Cutting receptacles in stucco buildings

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codeunderstanding

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what type of tool works best to cut out side receptacles in stucco sided houses? These houses are post world war II built around the late 40s.
 
A diamond wheel in a 4-1/2" angle grinder, and those trick Arlington retrofit In-Boxes. Might take you all of 3 minutes to cut your opening.

DBHR1W-new.jpg


http://www.aifittings.com/whnew74_retrofit.htm
 
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codeunderstanding said:
That grinder wheel that you are talking about is that the one that can go on roto zips?
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Um.... no, not really. The closest thing is the tile bit. The RotoZip is a fine tool, but absolutely the wrong tool for portland stucco. If you don't already own a 4-1/2" grinder, you probably should. You can get a DeWalt one for about 49 bucks at the home center, and the 4-1/2" dry diamond wheels are 15 or 20 bucks. Makes a boatload of dust, but it's the right tool for the job, in my opinion.
 
mattsilkwood said:
you can run a little bit of water on the blade as you cut. it cuts out alot of the dust and wil make your blades last alot longer too.
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Somebody suggested that to me a while back. Instead of getting dust that I could sweep up and brush off myself, I got sludge that I had to wash up. For all the more the blades cost, I think I'll do without the water. I'm on my second blade in 3 or 4 years, and I use it with certain regularity, so I think the dry cutting is working out okay. In the worst cases, I just have a helper (or the homeowner if they're the helpful sort) hold a shop vac near the "rooster tail" to suck the dust up as it's made. Works good for channelling out old hard plaster on brick, like is done on the party walls of old townhomes and brownstones, if you need to do that also.
 
mattsilkwood said:
and it makes boogers your screwdriver wont dig out:grin:
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Um.. yeah. :grin: Maybe you could figure out a way to spring for a 25 cent dust mask? :roll: If nothing else, tie your handkerchief around your face for a couple of minutes, for crying out loud.
 
mdshunk said:
Um.. yeah. :grin: Maybe you could figure out a way to spring for a 25 cent dust mask? :roll: If nothing else, tie your handkerchief around your face for a couple of minutes, for crying out loud.
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Or pull your shirt up over your nose.
 
I wouldn't recommend a Rotozip for this application...it will bog down from too much pressure/force.

Use a small electric grinder:
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This one uses a 4.5" blade.
 
mattsilkwood said:
as for me i hate that dust gets every where, and it makes boogers your screwdriver wont dig out:grin:
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I've never had boogers a Roto-zip wouldn't remove. Time to step up to power tools, dude!
 
A helper with a big shop vac helps keep the dust down, I've done it myself with one hand on the grinder and the other on the shop vac, having large hands helps.

er...yes maam, I guess I do have er.. large features.
 
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