How many batteries to Sawzall a car in half?

There's a '61 Comet in a help yourself junkyard. I am interested in the back half of the body, say from mid-door back. I don't think there's access to electricity, unless I can find a friend that has a generator they'll loan to me. I have a friend with a battery-powered "Sawzall" and two batteries. How many batteries might it take to Sawzall said car in half? Are there any hand tools/saws that would work for the easier-to-cut parts, while using the batteries for the harder cuts (rockers, edges of the roof)? I'm not sure I'm going to pull the Sawzall trigger on this, but I would like ideas of what it might take.

Thanks ...

 

That's a hard enough job with a corded sawzall, quite a few blades and plenty of time. I think you're going to want a generator, although I have no idea the durability of cordless sawzall batteries.

 

The same equation was asked in the 70's about tootsie pops.


Answer: 3

(Reality: keep switching batteries until the car is in two pieces. Then you'll know)

 

Tried to cut the roof off of a 64 Galaxie with 2 NEW,fully charged batteries. damn good thing I brought hacksaws and lot of blades... batteries didn't last very long

 

Your question should be "How many sawzall BLADES will I need." You are going to consume a lot of blades, especially when you get to the floor section with the subframe to go through.

I've cut cars in half (did a 49 Ford a couple of years ago) and if it wasn't for my torch and plasma I would still be cutting with the sawzall. I have used a 7 inch circular saw with a metal cutting blade in the past, and they work pretty well too.

Don

 

I cut the back half off a 57 Chevy in the woods with a hammer and a chisel, floors where pretty rusty though.

 

Oh, I just remembered I have access to a gas-powered air compressor. An "air chisel" would take care of this relatively easily, wouldn't it?

 

You'd probably benefit from a battery charger that plugs into the cigarette lighter of whatever you'll be driving to get there. I doubt you'll find an accurate answer to this question because nobody knows how new or old your batteries are, how well they hold a charge, or what volt they are.

 

Go to a rental yard and rent a gas powered 12 or 14 saw with steel cutting blades. I used to own a concrete removal bussiness, and used the saws to cut up cars several times. I could cut that car in half in about 10 minutes or less...just another option.

 

Gas quick cut saw and 2 blades

 

Also don't bear down hard when cutting.....let the saw do the work, that's what eats up blades and batteries.

 

An air chisel will work great, so long as you're cutting far enough ahead of the metal you want to use. Take the sawzall along to help where you run into multiple layers of metal.

 

You don't even want to mess with a reciprocating saw...the only way to go is like 117harv said above. Rent a gas powered saw...eye protection and skin protection is a must. But...having been there done that. You will save yourself a lot of time and frustration. You will also need a few guys to help cart that out of there too...it will be heavier than it looks.

 

Three more batteries and five more blades than you think...

I'd get a Gas Power Chop Saw...

 

maybe the workers could torch it off for you ?? don't know if they do that there.

 

Best answer by far!
I cut a roof out of a Caravan to put in 29Tudor with one. Look a matter of minutes. Man was it slick.
Best bring some big guns they are a bit to handle.

 

Battery operated sawzalls arent traditional...

 

can you buy the whole car and take it home to cut up?

 

Yeah, do yourself a huge favor and roll it home.

 

gas powered saw is what auto wreckers use, i have used a few myself to cut shipping containers.

 

Breaking saw blades is
A Comet? One Lennox 32 TPI with cut through that fucker...............

 

Bingo, if you can get half a car home, you can get a whole car home, then have at it with plasma, hot axe, sawzall, angle grinder, circular saw, steak knives, ceramic knives, chopsticks, you name it.
Good luck.

 

Really???

 

Did you ask if the yard will torch it in half for you? Some of them around here will cut off something you need of you ask nice...


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yea,just buy the whole damn car

 

Forget it- reality set in.

 

Now all that work for nothing These guys almost had her in two for ya Just out of curiosity what were ya gonna do with just the back half? Stick it out your barn roof? roadster quarters?

 

I know, a lot of blood, sweat, and typing. The back half would be similar to Russco's truck (http://www.hubgarage.com/mygarage/Russco/vehicles/58048). The front would be my Falcon (Comet now) fenders and doors maybe someday project, which is something like this w/o the name (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=592210&highlight=falconstein).

 

Can you just go do it anyway and report back with pic's on how many batteries it took or which method you used? I don't have much going on this weekend and wanted to see how many threads I could get through.
Thanks