Any experience with back box cutters?

[down2earth]

The boss is thinking about buying one as we have a job coming up that requires about 30'ish to be knocked out, if anyone has used one I'd be grateful for some feed back, can they cope with brick, breeze block etc, are they really much quicker.

Thanks

Down2earth

 

[philipb]

Hi there,
Used them a few times,ok on breeze or the softer blocks but on brick
by the time the hole startfd to take shape the brick is coming loose,
so i use the small angle grinder on them.Its messy but works.

 

[ruston]

Sds and a scutch if it's brick. Forget about the cutters unless they have improved them. I sent the one I had back, they kill the drill and take ages to do the job , and messy in my opinion with fine dust. No better than using a grinder really. If it's block you do'nt really need one , and if it's brick they wont hack it.

 

[kung]

Have a set but never used them but as said i have heard their ok on block & softer brick but i still use a scutch although might be quicker and easier on the hand using a diamond core drill with a depth gauge set then tidy up with the scrutch or bolster.

 

[kung]

Are the SDS scutch's any good ? might invest in one !

 

[MarkieSparkie]

The Armeg kit is the best of the breed. It's fine up to medium density block. In plaster its easy and very fast. If it's common brick and the pilot hole(s) are on the horizontal centre of the brick and the mortar is modern and sound it's slow but possible. Engineering brick and high density block just wrecks the tools.

 

[ruston]

That sums it up in my opinion:crazy: Kung the scutches are OK I got mine in a set with chasers etc, can't remember where I got it now. I'm a bit old fashioned though ,tend to use traditional methods in occupied houses. (Hammer LOL)

 

[drew35]

I use a box sinker all the time, I think its Erbaur from screwfix, the drill bit cuts a hole in anything. It must have sunk over a hundred boxes by now and its still as good as day one, and I use it on brick all the time, much faster, and neater. I should state that the box cutter that goes in after sometimes struggles to cut brick. But it cuts through the plaster neatly then a few blows with a chisel finishes off the small corner bits of brick that are left. I much prefer it, and it doesn't throw the dust skywards, you just get a neat pile under the socket.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Hi there,
Used them a few times,ok on breeze or the softer blocks but on brick
by the time the hole startfd to take shape the brick is coming loose,
so i use the small angle grinder on them.Its messy but works.

I agree.

I have both the single and double Armeg box sinkers and they are useless on brick.

My main gripe with them is the amount of dust they make - it gets every where - so if you're thinking about using them in a house that is occupied, think again !!

 

[stansmith]

Are the sds scutch chisels any good? i only have the traditional one the ye olde scutch

 

[millwall ken]

Are the SDS scutch's any good ? might invest in one !

Only with breeze mate

 

[GLENNSPARK]

In my opinion...good old fashioned hammer n chisel....more control and you can "feel" what you are doing. Its graft,,,but thats one of the downsides to housebashin innit............

 

[Geordie Spark]

Are the sds scutch chisels any good? i only have the traditional one the ye olde scutch

I have both the "traditional" one and the SDS.

I find with the SDS the scutch comb keeps sliding about in the holder & it's a hassle to straighten it up when it does.

 

[Rockingit]

I think the message here is that there's no one right tool for the job. It takes experience and personal ability to get the job done. I use them all - from hand chisel, grinder, scutches & cutters - depends on what, where and how as to which one gets used. If it's a construction site and breeze block, then a cutter wins hands-down. You try selling that to Mrs Jones who's house you've just filled with dust in pursuit of adding a single socket in her front room.......

On a practical note more with the original thread, in my experience even the best of box cutters are pretty useless on harder materials.

 

[stansmith]

i had a look on youtube vids on these box cutters posted by the manufacturers all used on breeze in the videos, looked at a related bit of kit an sds channelling chisel someone commented saying theirs snapped and the manufacturer replied apologetically and stated that none of their equipment is recommended on brick only on softer breezeblock.