What tool do I need to cut out sides of floor without hitting hull?

[RyanM3]

I am trying to cut out the sides of the floor in my Glassstream 172 Cutlass.

What tool works best and where can I find the cheapest price on one?
I have searched the forum and heard about using a grinder.. But involves lots of dust. Would a dremel oscillating tool work?

 

[oops!]

Re: What tool do I need to cut out sides of floor without hitting hull?

lol buddy.....get used to the dust.....running a big shop vac beside the grinder's throw will control it somewhat.....but there will always be dust.

once you get to the hull.......if you get a long blade sawzall.....that will do it with out cutting the hull

 

[RyanM3]

Re: What tool do I need to cut out sides of floor without hitting hull?

Whats the best grinder to get thats "affordable" ?

 

[oops!]

Re: What tool do I need to cut out sides of floor without hitting hull?

any harbour freight 4 inch grinder.....use a rubber backing pad with a 24 grit disc........chews thru it like butter.......watch when you do this.....it can go thru the hull in no time.

 

[RyanM3]

Re: What tool do I need to cut out sides of floor without hitting hull?

Thanks for your help OOPS! I'll post pics when I finish my floor.

 

[oops!]

Re: What tool do I need to cut out sides of floor without hitting hull?

post pics when you are doing it......that way we can help you if you go astray !

cheers
oops

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: What tool do I need to cut out sides of floor without hitting hull?

Hey Ryan ...... good luck with your project and don't forget all the safety gear tyvek suit, respirator, googles, gloves .... ect.

 

[RyanM3]

Re: What tool do I need to cut out sides of floor without hitting hull?

I will try and get some pics posted pretty soon. I am having to work on this in my spare time... With school and Auburn football going on, their seems to not be enough days in a week. Will definitely be buying the safety gear.. that fiberglass stuff itches pretty bad.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: What tool do I need to cut out sides of floor without hitting hull?

This is a handy little Harbor Freight attachment for your grinder. Helps keep from going to deep. $7.00

 

[greenbush future]

Re: What tool do I need to cut out sides of floor without hitting hull?

The 4 inch grinders are good from H. Freight, but buy the 1 year protection plan that will replace it for free for 1 year. I burned my first one out, and only ground out a floor, and transom on my 17 footer. These are cheap grinders but I did end up buying a second one to finish the job.

For grinding the seam for your old floor out, I liked the flap disc's in the 38 grit, grab 5 of them to start.

 

[Dakota Dave]

Re: What tool do I need to cut out sides of floor without hitting hull?

I used a dual saw with the shop vac attached. works great. still had mask and saftey glasses and gloves. barley got any dust on the gloves. when using a grinder without vac attachment I had a full suit on and still got the ich around the collar in the hair and around the cuffs. the dual saw has the dust pickup built in you just need the shop vac adapter and hose.

 

[sjohnson44]

Re: What tool do I need to cut out sides of floor without hitting hull?

If you are wanting to cut it out, rather than grind it out..not sure which one you mean. I picked up one of those multi-tools that have the vibrating blades (not sure the exact name) and it did wonderfully. A little slow and doesnt get in a hurry but its clutch when you need to make those close quarter cuts. Also handy when putting the new floor in. Those thin little blades fit down in the tightest seams and do wonders for trimming off just a hair. If you got a Big Lots around, thats where I bought mine for $30. Harbor Frieght has them for cheap as well, however the blades are what will get you. I bought a 2 pack of the half moon wood blades for $14 :S