Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

[ODDD1]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

dusty, you gotta use the 'special' bar an chain that wuz layin under the work bench...you know, the one you found the concrete in the tree trunk with! Save the good chain an bar [and the oil] for cutting real wood....one nice thing about a chainsaw....rapid progress!

 

[evin300]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

LOL! I agree, there always seems to be one of those bars or chains or both lying around. I must admit, I used the bosses chainsaw, and I didnt hit the oiler very much! Still the bar and chain survived, but if ya have a chain that has been sharpened a few to many times....or a bar that has overheated, this is a great time to use them!

 

[Terry H]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

A chainsaw would would work great, but one slip and your boat could be toast...someone makes a angle grinder cutter with chainsaw teeth that could work in this situation. I still think a sawzall would be my first choice, and angle grinder for getting in the tight spots. If this sounds feesable I can find the angle-grinder cutter and let you know...shouldn't be very expensive. Just a Thought

 

[evin300]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

Actually Thought101, the wide blades of a chainsaw tend to bounce off of the thicker Hull glass, and there is a definate sound pitch change that occurs when touching the hull, which gives plenty of warning, since it takes quite a effort to do serious damage. Still, you want to be cautious and check the hull untill you get the feel for it. Truly a remarkable tool for this particular job.

 

[Terry H]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

Actually Evin300, I agree. My smallest chainsaw I have has a 24 inch bar and lots of hp and I must have been thinking of how fast that would cut and how much #$%& would be flying. A small electric one should be just fine in practiced hands...good luck all.<br />Just my Thought

 

[frogfoot]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

hey 12'...I am in process of removing a fiberglass over plywood deck on my boat, with a 5 amp rotozip! my deck's plywood is water logged, though i did not realize it after i started removing the known bad parts. The r'zip works ok, but slow. Where a proper mask, those fibers aren't good for you.

 

[suzukidave]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

12footer, if I were you I'd make it a competition. Invite us all over with our various recommended tools and let us loose to see what's best. You supply airfare, a suitable trophy for the most efficient tool, and the beer afterwards and there won't be a square inch of rotten deck left inside of an hour <br /><br />If that won't work then go chain saw and tell us if it works. I'd love to know because I'm going to need a new deck after next season. My pathological fear of chainsaws as precision instruments is sorely tested by Evin300's firm belief they work here, but my fear wins out and I want a guinea pig. I'm still trying to get over his plan for cutting out a rotten transom from the top down with repeat passes between the hull and inside lining using a chainsaw and a shop vac. I just love the idea, but have a H.E double hockey sticks of a time believing it could work in the hands of someone who doesn't use a chainsaw much.

 

[its-a-sweater]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

Great idea! We could get sponsors-Poulan, Craftsman, Makita, and Dewalt.<br /><br />Oh and don't forget Ditzler. They can provide the Bondo for all the holes we would end up with in that thing. Might not be to bad if the beer could be kept away until it's over.

 

[evin300]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

Suzuki, you remembered the transom post, wow! I am waiting for 12Footer also. I have never heard of anyone using a chainsaw before, and talked to many shops at that time. So this is kinda my baby. I have pictures of a 16 foot boat completely stripped of all wood using only a chainsaw, I havent scanned them yet, but I will if you wish.<br /><br />My boat only had one stinger in the middle, and was in good condition, so it was spared. Just a note, I did not save the inner transom glass, (matting & resin over the transom plywood) The inner well, which was part of the top of the boat, was removed when I took the top half of the boat off. <br /><br />Thats not to say that someone couldnt have success by cutting between the transom and the well, or for that matter, leaving the entire top half in place and still remove the complete floor. I am anxious to see if it catches on, and to learn from others experience.<br /><br />To a novice chainsaw person, I would go find a stable tree or log and just play with it for a while, then cut some holes in the bad flooring to help you locate the stringers. The chainsaw is actually a forgiving tool, it has variable speed, and cuts a wider cut than most saws. <br /><br />Try scoring a line with the bar, then keep scoring untill the cut is complete, instead of cutting with one pass. My only concern with a novice, is that they understand that the bar can kick back, especially when cutting with the very end of the bar, keep your arms especially tense when doing this. Also, you may consider a face shield and heavy clothing untill your confidence grows.<br /><br />Once again, I was absolutley THRILLED with the results. I consider myself a perfectionist, so that is saying alot for me. Good luck to the next daring individual! Believe me, my heart was in my throat when I first fired that thing up and started cutting my beloved boat with it! sweater & suzuki, you guys are funny!

