Best way to cut plaster clean, and not with an angle grinder!

Showing the usefulness of the brushless 12v 3" cutoff tool from Milwaukee for cutting through plaster walls while leaving the wood lath intact.
www.homedepot....
Chapters
00:00 Tool description
3:09 Cutting plaster

[@djmattplay]

Bought a house that was built in the 1940s. I’m now living that plaster life. This was super helpful. I snagged a DeWalt version to work with the batteries I’ve got. Wish I had a nice dust collector but just working with my shop vac filtered and bagged. About to get started cutting in old work boxes throughout for my home network and home theater. Plus converting my bedroom single closet door to a triple sliding door. Have a lot of plaster to deal with and I can tell this tool is going to make the job so much better. Thanks for sharing this!

[@thelonelandlord]

Awesome, glad to help!

[@colefloyd5303]

How did it work for the old work boxes ? Was worried it would be too wide for the top and bottom cuts.

[@djmattplay]

@@colefloyd5303 I did have to be careful on the top/bottom cuts of single boxes, but it wasn’t too wide. Pretty much had to push the blade straight in and pull straight out, but overall it got me 95% there and it was easy to manually notch the last little bit.

[@iramrod8003]

This is awesome! My husband should be learning how to do this, but he's a bit too lazy. So, here I am wanting to learn how to do this. Wish me luck!

[@thelonelandlord]

good for you - jump right in and go for it! Thanks for watching!

[@jlew6803]

He sounds like a shit 😳

[@EdwardHeavrin]

Time to find a new husband

[@peterlittle2748]

Your husband must be a woman underlow miss

[@bryanfitzgerald8046]

Great video. I used this Milwaukee cut-off tool using the diamond tile blade, to cut around 18mm thick solid plaster on brick, after rain ingress on a chimney breast. Used a multi-tool with a SMART Multi Cutter Mortar Buster Blade 32mm for the internal corners and ends of cuts. Plaster was then cut out with SDS plus crank shank chisel and a brick bolster. George vacuum connected to Milwaukee didn't suck up all the dust. Still lots of cleaning up to do. Thanks for sharing.

[@meltring]

I had to cut some plaster on a ceiling. Saw your video and bought the DeWalt version of this tool (since I already have DeWalt drills and could use the same 20V battery). Worked amazing! No dust! Thanks! great video.

[@Dumpytrumpy2066]

My lake house was built in1932 and all plaster, I’ve made more plaster dust then I care to admit, but dude that’s the ticket right there!!!! Cleanest plaster cutting I’ve ever seen done! Heading out to Home Depot now I’m making two archways and that gizmo is going to perfect, thanks for sharing!

[@thelonelandlord]

thanks Ernest good luck - its worked well for me so far. make sure the blade is rotating towards the dust collector that helps a lot. thanks for watching!

[@GeorgeCostandi]

2 years old post, curious if it worked fine for you? I need to cut clean straight narrow channel in a plaster ceiling

[@whatnowok]

My lake house…. You rich f654!

[@orellana2109]

“Field modification” love it. Thanks for the tip

[@brewbuildsit]

Milwaukee should sponsor you to make another video on removing plaster. I bought one of these instantly after seeing this video. I’ve been looking for a video on removing plaster that doesn’t involve making the room look like someone dropped a stick of dynamite in it. Finally I found your video! The KZbin world is very short on intelligent videos on this specific topic and when you search for it you get either idiots with sledgehammers or videos that are actually about drywall not true plaster. Thanks!

[@thelonelandlord]

haha thanks! glad I could help someone out

[@drywallcentral]

Appreciate this! Every once in a while I get a plaster job. I ended up getting the dewalt cutout tool with the vacuum attachment and it’s a game changer!

[@akmfj]

I'm going to buy one now what perfect timing! Thank you!

