August 23, 2011 2:00 PM CDT
Knowing all the requirements and specifications of the job is central to completing the project successfully. Cutting indoors means considering the safety of the operators and residents as well as the equipment to be used. Since indoor work generally means disrupting a place of business, school or home, contractors have to be sensitive about the time of day the work takes place and how quickly it can be accomplished.
To assure a job stays on schedule or ahead of schedule, it is important to plan and identify all hazards. This will reduce the chance of accidents, delays, unexpected costs and losses of profit. Most indoor jobs call for cutting window or door openings in walls, but also can include cutting bricks and blocks when remodeling a basement, adding spaces for HVAC units or duct work according to specifications. Some of the time these types of projects will require the use of a hand-held power cutter.
Air/ventilation
It is important to choose a power cutter that has been designed and approved for wet cutting. An electric power cutter specifically designed to cut wet will have a GFCI or Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter installed to help protect the user if there is damage to the electric circuit. Saws intended to cut with water are designed in a way to protect the electrical components from water that would otherwise interfere with safe operation of the power cutter. Power cutters that are intended to cut with water have special features that keep the electrical components away from the water used to help make the cuts and, therefore, prevent potential accidents. Keep in mind, when selecting a power cutter designed for wet cutting, that wet cutting power cutters can be used for dry cutting, but a dry cutting power cutter cannot be used to cut wet.
When wet cutting, it is important to monitor the amount of water used as it is a big factor regarding clean-up time. Too much water will need to be mopped, shoveled, dried, swept and vacuumed to be removed. On the other hand, if a power cutter that has reduced water flow is used, the dust/debris will be in the form of a paste-like slurry that can be easily swept or scooped up. It is essential to use the appropriate blade for the material to be cut as well, since this will reduce the amount of slurry to clean up. The amount of dust and debris generated by how fast the cut is made will reduce the amount of time it takes to clean up. The longer a blade rotates to grind away the material while making the cut, the more the air is disturbed, and the longer the dust and debris travels through the air and, ultimately, settles farther away from the cut.
The same concept can be applied to water. The more water used, the more slurry created and a larger area to clean forms. If a contractor doesn’t initially plan for a way to contain the debris, it will take away time from the actual job at hand. For these reasons, it is important to choose the right blade for the material and application. Information about the recommended application: dry cutting, wet cutting or dry/wet cutting, along with the material it cuts, should be specified on the blade by the manufacturer. Since blade quality and price go hand-in-hand, choosing the appropriate blade in the planning stages will save money and time in the long run.
Coupled with the correct blade selection, an electric power cutter is an efficient choice for almost all indoor cutting jobs. Electric power cutters can cut anything that a gas power cutter can; but, unlike gas power cutters, electric versions can be used both indoors and outdoors making them a versatile machine. Electric power cutters also produce less noise, which is necessary if cutting in an outdoor or indoor area, where noise needs to be minimized.
Once all requirements and safety issues have been solved, it is time to finish, review and execute the plan to a successful job. The indoor factor when cutting adds a new element that needs to be addressed. However, when the areas of concern are considered in the planning stages of the project and the right tools have been selected, the job will be completed with ease.
How safe is your power cutter?
What to consider when working indoors with power cutters
By Mike Ward
Husqvarna K3000 Wet Power Cutter
When a contractor has a project that includes cutting indoors, planning is a crucial step. Each job carries a unique set of circumstances that need to be considered if the job is to be a success. In all jobs – especially when cutting indoors – safety, choosing the right equipment and planning are the keys to proper preparation and, ultimately, a job well done.Knowing all the requirements and specifications of the job is central to completing the project successfully. Cutting indoors means considering the safety of the operators and residents as well as the equipment to be used. Since indoor work generally means disrupting a place of business, school or home, contractors have to be sensitive about the time of day the work takes place and how quickly it can be accomplished.
To assure a job stays on schedule or ahead of schedule, it is important to plan and identify all hazards. This will reduce the chance of accidents, delays, unexpected costs and losses of profit. Most indoor jobs call for cutting window or door openings in walls, but also can include cutting bricks and blocks when remodeling a basement, adding spaces for HVAC units or duct work according to specifications. Some of the time these types of projects will require the use of a hand-held power cutter.
Areas to consider
Typical areas to consider when working in indoor, potentially confined spaces include:Air/ventilation
- Knowing if there is proper ventilation or air flow in the work space will help determine if a gas or electric power cutter is better to use on the project
- Gas engines produce carbon monoxide and can be fatal if exposed to in an area not properly vented.
- Knowing how thick the material is will help determine which tool is best to use. If a project calls for making deep cuts, such as in walls, a chain saw or Cut-n-Break would be better to use than a typical power cutter
- The type of material also will establish what type of blade to use. If the proper blade is not used for the material to be cut, safety hazards increase, and the power cutter potentially can perform poorly and lose productivity.
- If the indoor area is not properly ventilated, dust can accumulate in the space and can be hazardous to the operator
- Dust and debris can make it difficult to see if it accumulates in the area for a long period. It also is dangerous to the operator’s health if inhaled for an extended amount of time.
It is important to choose a power cutter that has been designed and approved for wet cutting. An electric power cutter specifically designed to cut wet will have a GFCI or Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter installed to help protect the user if there is damage to the electric circuit. Saws intended to cut with water are designed in a way to protect the electrical components from water that would otherwise interfere with safe operation of the power cutter. Power cutters that are intended to cut with water have special features that keep the electrical components away from the water used to help make the cuts and, therefore, prevent potential accidents. Keep in mind, when selecting a power cutter designed for wet cutting, that wet cutting power cutters can be used for dry cutting, but a dry cutting power cutter cannot be used to cut wet.
When wet cutting, it is important to monitor the amount of water used as it is a big factor regarding clean-up time. Too much water will need to be mopped, shoveled, dried, swept and vacuumed to be removed. On the other hand, if a power cutter that has reduced water flow is used, the dust/debris will be in the form of a paste-like slurry that can be easily swept or scooped up. It is essential to use the appropriate blade for the material to be cut as well, since this will reduce the amount of slurry to clean up. The amount of dust and debris generated by how fast the cut is made will reduce the amount of time it takes to clean up. The longer a blade rotates to grind away the material while making the cut, the more the air is disturbed, and the longer the dust and debris travels through the air and, ultimately, settles farther away from the cut.
The same concept can be applied to water. The more water used, the more slurry created and a larger area to clean forms. If a contractor doesn’t initially plan for a way to contain the debris, it will take away time from the actual job at hand. For these reasons, it is important to choose the right blade for the material and application. Information about the recommended application: dry cutting, wet cutting or dry/wet cutting, along with the material it cuts, should be specified on the blade by the manufacturer. Since blade quality and price go hand-in-hand, choosing the appropriate blade in the planning stages will save money and time in the long run.
Coupled with the correct blade selection, an electric power cutter is an efficient choice for almost all indoor cutting jobs. Electric power cutters can cut anything that a gas power cutter can; but, unlike gas power cutters, electric versions can be used both indoors and outdoors making them a versatile machine. Electric power cutters also produce less noise, which is necessary if cutting in an outdoor or indoor area, where noise needs to be minimized.
Once all requirements and safety issues have been solved, it is time to finish, review and execute the plan to a successful job. The indoor factor when cutting adds a new element that needs to be addressed. However, when the areas of concern are considered in the planning stages of the project and the right tools have been selected, the job will be completed with ease.
About the Author
Mike Ward is construction products product manager for power cutters at Husqvarna.
