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Which tool for the job?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by LeoH, May 14, 2013.

  1. LeoH
    Joined: Nov 4, 2011
    Posts: 462

    LeoH
    Member
    from Reno, NV

    Basic FNG question, but if I want to cut into a 4 door sedan for an El Camino clone, is it better for me to get a cutting wheel tool or a sawzall and why the one over the other?
     
  2. KRB52
    Joined: Jul 9, 2011
    Posts: 1,077

    KRB52
    Member
    from Conneticut

    Traditional was either a hack saw or cold chisel, I think. Maybe cutting torches if someone was lucky. I think the number of different answers is going to roughly equal the number of replies.
     
  3. Get a cutting wheel. Ive see too many newbies do some serious damage with a sawzall. Jig saws work well, just dont let them bounce.
     
  4. rocketsled59
    Joined: Mar 14, 2010
    Posts: 811

    rocketsled59
    Member

    Get both you'll need both. Harbor freight stuff will get ya through. Cut it up!
     

  5. HellsHotRods
    Joined: Jul 24, 2009
    Posts: 1,409

    HellsHotRods
    Member

    X2 - you may go through more cutting wheels, but you'll get a cleaner cut and if the sawzall "grabs" once, you've created more work.
     
  6. Motomike43
    Joined: Jan 13, 2013
    Posts: 156

    Motomike43
    Member

    BOTH. and a small Jig saw, and hand hack saw. I use the cut off wheel and the jig saw for the thin floppy metal and the sawzall for the Posts. Hand saw for delicate work.
     
  7. if i was doing it i would probably end up using a plasma cutter , sawzall , port-a-band and a cut off wheel at some point during the process.
     
  8. 63comet
    Joined: Jan 31, 2006
    Posts: 508

    63comet
    Member

    Circular saw from some place with a liberal return policy with a chop saw blade makes easy straight cuts in floppy rusty steel.
     
  9. hillbilly4008
    Joined: Feb 13, 2009
    Posts: 2,924

    hillbilly4008
    Member
    from Rome NY

    4 1/2" grinder is pretty hard to beat. They made loads of disks for them; grinding disks, cut off wheels, wire wheels, sanding pads, foam paint/rust strippers. If you have nothing else you need to get one of these.

    Sawzall is my second choice.

    plasma cutter on a car only has limited apps.
     
  10. LeoH
    Joined: Nov 4, 2011
    Posts: 462

    LeoH
    Member
    from Reno, NV

    Thank you. I was thinking, like mentioned, that the cutting wheel would give you more control but being a FNG, I wasn't sure if you needed a separate tool body for the cutting and another for grinding and sanding.
    I never considered needed hand and jig saws, awesome.
     
  11. The sawzall will be a lot of fun if you don't remove the headliner.
     
  12. F-ONE
    Joined: Mar 27, 2008
    Posts: 3,271

    F-ONE
    Member
    from Alabama

    LeoH,

    I see you have a nice Studebaker Lark Wagon. Is that the car you're planning to convert to a truck? If it is, maybe you should find another vehicle that's in rough condition. That way if project goes south , you have not lost much.
     
  13. customcory
    Joined: Apr 25, 2007
    Posts: 1,831

    customcory
    Member

    sawzall, tinsnips , cutoff wheels, I love my sawzall. use masking tape so you can see your cut lines better, straighter and closer to the line.
     
  14. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,849

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    I use sawzalls for destruction, 4" cut off wheels if I want to do anything nice.
     

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