[@frugalcalvinist]

I purchased this Milwaulkee tool in a kit form (with dust shroud, 4Ah battery and charger) solely based on this video. I'm not invested in the Milwaulkee platform (I have Ridgid tools and batteries), but I needed to cleanly remove the plaster and "Rocklath"( a 3/8" transitional material used after wood lath, but before drywall) during a client bathroom remodel. The bathroom had plaster crown molding and I wanted to preserve it, which necessitated cutting cleanly 6" below and tying in modern drywall. I've experienced enough plaster dust clouds to appreciate any tool that mitigates it. TTI, who makes Milwaukee tools, also makes very similar 3" cutting tools in both Ridgid and Ryobi. They do not make the dust shroud with the vacuum attachment for either of those brands, which is unfortunate since both are 18V versus the 12V Milwaukee. Firstly, this saw is not powerful enough to be used in this application, IMHO. I was careful to keep the blade in a straight line to avoid binding the rear of the blade, but even the slightest deviation would cause the thermal overload to trip. Secondly, the 3" blade has only a 3/8" cutting depth. I was dealing with a 1/2" plaster on 3/8" drywall, so the wheel wasn't capable of doing a complete cut. I've seen plenty of lath and plaster walls that had a plaster layer that thick as well. This isn't a fault of this tool, but a limitation of these 3" cutters in general. Thirdly, I was only able to get 3/4 ways around the 5'x8' room before the 4Ah needed to be charged. I did purchase a two pack of batteries in anticipation of this happening, but I'll be returning them in light of the overall sub par performance of this tool. Fourthly, as a southpaw, getting my hand around the grip to pull the trigger with the dust shroud in place was a challenge. I don't have sausage fingers, but anyone who does and is left handed is going to find it a challenge. At least the Reverse setting is south paw friendly. A good try, TTI tool engineers, but back to the drawing board.

[@mikevaldez30]

rotozip with a tile bit then use a oscillating tool for the wood works like a charm everytime

[@thelonelandlord]

agreed that works really well!

[@mxfern12]

Great review, I bought one after seen your video, it works great on plaster and even to cut the wood lattice without breaking it or shaking it at all.

[@bauer09]

great to hear thanks for watching!

[@CheaddakerT.Snodgrass]

Found your video by searching for How to cut a hole in lathe and plaster ceiling. KZbin suggested ceiling at the end. Good answer. It's a terrible thing to try to do for the reasons you mentioned as well as others depending on the situation. A reciprocating saw just shakes everything if you try to go through the plaster and the lathe at the same time. Now I realize dealing with the plaster first is the way to go.

[@thelonelandlord]

glad it helped and thanks for watching!

[@wongfeihung9724]

Great Video. Helped me a lot. No more oscillating tools for plaster removal! Thank you! WFH

[@thelonelandlord]

Great to hear!

[@MrSeanXavr]

Bruhhhh, this could’ve saved my bacon so many times in the past. 😅 Glad to hear about it now though. 100 year old home…

[@JustMe-ty9tx]

I’m sold on it. Thank you.

[@iowolf]

You're the GOAT thanks

[@ChrisJones-yh2os]

Going to buy one based on this, was trying to figure out how to cut plaster overhead with some control

[@thelonelandlord]

Glad to help thanks for watching!

[@Douglas-tz2oq]

Just ordered this tool for this exact use. Thanks for the tip!

[@thelonelandlord]

awesome enjoy thanks for watching!

[@jamesbeck8450]

Buying one now. Awesome

[@tribalxredklr4039]

Where this is really a game changer: the ceiling

[@mariad4183]

This is awesome! Thank you for sharing friend!

[@kippersmack7689]

Believe it or not, that brown adhesive is water soluble. Spray a little water on it, give it 5-10 minutes dwell time, and it will wipe off.

[@kidwonder0153]

Thanks ! I was literally trying to see if the m12 cut off tool blades that came with it cuts plaster or if I had to get a new wheel blade .

[@cyberneticghost47]

Nice I've been using a sawzall but my lines aren't always the straightest and the dust sucks to clean up.definetly getting one of these.

[@VanquishAudio]

I’ve been using a multi tool all week and it’s been rough lol. This is genius..

[@gyver471]

Thanks for sharing just what I was looking for.

[@DanielinLaTuna]

Fascinating! I have a similar tool made by Dremel that I use for thin plywood and masonite. Now I have an additional use for it! Thanks for sharing. (By the way, my brother would be aghast that you’re gonna hang drywall over the lath… it’s in perfect condition, why not replaster? It’s not that hard and the end product would match your home - unless time is a consideration, that is…)

[@cougarcn]

Great review thank you

[@thelonelandlord]

Thanks for watching!

