Widening downlight holes

[Dazza1976]

Hi all,

Did a job the other week, where customer wanted downlights replacing with new ones, The hole cut outs needed widening about 20mm to accomodate the new lights.
However it was virtually impossible to widen them with a holesaw because it just kept sliding off in all directions because obviously with a hole already there the central drill in the holesaw wouldnt keep it centralised in place.
I ended up having to do each one manually with a pad saw, which was very time consuming as it was a lathe and plaster ceiling.
Do any of you know any tricks to get around this problem so the job can be done quickly with a holesaw ??

Thanks in advance

 

[malcolmsanford]

No I would have been a pad saw......... or an old 32 hacksaw blade with a bit of rag around it ..................professional eh

But sure there must be a gadget somewhere knocking about

 

[deafboy]

if the thread on your holesaw mandrill is long enough its sometimes possible to use a holesaw the same size as the hole as a pilot bit it usually works for me

 

[Marvo]

You can always make a thingamabob out of a couple of bits of scrap wood. Might not be worth it for one or two holes though.

 

[Des 56]

It may help if you fit two cutters
One the exact size of the existing hole and the other the larger for your the new hole you require



oops just noticed deafboys original identical post

 

[Short Circuit]

i do the same as deafboy, just use two holesaws, with the smaller one inside as a pilot. The fact thats its further up the mandrill means it protrudes out a little more to keep the drill steady

 

[telectrix]

it's when you need to make them smaller is the real problem!

 

[Des 56]

it's when you need to make them smaller is the real problem!

Just use the all new JLM hole shrinking tool,avaiable at all good stores
Perfect for reducing holes where other tools cant cope

 

[mogga]

Thers a company does R80 covers TELE canny mind the name but they fit where old massive eyeballs were and reduces size to 50w 12v size and look neater than botch celing

 

[telectrix]

Just use the all new JLM hole shrinking tool,avaiable at all good stores
Perfect for reducing holes where other tools cant cope

is that the all purpose steam cleaner, shrinks everything to half size? £69.99 with all the attachments?

 

[mechelec]

every tool box needs one of these. I have had one for years. not too keen on the name it makes it sound like you have drilled the wrong size.

Starrett - A19 'Oops' Arbor - Saw Blades & Precision Tools

 

[gpz900jim]

just get a bit of plasterboard, cut a hole in it with the size cutter that you need, then, place this plasterboard over the hole in the ceiling, the bit you have cut will hold the cutter steady till the blade has made an impression, then remove plasterboard and keep cutting,

 

[ukpablo]

got top solution, get a pit of scrap plasterboard, bore out the hole u require with hole saw. remove pilot drill from hole cutter, then offer up the template in the scrap bit of plasterboard over old smaller hole, press firmly to ceiling and use hole cutter without the pilot drill in template hole....................stops drill from sliding about, new hole cut perfectly!

 

[ukpablo]

gpz900jim beat me to it! lol!!!

 

[telectrix]

Thers a company does R80 covers TELE canny mind the name but they fit where old massive eyeballs were and reduces size to 50w 12v size and look neater than botch celing

yep, i've used them. they can accomodate GU10s as well.

 

[sparks1234]

there is an attachment on the market which is designed to keep the place clean, it has a bowl over it which pushes on the ceiling, should be good enough

 

[manda]

You can always make a thingamabob out of a couple of bits of scrap wood. Might not be worth it for one or two holes though.
View attachment 3374

I like Marvo's Thingamabob including technical drawing!

 

[jeremy]

Starret holesaw held at an angle so half of the saw is in the hole, 2 steady hands and slow speed on the drill. Cut all holes at same angle and in same direction. Try pulling the saw back against the existing cut out to keep it steady. Best of luck!!

 

[Dazza1976]

Thanks guys some excellent advice there, wish i knew those tricks before i did the job. Oh well im sure there will be another job in the future where i need to do the same.

 

[Joseph Allan]

You can always make a thingamabob out of a couple of bits of scrap wood. Might not be worth it for one or two holes though.
View attachment 3374

Thanks.

 

[itselectric]

You could do what my son did ( he's not a sparky) he recently moved into a new house which had badly fitted downlights in his main bedroom. He decided he wanted to remove them and just have a centre light, went in the attic to move the cable and fell through. He's got a lovely new ceiling now ,so if he wanted downlights back he can start anew..

 

[Englishman]

It's making them smaller that's the issue, other than re boarding or moving the lights, there ain't much else you can do.

 

[Des 56]

It's making them smaller that's the issue, other than re boarding or moving the lights, there ain't much else you can do.

He could fit a downlight hole converter plate

 

[Andy78]

I widened around 20 holes for downlights last night. They were in suspended ceiling tiles not plaster board but the theory is the same. I put the correct size holecutter against the ceiling, gave it a little push to mark the ceiling, then cut out with knife. Easy and fast,and they all fit perfectly.

 

[Geordie Spark]

Just use the all new JLM hole shrinking tool,avaiable at all good stores
Perfect for reducing holes where other tools cant cope

I wish that had been on the market when I was married to me ex-wife.