wkearney99
Senior Member
Srsly, that clever bit of construction deserves a picture! Or an in-action youtube video!
how to install ceiling speakers without making a drywall mess
- Thread starter Mr Spock
- Start date
wkearney99
Senior Member
OMG, now that IS a contraption! And I mean that with the highest degree of compliment possible. Heh.
After installing two ceiling speakers in my den using a combo of a multi-tool and a reciprocating saw (to cut through wooden slats), I broke down and just spent the $60 on the hole cutter from Parts Express. I have 6 more holes to cut and have not used it yet, but it looks like it would work perfectly. The plastic dust catching pan does not spin with the blade and has a rubber seal to trap dust where it needs to be.
wkearney99
Senior Member
Yeah, uh-huh, if you say so. But I've tried several dust-catching hole contraptions and while they're not "supposed to" spin it can be VERY difficult to use them in the proper manner while up on a ladder.
It really doesn't take but even a slight spin to mark up a ceiling. Hell, I even tried using blue painters tape around the outside and THAT ended up leaving a mark!
It's a LOT easier to clean up dust than it is to sand out the marks and repaint the whole ceiling to match.
It really doesn't take but even a slight spin to mark up a ceiling. Hell, I even tried using blue painters tape around the outside and THAT ended up leaving a mark!
It's a LOT easier to clean up dust than it is to sand out the marks and repaint the whole ceiling to match.
I also thought about it some more. I have used an old fashioned jab saw and held the shop vac in the other hand. It's more work and doesn't give you that exact circular cutout that you need but it gives you a focused point of drywall dust to suck up while cutting. Right before you get to the end of the cut, run the vac around the already cut parts and get out the residual drywall dust, then finish the cut.
It also helps to have a 30 to 40 gallon trash can below so that you can just drop the plug right down in to the bag.
It also helps to have a 30 to 40 gallon trash can below so that you can just drop the plug right down in to the bag.
wkearney99 said:
Check it out here - they even have a video of the tool in action. The dust pan is on a ball bearing and there are two cutting blades across from one another which would limit lateral motion. While some of the dust may escape, it seems like it does a great job trapping ~80%.
wkearney99
Senior Member
Sure, I saw that. But experience tells me it's never that easy. Just look at how the ceiling tile popped up. Especially if you're dealing with older drywall and the possibility of obstructions. All it takes it one hiccup and the drill will snap around on you. This will very likely lead to the cup skipping on the ceiling, leaving a mark. That and a sore wrist. Granted, that's less likely an issue with the chisel point kind of cutters, versus a circular hole saw. But then the chisel cutters don't always cut as clean an opening, especially not through the first layers of paint.
This is one of those 'better mousetrap' situations. In the end you're still going to have to do some cleaning. The question is how much and whether that was worth the cost of the contraptions and the hassles of using them.
This is one of those 'better mousetrap' situations. In the end you're still going to have to do some cleaning. The question is how much and whether that was worth the cost of the contraptions and the hassles of using them.
BaduFamily
Active Member
man this should be an industructible !
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