[@steelman86]

Scrub Forward to 3:09 for actual use of the tool after the loooonnngggg narrative!!!

[@thelonelandlord]

thanks for the timestamp-- I updated the chapters in the description to help!

[@heavycmc]

Awesome. Thank you sir.

[@bigrobsd2642]

thanks man!!!! holy shit that is gonna be a life saver for me!!!!

[@tonyrodriguez7423]

Beautiful

[@MB-vp7xr]

Great video, I’m about to do the same thing but I’m planning to take the lath off and add insulation on exterior walls. Why are you keeping the lath? Thanks 🙏🏼

[@thelonelandlord]

good question.. in this case I was prepping this area for backsplash tile and the easiest way to match the existing thickness of the rest of the wall was to use the lath + 3/8 drywall, so I left it. In most cases I'm cutting lath out also, but I would still use the same method... then carefully cut the lath with an oscillating tool & a new/sharp blade. Thanks for watching!

[@davecollier8054]

THANK YOU!

[@Lesduanal]

Very cool. Thank you

[@Ticonderoga12]

The problem with leaving lathe on then sheetrock is u cant tell the unevenness of the studs, it wasnt an exact science 100 yrs ago when they made studs, so you'll get studs that are thicker than others and cuz problem with sheetrock

[@Ashroyer86]

I NEED one!

[@crabbydad8931]

wow! thank you!

[@ChristopherJames4]

If you’re covering that up with sheet rock, what’s the point of leaving the lathe and not taking it down to the studs?

[@thelonelandlord]

For what I needed, it was easier to throw a sheet of 3/8” drywall over the lath and skim coat. Less demo and easier to match thickness. Could easily take an oscillating tool to the lath though after this and remove that as well.

[@sutherlandan]

Thanks for the demonstration. I'm an electrician and would have to cut through the lath in these cases, do you think the tool would manage? Thanks

[@thelonelandlord]

I wouldn't try to cut the lath with this tool, it will just burn up the wood. when I have to remove lath I remove the plaster first then use a multi-tool (oscillating) to cut the lath where I need to, just make sure you secure it to the nearest stud or it will shake loose a bunch of plaster. Thanks for watching!

[@maryroberts8726]

I tried looking for a hose on amazon. Do you have any suggestion what size hose I can buy?

[@thelonelandlord]

Vac port is 1-1/4” I.D. and 1-7/16” O.D… thanks for watching!

[@maryroberts8726]

Does the plaster come off easy once you cut it

[@thelonelandlord]

usually--if it doesn't, a light tap with a hammer helps break it loose from the plaster. Thanks for watching!

[@RelyksProductions]

Could you also use that saw to cut through the lathe if you wanted to? Even as a second step?

[@thelonelandlord]

as far as I know there is not a wood cutting blade for this tool... so no, it wouldn't really work well it would just burn the wood. Best bet really is a sharp oscillating tool. a small circular saw would work also

[@maryroberts8726]

is it easy to do a ceiling with this tool

[@thelonelandlord]

Everything on a ceiling is harder! Lol but yes, should work just as well. Gravity is in your side for removing the plaster from the lath at least!

[@zzubuzz]

Just invite the Kool-Aid guy over.....OHHHH YEAAHHH!

[@user-rj8df3vj2i]

😗😗 you know they make dust collector covers for the 4.5” grinder rrrriiiiggght

[@thelonelandlord]

I did not, thanks for sharing! Still prefer the size/control of this little one but very good to know 👍🏻

[@IKnowAGuyLLC]

Wouldn’t a circular saw work also, if you set the blade depth correctly?

[@bauer09]

If you put an abrasive or diamond blade it could work but it would be super dusty. I'd think a regular blade would have a hard time keeping a good clean cut on old plaster, but I can't say I've ever tried. thanks for watching - love the name of the LLC

[@bobbyvierra6875]

Great video. Would this work for cutting out gypsum lath or rock lath plaster? Thx!

[@thelonelandlord]

Hey Bobby thanks for watching -- I don't see why the carbide blade wouldn't work on that -- just keep the depth adjustment shallow enough to not touch the wood lath. Good luck!

