Small Cut Off Tool Help?

[geoffsurf]

I'm in the middle of restoring parts of my Vw camper van and need to get it finished asap. The problem is that there are areas of the floor inside the van that need small repairs. My problem is how to cut a nice clean square out of these areas without cutting into the good vertical panels around it.

A normal electric grinder has too big a radius and would cut into the side panels of the car. Is there some sort of an attachment that exists that would do the job. E.g. a very small cutting disk that fits on the end of a die grinder, to create a mini cut off tool?

Any help or suggestions appreciated.

 

[Chickenjohn]

If you have a compressor you can use one of these:-

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/clarke-cat113-3inch-cut-off-tool-2

 

[hotrodder]

There are cut wheels available for die grinders- Evolution tools do a (pricey IIRC) kit with a selection of tools including 50mm (?) cut off wheels (mandrel mounted like the dremel type tools but for 6mm collet die grinders) for example. The air cut off tools falling between die grinder and 4" grinder in terms of the space it'll fit into.

Obviously doesn't always work due to bulk of the angle grinder body but keeping a selection of virtually worn out discs around will often do the trick in cases where it's the disc size rather than grinder bulk that's the issue- say cutting towards another panel/corner and a full disc will start to cut the good panel before you've finished the cut on the rotten bit

 

[invicta]

How about an air saw if there is space behind the panel.

 

[geoffsurf]

Hi guys thanks for your replies. I've replaced the sills, arches, floor and outriggers on the on the offside 6 months ago. Now I'm doing the same on the nearside, but the corrsion is much worse and so making the job tricker. I probably could manage eventually to hack with chisels and grinders and repairing other panels, but I just really want the correct tool to make the job easier. I'm still learning as I go along so problems with cutting etc are slowing me down and draining my motivation. I've only got another couple of weeks full time off to get the van MOTd.

I don't have a compressor but have been thinking of getting one for a while now, especially if it will make the job much easier. I really need to use one of those thin file belt sanders anyway, and will also need to do a little bit of spraying. However, I'm struggling to find any second hand compressors.

I've just looked at the standard air cut off tool that was mentioned, and didn't realise how much smaller in diameter the disc was, that seems much better for a start. I keep used and new discs for different sizes on my standard electric grinder, but when it gets down to around 3.5" the actual motor of the grinder gets in the way.

The small attachments that fit in the die grinder sound similar to what I was ideally after. I have a small drill bit kit from Lidl that has little 2cm cutting discs that you put on a shaft so as to act like a die grinder, however they go wonky and break very quickly, and the drill doesn't spin fast enough.

 

[tigler]

Also, a nibbler could be used.

 

[Robotstar5]

Or an air chisel if you get a compressor

 

[mymini86]

Try this one:

or

 

[Chickenjohn]

I've used the Clarke cut off tool at college and it is very good! and seems to stand up to student abuse.

Another idea for cutting out small areas- drill a few big holes near the line you want to cut and use tin snips to cut out the area.