How to cut sections out of floor boards….properly!

I need to cut some sections out to run cables and fit wall sockets and I’ve noticed that a previous plumber/sparky has used a circular saw and scored the boards on either side too.
This isn’t so much of a problem upstairs as it will be carpeted but not downstairs so want to do a neat job…..if poss.
How to go about it – what saw/gadgets/technique?

Thanks

no gadgets.. just graft. lift the full board and cut. real PIA are floorboards.

This gadget would help. You’ll need to finish the last few mm with a jigsaw as it won’t be a straight vertical cut up to the edge.

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Worx mini circular saw[/url] by brf[/url], on Flickr

If you want as neat as possible I would suggest that you don’t reuse the flooring that you take up but replace with new. And if you are not going to reuse it it won’t matter if it get’s mullered.

The biggest worry would be if it’s T&G. If it is you are liable to damage the boards which run alongside the boards that you take up, as the tongue splits the grooved edges. You’ll need to get something which cuts the tongue before you lift the board, ideally a circular saw or if the gap is sufficient a pad saw, hacksaw blade, whatever.

Bosch Multi Tool.
FTFY

If it’s your property and you aren’t in a hurry, with a floorboard saw you can cut between the boards, as far as a join, then lever up. Or lever up some way past a joist and cut across so the joist supports either side of the new cut.

Axminster tools do floorboards saws, a hand saw with a surved cutting edge.

Thanks all, how much for the Works and bosch?
Would like to try and keep the downstairs boards if poss, not too worried about the upstairs so much. Already had to replace a couple of those with 18mm boards and 3mm hardboard.

Totalshell said it. Lift the whole board then cut it. If its an end you can lift it from the end far enough for the cut line to be clear of the finished floor level. Its quite satisfying when its done correctly, and doing it proper = more man points than buying a new.

If you cut the boards out and then reuse them they they will be smaller than before they were removed, ie a saw cut smaller. Which is fine if you’re not bothered about gappy boards but not so good if you want tight joints.

And you will certainly damage the edge of the board as you drive nail bars, wood chisels, bolsters, screwdrivers, and a whole selection of totally unsuitable tools, to force it up. Plus as I said previously, if it’s T&G flooring it’s going to split like **** – the tongues aren’t going to neatly break off.

You decide what you want – a neat job with perfect flooring, or a total pigs ear 🙂

Guess I’ll have to try and get the whole board up and cut it. The upstairs boards are original so might be easier, downstairs was replaced about 18 yrs ago and reckon it might be t&g.

Yep, Bosch multicutter tool thingys are brilliant. Get one!

I found the central heating pipes had been run right up the centre of the floor when I did mine. It took me (what seemed like) ages to figure out why water was coming out of the saw and spraying me in the face.

The Works mini circular saw can be set to cut to an exact depth, so if you know how thick your floor boards are you can make sure you don’t cut through pipes etc.

Cost £65 IIRC…

Yes I managed to screw through the water pipe when replacing one of the old boards the other day…

If you can’t get to the ends to lift a board then a Stanley knife with a new blade and a straight edge. Cutting in from the edges. It’s not quick but does the job and doesn’t leave as much of a gap as a saw.
If you’ve got t&g then a Stanley down the join will free up an edge and let you hop it out. Not ideal but can be useful in an awkward spot.

After trying various tools i’ve found the oscillating multi tools from the ikes of boschy are a revelation.It barely leaves a mark behind so you just about see the cut.

What footflaps forgot to mention was the Festool vacuum cleaner just out of shot. – That green hose is a giveaway 🙄

Budget another 300+ notes for one of those 😉

What footflaps forgot to mention was the Festool vacuum cleaner just out of shot. – That green hose is a giveaway

Since I have one, I may as well use it! Not that necessary for floorboards, standard industry practice is to sweep all rubbish into the gap under the floor and then just put the boards back in top of it all!

That drives me mad! I take pride in tidying up properly.

BTW, the rest of your Flikr album is visible there.

Like the bosch but cheaper: http://cpc.farnell.com/duratool/d01959/multitool-cutter-220w/dp/TL14704

I have the battery one (older 10.8v one from Aldi) and its great but for DIY jobs you want a mains one. Should take the bosch and Fein blades too which will be better quality.

It will be noisy though.

footflaps
Since I have one, I may as well use it!

Great bit of kit, if not rather expensive. I got a Dust Deputy ultimate cyclone to go on the top of mine.

BTW, the rest of your Flikr album is visible there.

Yep, it’s all public.

Seriously thinking about one of those oscillating cutters or mini circular saw (£90 for the works one is best price I’ve seen) just not sure which……
How quick are the oscillating cutters with cutting floorboards?

How quick are the oscillating cutters with cutting floorboards?

Lightning! You just have to remember to move the saw from side to side slowly, rather than doing a plunge cut (which blunts the blade and can send it in at an angle). Use a short baton as a straight edge with which to give a cutting “line” then off you go. Make sure there are no nails in the way as they’ll shag the teeth. You can get metal/wood blades but IME, they don’t really cut through nails, rather they just give you a second chance. I use a Fein multi-master which is probably the best of the multi-tools, but I assume some patent ran out or the likes, as Bosch and Makita both do corded versions now. They’re the badger’s bits to be fair, but you’d need to justify the money on them. My Fein has paid for itself many times over, but it would do in my job.

Ok thanks, just need to find a good deal going….
The one andyl mentioned is cheap just need to know if it’ll accept the better quality blades.

I bought the Worx saw from Homebase last month for:

Worx WX424 HandyCut Circular Saw 310w             1         £69.98    
         Delivery within 3 days                                                
         HBAS Del Charge.                                  1          £3.95    

         Promotional Discount                                        -£7.00    

         Subtotal                                                    £66.93    

Fair play footflaps, I’ll have a look there too.