help with power tool needed

[okeefe58]

Hi all - First time poster so bear with me. Need to cut a bigger rectangular hole around an outlet. (for gfci outlet) Has some funky fake brick covering drywall. Dawned on me the probable tool would be an angle grinder (have one), but with a disc that cuts on its edge. Problem being, I don't know what those disc's are called - Edge cutting sanding disc? Cut-off disc? I've worked with many power tools thru the years, but this one escapes me thus far.

edit: I suppose a plain ol circular saw would work, but may be a bit messy/chippy

[Papaw]

The proper cut-off disc for the material on a 4" angle grinder. Or a jig saw (sabre saw).

[scottg]

Zipdisk or cutoff disk.
I haven't seen them for masonry .

  Oh wait look, no problem. 
10 for 2 bucks apiece, shipping included
http://www.ebay.com/itm/cut-off-disk-masonry-4-1-2-by-3-64-10-pcs-/370544150152?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item5646270688
 
  There are also 133 kinds of diamond coated disks. These will cut granite!

  But angle grinder would not be my first choice working on something this small and inside the house. Hard to control and going to make a hellacious mess of dust. 

Standard practice for electrical cutouts for the last years is either rotozip, or a trim router.
Either will take solid carbide spiral side cutting blades and these will cut tile.
Your cinderblock fake brick will be cake.

If you don't have one, but you have a dremel tool, you can use this with a spiral bit, it just takes longer
  yours Scott

[mrchuck]

I would use my "ROTO-ZIP" and "enlarge it for the GFI."
My Roto-Zip is 14 years old, and nowdays I guess one of those "new-fangled" multi-tool I see in Lowe's would do it too.
I know GFI works, but I have never been able to get close to max amp draw before it clicks off.
I would never plug my circular radial arm saw in one.

[okeefe58]

Thanx mr. chuck and all, yes a roto zip, or the dremmel I have would be easier, maybe I'll purchase some of the thicker 1.25" reinforced cut off wheels (so cut off is the term), that don't just shatter upon touch like the thin ones I have. Also chuck, I meant I'm INSTALLING a gfci outlet into the rectangular hole I need to cut, not using one with whatever power tool

But ULTIMATELY, I like your suggestion scottg, masonry discs, and being I don't have any, they'll come in handy elsewhere -

Thanx ALL - TRULY - REAL replies for a change - I always seem to run into forum replies like, "well why do you want to do that?", "please use a spell checker", etc., I.E., NOTHING HELPFUL, OR EVEN PERTAINING TO WHAT I ASKED $#$%^

[Bill Houghton]

If you don't already own a roto-zip and think getting one is the solution, my suggestion would be to buy a trim router instead.  It's basically the same motor, and a trim router is more flexible in its uses.

[Papaw]

Thanx ALL - TRULY - REAL replies for a change - I always seem to run into forum replies like, "well why do you want to do that?", "please use a spell checker", etc., I.E., NOTHING HELPFUL, OR EVEN PERTAINING TO WHAT I ASKED $#$%^

Tool Talk has never been like that, nor will it ever be !

[amertrac]

Thanx ALL - TRULY - REAL replies for a change - I always seem to run into forum replies like, "well why do you want to do that?", "please use a spell checker", etc., I.E., NOTHING HELPFUL, OR EVEN PERTAINING TO WHAT I ASKED $#$%^

Tool Talk has never been like that, nor will it ever be !

AND THAT'S THE HEAD HONCHO SPEAKING   BOB W

[BruceS]

My choice would be a Fein Multimaster,  an expensive investment.    But it is a go to tool when nothing else works.

[scottg]

If you don't already own a roto-zip and think getting one is the solution, my suggestion would be to buy a trim router instead.  It's basically the same motor, and a trim router is more flexible in its uses.

Hey Bill
I am thinking of going the other way myself. Since I don't have a trim router but I do have a rotozip I am thinking of making a more comfy base for the roto. Rotozips, or at least mine, has only a ring at the base to ride on. Not exactly conducive to high precision woodwork. But if it had a real base I think it would be more useful to me.

  One thing I have found lately (to get more use from a rotozip) is large burrs for carving.
The best quality rotary rasps (that don't have bent shafts) and the large steel or carbide rotary files both work great. The rotozip has plenty of power for this.  I don't have enough air in my basement shop to use an air die grinder, so having an electric is better than a poke in the eye...

And yeah, you know how bad we are, Chuck. 14 years is practically "born yesterday" in a tool. heehehehheheheheheheh
I was using a 60 year old skillsaw 2 days ago.  And it was the only thing I had that would do the job! Needed to cut a thick slab for a neighbor. Too thick for a normal 7 1/4" saw.   Got out the old Porter Cable 8 1/4". Heavy as lead (all metal), but very accurate and powerful.

Okeefe, I don't think you'll like the big reinforced dremel cutoff wheels so much. I thought I'd like them, before I had any. But a dremel is small and has small bearings. When you put a big thick wheel on it you can feel the vibration pounding the poor little thing. Also it barely has enough power to cut with a thick wheel. The motor starts getting hot fast.

  The little paper thin ones you have been using? I like those the best for dremel work. There are a couple other makers of them besides dremel and both of those give you the whole 36 disks in a tube that dremel used to. Dremel is down to about 20 in a package now. 
   With a little practice, you can use these to slice hardened tool steel without destroying the temper, and nothing else I know of will do that.  Plus millions of other jobs. I use one practically everyday for something or other. Today included.
Sure I break them sometimes, like everyone...................... but not always! :)

  None of us here have anything to sell or any agenda really. We are only here to share and to help each other when we can.
   yours Scott

[okeefe58]

Yeah I was exaggerating a bit on the thin discs breaking, they do work well for small precision cutting (as long as you have a steady hand). Your also right about the dremmel getting too hot, and a bit underpowered for the bigger stuff. Nice site, I get the idea you'ze are a bunch of old timers like me. OH! I just noticed PAPAW!! Does he have "Gorilla Hands" too? hehe

[Papaw]

My "gorilla" hands don't hamper me too much!

[okeefe58]

That was from shelby stanga on "ax men" If you dont watch the show, look 3 posts down here and you'll see what I mean:
https://www.facebook.com/ShelbySwampmanStanga

[Papaw]

OK, Now I understand. Not a big TV watcher, especially not the so-called "reality" shows.

Usually it is a grandchild yelling- "Hurry up, Papaw!!!"

[okeefe58]

Yeah same idea on the show, except since they're loggers, they make jokes like even the logger women have "gorilla hands" (and they do)