Cutting out rot in body panels - tool worth having???

[Ubique]

Well in that case, plasma is the last thing you'd want to be using!
Die grinders would probably be your best option but the can bite so practice using one on some well-secured scrap first - WRT air supply, do you know anyone with another small compressor? you could tee them together to give you the required air volume and then use an air die grinder - 90 degree ones are the most controllable in my experience.

 

[MCKDAVID]

Well in that case, plasma is the last thing you'd want to be using!
Die grinders would probably be your best option but the can bite so practice using one on some well-secured scrap first - WRT air supply, do you know anyone with another small compressor? you could tee them together to give you the required air volume and then use an air die grinder - 90 degree ones are the most controllable in my experience.

took a few pages, but we got there in the end eh.....

 

[Domdom]

25 quid ebay air cut off saw. Basically a die grinder with mini slitting discs. I believe you can also get 2 inch discs

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[Cobbler]

25 quid ebay air cut off saw. Basically a die grinder with mini slitting discs. I believe you can also get 2 inch discs

I’ve got a similar one, but they do suck an awful lot of air.

 

[daedalusminos]

How about a photo of the area in question showing the section to be removed?

 

[GRW]

Well in that case, plasma is the last thing you'd want to be using!
Die grinders would probably be your best option but the can bite so practice using one on some well-secured scrap first - WRT air supply, do you know anyone with another small compressor? you could tee them together to give you the required air volume and then use an air die grinder - 90 degree ones are the most controllable in my experience.

No, only me that I know locally with a compressor. A mate has a much bigger Comp - but he's over an hour away, and it's not worth the palaver.

I've got a 90-deg air die grinder that I could use in short bursts if I really need to.
Some off the other tips to use tools I already have in ways I'd not thought of (like the short jig blade) will come in handy.
I'm sure people who say crack on with the 4" Grinder & slitting discs are probably right - it could be done...
I was just thinking it's a good excuse to invest in a tool to help me in those fiddly places where a grinder can't reach.
So far it seems an (electric) die grinder might be the most useful addition

 

[Rkweld]

https://www.foredom.net/product/h-50-or-h-50c-handpiece-power-chisel/ i am not sure if it would chisel steel or not??

i have only ever used the standard chuck one. With carbide burrs on 58ish HRC tool steel.

 

[Onoff]

This is probably the best tool.....then pay someone else to do it!

 

[keithski122]

4 1/2 inch grinder, air saw and wood chisel will get you in most places.

 

[DAPPH]

If you have clearance you can always do the real engineers bush fit hero thing and get a 36 tpi or greater 12 " quality hacksaw blade pack , put a big 2" split ring in the end that will see you pull the teeth into the metal , chain drill a starter hole and then pull cut out what you don't want . Don't put the ring in the other end as it won't cut as you pull it through the metal . Even only 1/2" cutting strokes will eventually see you able to remove all the crud .

 

[GRW]

If you have clearance you can always do the real engineers bush fit hero thing and get a 36 tpi or greater 12 " quality hacksaw blade pack , put a big 2" split ring in the end that will see you pull the teeth into the metal , chain drill a starter hole and then pull cut out what you don't want . Don't put the ring in the other end as it won't cut as you pull it through the metal . Even only 1/2" cutting strokes will eventually see you able to remove all the crud .

I do have one of those plastic grip handles that fits onto a hacksaw blade so you can use the blade in a small "one side only" access.... and yes it's a useful thing!
I'd not actually thought of it being used for this job but it just might.

 

[eddie49]

The solution to the lack of an adequate compressed air supply is to use a cordless tool!
The Lidl / Parkside Cordless 12v Angle Grinder is a clone of the Bosch GWS12V-76, at a fraction of the cost ( £19.99 ). It uses thin 3" cutting discs. The smaller diameter means there is less risk of over-cutting, it is tiny, light, and cordless, and you hold the body of the tool at 90 degrees to the cutting line. When not in stock at Lidl, there are ( high-priced ) resellers of these tools & the batteries on eBay.
There are also Roloc adapters available for this Parkside tool, which open up the whole 3M Roloc 2" or 3" sanding and stripping system.
The result is you get a mini-angle grinder and a 90-degree die grinder with no need for a compressor.

