Thread: Large hole in redgum

How thick?

Ranges from 10 - 12cm

Do you think decent jigsaw could handle it? I presumed it would be to much, but I would be happy to be proven wrong. Just don't want to buy one to find out the blade is just going to snap.

Chainsaw will do it.

A jig saw should absolutely kill it! Depends on the saw and the blade I guess but 10-12mm is a cake-walk for any self respecting tool. Just makew sure you use the appropriate blade, which should be something like a Bosch "curves for Hardwoods" (can't remember the exact designation but can get a code number .....if necessary....

Suffice to say that I have cut 45mm thick softwood with a Bosch blade and the surface was about a 400 grit sanded surface. Stunning finish off the blade.

If the blade won't handle the tightness of the curve (quite possible) then just do what you can and use rasps/files/sandpaper to finish the job. Perhaps drill out the waste/tight curves with drill bits or forstners.

Originally Posted by Twist

Ranges from 10 - 12cm

Just for clarity, is it cm and not mm.

Originally Posted by cava

Just for clarity, is it cm and not mm.

Oopsie, didn't see the cm, and read mm....(coz it looks like 10-12mm)

Being curved at the back and quite thick I'd drill a series of holes then cut out the excess with key saw or similar.

Using what tools I have, I'd do a lot of drillings then chisel out the web among the holes.

I agree with RV - drill a bunch of holes near the outline and then use a chisel to remove the web between the holes.

Claude

Burn it out. The blackened edge will look quite natural.

Drill and chisel is about the only way. Finish off the edge of the hole with a rasp then sandpaer. Good old fashioned grunt work.
Regards
John

Drill a hole then use an electric reciprocating saw. The long demolition blades will handle that easily.

What about one of the tools from Arbortech --> https://www.arbortechtools.com/au/online-store/

Ive the Turboplane and minigrinder, both of which would do the job nicely.

The mini grinder is particularly good as one can mount sandpaper disks to it for cleanup (though you could use a drill with a disk-and-sandpaper thingo like we use for sanding bowls on the lathe)