Wall Chasing

[diy_darren]

I've got to chase around 15 new runs for cable around the house. The work will be done room by room over a month or more, so hiring isn't really an option.

The wall chasers I've seen to buy appear to be nothing more than two angle grinder discs with the ability to vary cut depth and cut width? I've got a 4.5" angle grinder, so planned to use that and cut to the max. depth it allows (around 25mm I think). I realise this will make huge amounts of dusk, but the room will be empty so I can live with it. Unless anyone has a better idea of how to create cable runs in blockwork?

 

[RF Lighting]

It doesn't matter if the room is empty. It will fill your entire house with dust.

I do use a grinder on building site type houses, but for anything else I just use a lump hammer and a selection of cold chisel, scutch chisel, and sash knife.

An SDS drill with roto stop and a chisel bit is also quite handy

 

[Symptoms]

darren - don't use an angle grinder - RF is spot on warning about the dust - you will not be able to control the stuff no matter how well you 'sheet-up'. Wall chaser do have 2 discs BUT they also have dust extraction facilities, even so they still produce rogue dust - I have one so speak from experience. Your best bet is to use a channelling chisel fitted in an SDS+ system (again as RF suggests); these specialist chisels are designed to run quick & accurate channels in brick and block work. They come in 20mm, 30mm, 55mm wide; there's even a long reach one for going behind skirtings. One pass will produce a channel about 20mm deep (x width as above), if you want a deeper channel then extra passes. Prices around £30, made by Armeg (& others). I use them, so again speak from experience.

 

[Mark Br]

Just in case you need a 3rd confirmation.....................

I used an angle grinder when I was chasing out the walls in a bathroom. I closed the door and still managed to fill the whole house with dust, not to mention my lungs & eyes, despite wearing a mask & goggles. The wife was not best pleased. I reverted to using an SDS drill with a channelling bit, much better and less mess.

 

[diy_darren]

I found the bit you mentioned at screwfix - http://www.screwfix.com/prods/16724...hisels/Armeg-SDS-Plus-Channelling-Chisel-30mm

Do these chisels always come with a bend? I have an SDS bit set that has something similar but a semi circular head and completely straight. Haven't a clue what it's actually for!

If I do need to invest in that channelling bit above, how's best to use it? Do you need to channel into the wall slightly with something else to give it a start, or just attack it at 90 degrees until it has worked its way into the wall a bit?