a router.

 

If you're not used to using a multi tool it wouldn't be suitable as you'd find it bounces everywhere except where you want.

[NIK]

Evening all, just wondering what is the best way to cut a long rectangular hole in a baseboard to fit a inspection pit. What tool do people use?

 

Hi,

 

I haven't tried it but a router pressed against a guide should give a straight cut. I've tried jigsaw but it was less straight. Best finish might be drilling two rows of small holes by hand, chisel between holes and finish with medium files.

 

Regards

 

Nick

[Guest]

Admittedly the world's smallest inspection pit and possibly only 1/3 the size of the hole you need to cut, but...

4 holes drilled through the ply, one in each corner. Use a small drill bit approximately 5mm inside of the cut line, followed by a bit just bigger than the blade size. The holes are then joined up with a decent jigsaw and blade and the corners squared off carefully with same jigsaw. From memory, it was either 9mm or 12mm ply for this baseboard. You may get a *slightly* ragged edge but I think most inspection pits are designed to sit over the cut hole. I agree a multitool would make for a simple job, but if you don't own one, there's no point buying one just for that.

Pete.

 

[peterfgf]

Evening all, just wondering what is the best way to cut a long rectangular hole in a baseboard to fit a inspection pit. What tool do people use?

At the risk of duplicating all the helpful advice already given, I think I would set about doing it as follows:

• Drill four holes to define the four corners. I would perhaps also chisel out the narrow ends.  Make the holes big enough to insert a jigsaw blade or router bit (whichever you use to use).
• Heavily score the straight lines defining the four sides of the pit using a Stanley knife or similar (a jigsaw cuts upwards if used on the upper surface and the plywood will splinter. A router might also lead to some splintering).
• Clamp a flat bar to the plywood to guide a jigsaw or router (jigsaws are not good at cutting straight lines and I don't trust myself to keep my router straight without guidance).
• Cut on the waste side of the score lines.

At one time, I might have chain drilled, chiseled and/or filed flat, but I think the other methods will give a better finish.  However, the finish is not important if you are going to drop a model of an inspection pit into the hole.

 

Peterfgf

[ColHut]

For myself, as the track was mostly in place, I used a dremel. For others, space permitting the dremel with router attachment and with 1/8" passes.

 

It does depend on the state of play around the area though. A small plunge router is something I have found useful on ply over a 1/4".

 

Multi tools do seem to create a fair bit of vibration so if using one that may be a consideration.

 

A drill and jigsaw with guide may be fine too as others have mentioned.

 

regards

Edited October 26, 2017 by ColHut

[Nick G]

Thanks guys for all the ideas and tips. Today I cut a rectangular hole to fit a NCE Powercab fascia using the 4 holes and jigsaw method. I think I will use this method for the longer holes.

[NittenDormer]

I have been cutting LOTS of holes in plywood of late.

I have used the jigsaw and drill method. In addition to the other points, I would recommend ear defenders as well as safety goggles (both of which I wish I had ). Also, beware the dangers of using boxes of Diet Coke as your saw supports.