Drilling large holes in ceiling

Forums › Home Workshop DIY › Drilling large holes in ceiling

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 80

Trusted

#115914 11-Apr-2013 16:27

Any advice on drilling/cutting 23cm diameter holes in a ceiling for ventilation fittings? Should I buy those 2-sharp-point-scraper-drill things or is it fine drilling lots of holes and then cutting through with a jigsaw? This is for in our new-built home so don't want to mess it up. I have 6 holes to drill. Thanks.

You can never have enough Volvos!

kiwitrc

4123 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 833
Inactive user

#797877 11-Apr-2013 16:38

Is it Gib Board? If so you can use a keyhole saw

jayd

35 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 2

#797882 11-Apr-2013 16:51

I used a hacksaw blade when I installed my in ceiling speakers. I drilled a starter hole first and just pushed the blade up to get started.
A lot of plaster dust will rain down, and I got someone to hold the vacuum nozzle up to where I was cutting so the dust didnt go everywhere.
Best check there are no wires or battens etc up there before you start cuttting.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1528

#797883 11-Apr-2013 16:51

multitools are pretty sweet and will do the job easy peasy with the plunger blade attachement.

plus you will find them very handy for all sorts of things later on

Niel

3267 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 80

Trusted

#798065 11-Apr-2013 20:54

NonprayingMantis: multitools are pretty sweet and will do the job easy peasy with the plunger blade attachement.

plus you will find them very handy for all sorts of things later on

Thanks, I suspected that might be the ultimate answer. And my wife is wondering what to get for my birthday next month...

You can never have enough Volvos!

Dingbatt

6804 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3694

Lifetime subscriber

#798083 11-Apr-2013 21:16

If you end up trying to do it manually I have a suggestion.
I have had some success in the past in making holes for ducting vents and speakers in gib ceilings by cutting the paper on the gib first. Either just with a hobby knife, or on one occasion I mounted a hobby blade in an extended compass and used it as a scribe. That way tears don't migrate to the outside of the circle on the 'good' side of the gib.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3317

Trusted

#798097 11-Apr-2013 21:32

You might want to poke a nail up into the ceiling first, then get up in the attic to see where it pokes through. Then adjust the position of your 23 ccm hole to avoid any beams in the attic.

Whatifthespacekeyhadneverbeeninvented?

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

CYaBro

4708 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1182

ID Verified

Trusted

#798106 11-Apr-2013 21:43

Also a good idea to cut a smaller hole first that you can fit your hand and perhaps some of your arm into then you can feel around and make sure your bigger hole isn't going to hit anything or you won't cut through anything.
If you also cut the smaller hole with the knife/saw/blade on an angle, so the piece you cut out can't be pushed into the ceiling and acts like a plug, it makes it easier to repair the hole if you need to for any reason.

Edit: just saw darthkermits suggestion and that would be a better idea :)

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.