On Oct 17, 10:38 am, Jay Chan wrote:
I am about to cut out the whole fiberglass deck from my boat. I
remember that was a very dusty job when I cut an area of the floor
using a circuit saw and a grinder (with a cut off wheel) even with a
shop vac pointing at the cutting area. I would like to find a less
dusty way of cutting the floor using a power tool.

I know I will not be using a grinder (with a cut off wheel) because I
cannot see how I can keep the dust down using it.

My circuit saw doesn't have a dust port. Would the result be much
less dusty if the circuit saw had a dust port? If it will be less
dusty with a dust port, it will be my first choice because I can cut
very straight using a circuit saw. But I doubt it because I have a
feeling that all the rotary tools kick up a lot of dust and will be
hard to control dust.

Is a jig-saw much less dusty? I know I would have a hard time using a
jig saw to cut at 45 degree angle. But this should not be a problem
because I am cutting at a 90 degree angle anyway. I may have a hard
time to cut a straight edge using a jig saw. But I think I can fix
this by using a straight wood board to guide the jig saw.

Is a reciprocating saw less dusty? Then I can use it to cut at any
angle, like what the guy in ShipShape TV used to cut a hole on the
floor of a boat and keep the cut edge at a 45 degree angle. But I
have a feeling that I would have a hard time to keep the cut edge
straight using a reciprocating saw.

Any other better power tool? I welcome any suggestion and experience
that people want to share.

Thanks.

Jay Chan


Thanks for everyone who has replied. I appreciate that.

Because the deck is relatively thick (like slightly more than 1/2"), I
doubt that a dremel will be able to handle this. But this gives me an
idea. May be I can use a router with a straight cut bit. I didn't
think of that. I have a router that has a dust port and transparent
plastic covers blocking all the openings. I "think" it may do a good
job in collecting all the dusts that the router. The downside is that
I am "very" sure that it will generate a ton of dusts and may clog the
filter in my shop vac very quickly. Therefore, I am very hesistate to
try this. At the end, I think I will pass.

I went to Sears to check on their circular saw, and I cannot find any
that has a dust port. I guess the idea of putting a dust port in a
circular saw doesn't work quite well. I remember my circular saw
kicked up a lot of dusts when I used it to cut a small area of the
floor. I think I will not try it again.

Seen like I should use a jig saw with several new carbide saw blades.
In areas where the floor is resting on a stringer, I will not be able
to use a jig saw. For those areas, I will have to use a hand saw or a
reciprocating saw.

Of course, I need to wear a protective suit, gloves, face mask, and
tape around all openings. And thanks for the tip of taking a "cold"
shower instead of a warm one (I didn't think of that).

Thanks again for the tips and for sharing your experience in this
issue.

Jay Chan