[@alexkassim1122]

Yeah but how will it work for corners?

[@thelonelandlord]

Hi Alex - I got as close as I could to the corner then finished off the last bit of plaster with an old demo chisel and it breaks away. If there is reinforcing mesh behind it you could use the metal cutting blade on the 3" Milwaukee and just over-cut it a bit since you'll be taping & mudding the corner anyway. Thanks for watching!

[@darylyoung7675]

Do you place the tool in reverse when using the dust collector? I just bought one of these and will be using it soon..

[@thelonelandlord]

Yep, make sure you get the wheel spinning towards the dust collector and it does a really nice job. Thanks for watching!

[@braspectrum2589]

Please provide the items that you used to modify your Festool vacuum and the Milwaukee 3" cut off saw. I have had the vacuum for several years and purchased the saw for the person that is redoing my 1930 bathroom and tile kitchen floor. Thank you Tatyana, owner Bra Spectrum and Valens Lingerie

[@thelonelandlord]

Thanks for watching! My "field modification" was nothing more than some blue painters tape attaching the Festool vacuum hose to the milwaukee dust collector -- keep it simple, the power of the Festool does all the work. Good luck!

[@bigrobsd2642]

what was the depth you set it at?

[@thelonelandlord]

I set it to around 3/8" but all plaster is different depending how thick they put it on, a lot of times its 1/2" or more... experiment a bit and just try not to cut into the lath. Thanks for watching!

[@bigrobsd2642]

@@thelonelandlord got it thanks again, gonna replace all the plaster in the bathroom with tile or should i just tile over it?

[@thelonelandlord]

@@bigrobsd2642 in this vid I removed it all to install a tile backsplash..... more work but makes for an easier tile install plus you don't even have to worry about the plaster breaking loose from the lath over time and ruining a good tile job.

[@erichogan9769]

great idea. your microphone seems to be really high quality!

[@thelonelandlord]

thanks for watching Eric -- & believe it or not that's just the iPhone mic!

[@matthewmcbeth4099]

How is that lath so clean. Did you knock out the keys? Whats best way for that. Because its a pain.

[@thelonelandlord]

It is a pain - I knock as much out as I can gently with a hammer, trying not to damage the lath or loosen up good plaster. Stubborn pieces I shave flush with an old demo chisel. The plaster on this wall was pretty thin and all came off easily, it wasn’t keyed in very much. Thanks for watching!

[@Ashroyer86]

Ice scraper.

[@johnsmith-sw7ii]

Would have been nice if you mentioned what type of blade you were using! Looks like a diamond blade???

[@thelonelandlord]

Sorry I mentioned it kinda quick - I used the 3” carbide blade that came with it. It also has a metal abrasive blade and a diamond tile blade in the kit.

[@johnsmith-sw7ii]

@@thelonelandlord Thanks

[@DannyApathos]

How often do you need to change the blade? Did it go dull?

[@vrijeshpatel6178]

Do you have a link to the tool online?

[@thelonelandlord]

www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M12-FUEL-12-Volt-3-in-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless-Cut-Off-Saw-Kit-with-One-4-0-Ah-Battery-Charger-and-Bag-2522-21XC/306598733 thanks for watching!

[@haroldmiller8168]

I couldn't find that tool at my local Home Depot

[@thelonelandlord]

Thanks for watching Harold - not sure where you are, but home depot.com usually has good deals on Milwaukee kits and they ship out fast.

[@mohammedferdous943]

what blade did u use?

[@thelonelandlord]

the milwaukee diamond blade. thanks for watching.

[@justtisha]

Oh wow

[@colingoede5705]

What is the model number ? I cant find it.

[@thelonelandlord]

Milwaukee - 2522-20 Thanks for watching- new content coming in 2021 hit subscribe!

[@darylyoung7675]

What did you set the depth to?

[@skullfracture2]

Who leaves the handle on their angle grinder??? Hahaha

[@Sim-re6tk]

Makita Drywall Cutter is better

[@bauer09]

Thanks for watching Sim good to know! I’m wayyy too invested in the Milwaukee line at this point!