Tool for cutting round holes in ceiling panels?

KBecker57
KBecker57 Posts: 2
edited June 2005 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I need to install 9 round in-ceiling Polk speakers in 1/2 inch thick ceiling panels. The hole needs to be 7 9/16". Is there a tool available that can do this quickly? Does anyone have any tips on how to do this easily?

Thanks.
Post edited by KBecker57 on
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,813
    edited June 2005
    Jigsaw
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  • amulford
    amulford Posts: 5,020
    edited June 2005
    What F1 said. Use a compass to layout your hole, drill a starter hole and cut it. The trim ring will hide the imperfections.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,205
    edited June 2005
    Use the template that comes with the speakers and trace it out. Use a pencil. Cut it out with a dry wall saw. As said, the ruff look will be hidden by the trim of the speaker.


    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited June 2005
    I used a manual drywall saw that you can buy from your local hardware.

    Some tips:

    1) wear some safety glasses or goggles. That white drywall stuff will be snowing all over you.
    2) wear a hat for the same reason.
    3) last but not least... go into your attic and make sure that you are not cutting a hole into your ceiling joist or you will have a mess on your hands. Make sure the hole is between the joists. I know sounds obvious but you just never know.
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  • bknauss
    bknauss Posts: 1,441
    edited June 2005
    Try a rotozip-type tool. I'm not especially good at making circles with a jigsaw, so one of those puppies with a circle cutting attachment works wonders. I personally have the Dremel version and have found it very useful over the handful of years I've owned it.

    If that didn't sound like an advertisement, I don't know what does.....
    Brian Knauss
    ex-Electrical Engineer for Polk
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited June 2005
    +1 on the dremel w/ a spiral saw attachment. It's what I use for all my drywall cutouts- it makes a lot of dust, but you'll be amazed at how fast & accurately you can zip things out.
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited June 2005
    Dremel
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  • KBecker57
    KBecker57 Posts: 2
    edited June 2005
    Great replies everyone. Thanks.

    Regarding the Dremel, the Dremel 960-01 Advantage Circle Cutter Kit looks like just what I need but it appears to only work with a specific Dremel tool, the Dremel Advantage High Speed Rotary Saw. I have a Dremel MultiPro, model 395. Anyone know whether this circle cutter will work with my Dremel?

    Or perhaps I can just use a particular bit with my Dremel and cut circles with it. I'm cutting ceiling panels.
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,070
    edited June 2005
    Kbecker, I can guess where you are from !!
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  • bknauss
    bknauss Posts: 1,441
    edited June 2005
    The circle jig will probably not work with your Dremel. I have the jig and it has a locking machanism specifically for the rotary saw you mentioned.
    Brian Knauss
    ex-Electrical Engineer for Polk
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,514
    edited June 2005
    Good advice from all.

    Rotozip has a neat vacumn attachment to keep the dust down. You need a shop vac with filter for that, cause wallboard dust is hard on motor bearings. The dust clogs up filters quickly too. Some shop vac filters are washable though.

    The manual saw doesn't cost much, is a coarse cut and works fine. You'll have good control over your cut, even round holes. Much less expense for something you may never use again.

    You can skin some wallboard compound over the cutout afterwards. Keeps the dust down if you should ever have to remove the speakers or you crank it up so high you get the board resonating. It won't stick to dust though, skin from paper to paper backing, scrape off any excess on the finish side.

    If you have access to your attic, consider building a volume enclosure for the speaker. Polk had that info in the LC in-wall/ceiling manual.
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