 

[GRW]

The solution to the lack of an adequate compressed air supply is to use a cordless tool!
The Lidl / Parkside Cordless 12v Angle Grinder is a clone of the Bosch GWS12V-76, at a fraction of the cost ( £19.99 ). It uses thin 3" cutting discs. The smaller diameter means there is less risk of over-cutting, it is tiny, light, and cordless, and you hold the body of the tool at 90 degrees to the cutting line. When not in stock at Lidl, there are ( high-priced ) resellers of these tools & the batteries on eBay.
There are also Roloc adapters available for this Parkside tool, which open up the whole 3M Roloc 2" or 3" sanding and stripping system.
The result is you get a mini-angle grinder and a 90-degree die grinder with no need for a compressor.

That's great info, thanks!

 

[JohnH]

I find one of these very handy for cutting into corners and fiddly hard to get places.



The tool is Drapers version of a dremel together with its flex extension, but using a dremel disc and end attachment thingy.

I find that the dremmel discs are excellent and very forgiving to twisting. I do have a Dremel 3000 but much prefer the Draper tool. I find the draper extension is much better than the clunky dremel one as well.

 

[droopsnoot]

I use a similar tool for places where I can't get anything large in there, either with a reinforced cutting disc as in the photo, or using a mini carbide burr. I have an electric die grinder which also comes in handy, depending on the shape of burr that I use in it. Some of the flat-ended ones are useful in tight gaps. Sometimes there is no option but to cut a little further away than strictly necessary, just because it makes either the cut, or the weld, or the weld dressing-back, easier or possible.

I buy my reinforced cutting discs from AliExpress, a bag of 100 32mm was $8 including post last time I bought some. I can't say whether they last as long as branded ones, but at that price, it doesn't really matter. They're probably more expensive now.

 

[GRW]

After all the fab help & info (big thanks all )..... I've gone a bit nuts.
I've ordered a Vevor version of the Draper/Dremel thingy with the foot pedal.
I also decided a mini-grinder would be nice... but I don't use battery stuff all that much so prefer 230vac - so bought one of the cheapie Katsu 3" ones, which can also take an adaptor go to Rolec and Dremel type bits - just AC instead of DC.
It won't get masses of use, I know how to use and not ask too much of a small motor and let the disc not pressure do the work... so it should do what I need.
(Half the idea actually with the Vevor is not just to assess it for my needs/wants - but more as a potential present for my daughter who makes her own jewellery & currently struggles with a Dremel knock-off... so the small head of the Vevor and foot control might be well-recieved )

 

[Rkweld]

Is that the vevor like the foredom? If so, one bit of advice, do not hold it in the gap where the chuck key fits

 

[GRW]

Is that the vevor like the foredom? If so, one bit of advice, do not hold it in the gap where the chuck key fits

Yes so I'm told it it is.
Duly noted .
No need to ask you how you found this out then

 

[DAPPH]

I do have one of those plastic grip handles that fits onto a hacksaw blade so you can use the blade in a small "one side only" access.... and yes it's a useful thing!
I'd not actually thought of it being used for this job but it just might.

Still ........... use it so you pull when making a cut .. I've seen a few savaged knuckles where someone ( No Not me ) has had the blade put in the handle to cut on push only to see the blade catch up /snag & snap giving them some serious spanner rash & cuts on their knuckles .

 

[GRW]

Still use it so you pull when making a cut .. I've seen a few savaged knuckles where someone ( No Not me ) has had the blade put in the handle to cut on push only to see the blade catch up ,snag & snap giving them some serious spanner rash & cuts on their knuckles .

Thanks for the heads-up. I did actually know this - but it doesnt hurt to double-check the orientation of the blade/teeth