cutting an RSJ

[b21playa]

Hi all

There is a RSJ above the kitchen kitchen which I need o get as i am shortening the window width and I need to cut it as it gets in the way where the boiler flue will be going

how can i cut it?

 

[noseall]

it is likely that you will need to remove it, and/or replace it with a shorter one.

 

[marshman]

is the web deep enough for you to go through with a hole cutter it might be easier than cutting.
cutting you'll need to get both sides with a disk cutter
or from one side with gas.

 

[b21playa]

is the web deep enough for you to go through with a hole cutter it might be easier than cutting.
cutting you'll need to get both sides with a disk cutter
or from one side with gas.

Cheers mate

took all the plaster off and found a lightweight metal lintel, dont know its its sttel or not

Anyway attacked it with my 4" grinder as I had access to both side, top and bottom. Its now been cut and supported with a new colum of bricks cut in, and I have space for my flue

Thanks for advice

 

[niamhsull]

Can I butt in on this thread! We also have an RSJ that was initially for the stairs but the guy installing our stairs said it wasn't needed. We cut it with a band saw but there is still a small part jutting out. Does anyone know the best way to cut this without damaging the stairs..will include a pic

 

[opps]

I would use a 4.5" angle grinder. Others might be able to recommend a better alternative.

A massive downside to the above is that you will have airborne iron filings that will fly around the place and potentially become rusty.

A reciprocal saw with a flexible blade might be a better, but slower option. The waste material will largely fall to the ground and will be easier to contain.

 

[niamhsull]

Thanks so much

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Angle grinder, fitted with a thin metal cutting disc. Have a second person around, with a vacuum cleaner, fitted with an old hose, to attempt to catch the flying hot fillings. Have a water spray bottle to hand, in case of fire.

 

[opps]

Angle grinder, fitted with a thin metal cutting disc. Have a second person around, with a vacuum cleaner, fitted with an old hose, to attempt to catch the flying hot fillings. Have a water spray bottle to hand, in case of fire.

Hnmmm, vacuuming up hot filings in to a bag, potentially full of compacted dust, what could go wrong? Sorry, I am, admittedly, thinking of worst case scenarios. I do recall that festool used to sell a spark trap, in today's money it was about £200. It was a centrifuge that span the hot elements before they reached the bag.

 

[^woody^]

Box it in. Some similar timber carefully fitted may be better than plaster.

The dust and grit from a grinder will travel all around the house unless you have good extraction on the machine. And keep a fire extinguisher handy.

If you are minded to cut, paint the bare metal afterwards, else it will rust and leech through the plaster. Similarly, vacuum every last grain of metal or you'll get rust spots where you don't want them

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Hnmmm, vacuuming up hot filings in to a bag, potentially full of compacted dust, what could go wrong? Sorry, I am, admittedly, thinking of worst case scenarios. I do recall that festool used to sell a spark trap, in today's money it was about £200. It was a centrifuge that span the hot elements before they reached the bag.

They will be cool, before they hit the bag.

 

[opps]

They will be cool, before they hit the bag.

On the balance of probability, yes I agree with you, but there is a reason why £200 spark traps exist.

 

[cdbe]

I'd have a go at chain drilling that, increasing size drill bits (cheap jobber ones) and either chisel - a lot more effective than you'd think (or grinder what's left if you have to - but the mess will be bad). I recently cut a 19mm thick, 2 feet long length of steel plate with thin discs and used loads, I know chain drilling first would have made the job a lot easier but I needed a perfectly straight clean cut.

 

[Old Salt]

+1 for ^woody^, nice piece of timber with a recess in the back and fixed in place, varnished to match the staircase.

 

[Deluks]

Evolution circular saw, the one that cuts through metal. I would do many many passes across the front, like as if you were cutting a dado in some timber. Very few sparks with these, and it would take ages, you'd probably have to finish off with another tool.

Put dust sheets down everywhere to protect surfaces, serial killer style!

oh, and I'd rent some sort of platform to work off of. It will get tiring.