 

[Pursuit2150]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

What is wrong with using a few GOOD tools like DRILL,ROUTER,SAWSALL, and a Scrollsaw? Or do you want to just RIP everythink open?

 

[evin300]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

Those are good tools, when replacing a complete floor or transom, then a chainsaw replaces all of them and makes it about 75% faster and easier too! If you are only patching a floor or transom, then its a different story IMHO.

 

[mwisehart]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

I recently removed the entire floor and stringer setup in my boat and used the following-- circular saw, sawzall, grinder, roto-zipper, and here is what I found very useful--I have a Makita 4" grinder that I mounted a 3 1/2" saw blade on to get into tight places-- the only bad thing is that it can be very dangerous and requires both hands firmly gripping the grinder body--with care it worked great--don't get sloppy or lazy, that thing could cause a lot of damage.

 

[evin300]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

Searay, I tried the circular blade idea too, in a die grinder, thats the problem with high speed cutting blades and wheels, they cut too efficiently! Which greatly increases the risk of cutting through the hull. The chainsaw is MUCH more forgiving. <br /><br />After removing the wood, I actually used the bar to rough up the hull glass for the future floor and transom, just by applying light pressure and moving the bar side to side.<br /> <br />I was so happy with how fast and how good it turned out. My 16' Olympic took approx. 1 1/2 to 2 hours to remove the transom and floor. <br /><br />There is not one tool mentioned on this thread that could even come anywhere near the time and ease, you will see what I mean when someone else gets over the initial shock of the idea, and just goes for it! <br /><br />I will be waiting.

 

[oldev]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

hello all, maybe another acceptable tool would be a back hoe to rip and tear allof that rotton wood out of the hull,heck you could do it from the comfort of the climate /dust controlled cab!!!

 

[evin300]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

Remember, keep the bar moving, dont bother trying to cut everything in a single pass. score a line with the bar to act as a guide for multiple passes. You shouldnt need bar oil when making multiple light passes. If making long deep cuts in the transom, use bar oil, and or monitor the bar and chain for heat and blueing. As you think you are getting close to the hull glass, back off on the downward pressure, let the bar hit the hull with light pressure and get familiar with the sound it makes. (dont worry it wont hurt it) Use the saw as you would a grinder, were not felling a tree, after-all.<br /><br />Novices take your time, and dont try to set a record, wear heavy clothing and a face shield, and remember, that your head is within striking distance of the bar, so keep your arms tense. Not trying to scare anyone, I would just hate to see anyone get hurt, once you get used to it, you will see that with the right pre-cautions, and some experience, it will be worth the trouble to use this tool. <br /><br />I personally only wore safety glasses, because of past experience. I did however, take a certain risk in doing so.

 

[evin300]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

oldev, why didnt I think of that! How about a controlled explosion?

 

[12Footer]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

There ya go...Some well-placed primer cord and an ignition source LOL

 

[SCO]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

I did this job on my boat, and used a circular saw. It is fast, you have the depth control and you can cut the whole thing into pieces and take out the smaller pieces as you go. It was too big though to get into tight spaces in around the transom. It leaves approx 1 inch of material around the perimeter that you might have to grind off though I just put the new floor on top of it. <br />I never got the transom material out. It was under the seats and strong enough.

 

[mac bass]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

both a rotozip and a sawsall are great tools but both have diferent aplications. I once cut the entire decking out of a boat with a dremal and a cut off wheel. rotary tools are great where precise or close cuts are required.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Rotary or Drill saws for deck cutting?

well, i just found this topic but it may be too late! maybe 12ftr has already dove in and fixed it... if not, then i give the amen on using a chainsaw. my ebbtide 17.5ftr i'm now fishing out of got same thing done to it by me.