Chasing machine ?

[Soulsurfer]

Anyone got any opinions on wall chasing machines &/or hoovers as got more & more to do now and thinking of buying one. Hilti DC-SE20 seems top dog but only afford second hand at around £450 ish.

Thanks for any ideas opinions

 

[Risteard]

Most of my stuff is Hilti, but I got the Metabo 110V tracking/chasing machine and hoover. (I also have a Hilti hoover.) Practically no dust. (Except for once when I set it all up including power take-off on the hoover and started cutting only to realise I'd forgotten to connect the hose between the hoover and the machine! Oops...

 

[Leesparkykent]

http://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-erb383wch-125mm-wall-chaser-230-240v/58708

Nilfisk Multi 20T 1400W 20L Wet and Dry 230V Vacuum Cleaner with Blow Function - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nilfisk-Multi-20T-1400W-20L-Wet-and-Dry-230V-Vacuum-Cleaner-with-Blow-Function-/191481801760?hash=item2c95346c20:g:YwAAAOSw8d9UtgD~

I have the Makita chaser and Vacuum. I had a huge rewire on so went out and brought the erbauer chaser from screwfix and nilfisk hoover so could have two people chasing. IMO it's just as good as the Makita setup and would recommend for under £200.

 

[interlude]

I have the Titan wall chaser from Screwfix which I used on a rewire and it was spot on. It has twin blades which you can ammend the width and depth of. Set it to it's max of 30mm wide, then afterwards went round with an Armeg angled 'scoop' chisel on my SDS drill to remove the chase. Takes literally 2-3 minutes to do a full wall chase.

The chaser cost about £70 and the matching Titan vacuums start at £30 onwards depending on capacity, so you can get yourself a chaser/vacuum setup for £100.

 

[Soulsurfer]

Geez was even looking at Sealey wet/dry hoovers as cheaper at £86 odd where Hilti was £1K ! Great advice fellas just don't like 4" grinder and gaffa taped door frames anymore ! So much mess for days after

 

[growler]

I've got the Titan wall chaser and a Henry Hoover , don't rate the Titan , spend some money on something decent

 

[gazdkw82]

is there any concern or danger of cutting through objects you cannot see? cables/pipes etc....

 

[Midwest]

If your going to the expense of buying a wall chaser and hoover, you are probably doing a lot of such work? IMO the most important part of the set up is the hoover. Used someone's Metabo chaser & hoover, no dust at all, and the chaser wasn't bulky or un-manoeuvrable. Downside is it is expensive £850ish. The hoover has some sort tapping thing inside which stops the filters from clogging up with dust.
Hired a couple of units from Tool Hire shops, which were next to useless. One of them adapted a Henry hoover to fit the chaser, and said when it gets bunged up, we just replace the hoover!

 

[Midwest]

is there any concern or danger of cutting through objects you cannot see? cables/pipes etc....

You make sure there isn't any in the way before chasing.

 

[gazdkw82]

You make sure there isn't any in the way before chasing.

and how would you do that?

 

[Midwest]

and how would you do that?

I note you are a Trainee, so I hope this isn't a have! By carrying out a survey of your proposed to be chased wall.

In a domestic property, pipes and cables concealed in plaster walls are generally done for aesthetics, to feed or supply sockets, radiators or other features. So for example, cutting a chase above a radiator is fraught with danger. However, if you are to cut a vertical chase down a wall devoid of any feature, a check of the ceiling void above said proposed chase should reveal any hidden pipes/cables; it is unusual (but not without possibility) for any service to be horizontally in the middle of a wall devoid of features. If in any doubt, one could use a multi detector, although they are not infallible. I suspect many have cut through a hidden pipe or cable, but then that's part of life's rich tapestry.

 

[amlu]

invest in a hilti with a decent hoover if doing anything near occupied properties.
for unoccupied an erbauer with a henry does the job just fine, but you need a dust mask and other trades on the job will not be very happy.

 

[gazdkw82]

I note you are a Trainee, so I hope this isn't a have! By carrying out a survey of your proposed to be chased wall.

In a domestic property, pipes and cables concealed in plaster walls are generally done for aesthetics, to feed or supply sockets, radiators or other features. So for example, cutting a chase above a radiator is fraught with danger. However, if you are to cut a vertical chase down a wall devoid of any feature, a check of the ceiling void above said proposed chase should reveal any hidden pipes/cables; it is unusual (but not without possibility) for any service to be horizontally in the middle of a wall devoid of features. If in any doubt, one could use a multi detector, although they are not infallible. I suspect many have cut through a hidden pipe or cable, but then that's part of life's rich tapestry.

yes trainee but iv done a fair amount of hands on wall chasing, first fixing etc.

I guess what I was trying to understand was if there was a fool proof way to know if its safe to use the chasing machine or not. What detector tools would you suggest, if any??

 

[Midwest]

What detector tools would you suggest, if any??

The most expensive one you can possibly afford. The cheap tat Bosch one I have, goes off with the merest hint of anything metal, anywhere within a six mile radius.

 

[gazdkw82]

The most expensive one you can possibly afford. The cheap tat Bosch one I have, goes off with the merest hint of anything metal, anywhere within a six mile radius.

I'll have a mooch on tut net