Die Grinder vs. Oscillating Saw for Canopy?

[Mark Dickens]

My die grinder is small, cheap and uses a lot of air for what it gets done. As I approach cutting the canopy, I will need to either buy a new die grinder, or find another way to get the job done. I was thinking about using something like a Fein Multimaster Oscillating Tool to do the work. Any experience or thoughts on this?

[Vern]

Die grinder!!! Put that saw away!

[N62XS]

Get a 90 degree die grinder from Harbor Freight and some thin discs. IMHO a saw is a recipe for failure in this area.

[ChiefPilot]

Originally Posted by Mark Dickens

My die grinder is small, cheap and uses a lot of air for what it gets done. As I approach cutting the canopy, I will need to either buy a new die grinder, or find another way to get the job done. I was thinking about using something like a Fein Multimaster Oscillating Tool to do the work. Any experience or thoughts on this?

I used an oscillating tool - it worked great. It's not a saw in the traditional sense. It was slow going, however - it was perhaps 10 or more passes along the cut path, deepening the groove a little bit more each time.

The best tool, after the big cut, was a small belt sander. I used coarse grit belts to grind the edges to the approximate size, then progressively finer belts to finish it, followed by hand sanding down to 1500 grit paper.

Edit-to-add: Look for reports here on the Harbor Freight version - much cheaper than the Fein tool. I used a Dremel version, but they all work on the same principle.

[Pmerems]

I have cut my canopy with the die grinder (straight shaft) with Van's cutoff disks and helped a friend cut his canopy with an oscillating saw. Both worked. However I would use the die grinder over the oscillating saw any day of the week.

Since there is a lot of progressive trimming involved the die grinder is much faster to cut with then the other. You have to be careful and support your hands against the canopy when cutting with either one so the tool cuts where you want it to. When making the big cut put extra layers of masking/duct tape on either side of the cut line, just in case you wander by accident.

BTW the oscillating saw was from HF. It did the job and is cheap.

[Mel]

All die grinders use a lot of air!

[Mark Dickens]

Originally Posted by Mel

All die grinders use a lot of air!

Yeah, but my die grinder uses a lot of air and doesn't get much done in the bargain.

[Mark Dickens]

OK, die grinder it is...thanks

[flion]

Originally Posted by Mel

All die grinders use a lot of air!

My Bosch 6.4A model uses very little air. Well, I don't know how much is consumed at the power plant, but I never see it coming out of the outlet...

[mannanj]

I used an electric drill with a 3 in. disk fitted in the arbor. Worked great and I didn't run out of electricity!