Cutting a hole for a fan

dtaranath · 01/24/2006, 06:46 PM

Anyone got any tricks for cutting a 4" hole in the side of a canopy for a fan? I have an electric hand jigsaw. Could I use that without snapping the blade?

I remember someone saying they made some sort of jig. I can't find that thread.

enemec1 · 01/24/2006, 07:10 PM

The jigsaw will be just fine just turn slowly so you don't snap the blade. I just cut mine this past weekend.

tekknoschtev · 01/24/2006, 07:23 PM

Jigsaw will be fine, and worked well on some tests, but we went to Harbor Freight and picked up a set of hole saws (6 saws, I believe, 4" all the way down to 2"). Our fans needed the 3". It was only abou $8 or so.

supertech3 · 01/24/2006, 10:12 PM

IMO I would use the holesaws it will be about as easy as drilling a hole

Sohal11 · 01/24/2006, 11:57 PM

Jigsaw is fine but it is not smooth as the hole saw. I would invest in the hole saw. It would save you the time and it gives a professional look. IMO

dtaranath · 01/25/2006, 06:36 AM

thanks for the tips! I didn't realize they had such large hole saws! I certainly prefer the professional look...

Off to Home Depot....

hilexx116 · 01/25/2006, 08:25 AM

Quote:

[i] Off to Home Depot.... [/B]

Dun dunn dunnnnnnnn lol good luck with your holes

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rollface

KAiNE · 01/25/2006, 08:30 AM

Harbor Freight is so much cheaper for hole saws. They are fine unless you use them heavily, like for work.

HD and lowes wanted like $40 for a 4" around here. So i got both sets from Harbor Freight for less than 1 hole saw cost.

dtaranath · 01/25/2006, 02:11 PM

Thanks again!! I just checked out Harbor Freight, and you're right.

It's people like all of you that make this website great. You guys save me a ton of money every time!

tekknoschtev · 01/25/2006, 02:16 PM

Hhaa, well, save you a ton of money that you're eventually going to spend elsewhere on the tank

dtaranath · 01/25/2006, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tekknoschtev
Hhaa, well, save you a ton of money that you're eventually going to spend elsewhere on the tank

so true!

anyway, i just got a whole set of hole saws for 13.50 (with shipping) from Harbor Freight. I was at Home Depot today, and they were asking $25 for ONE 4" saw!

I could get a royal gramma with the difference!

zahner · 01/26/2006, 01:31 PM

you could also use a fly cutter but you would need a heavy duty drill press for that

01/24/2006, 06:46 PM	#1
dtaranath Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 542	Cutting a hole for a fan Anyone got any tricks for cutting a 4" hole in the side of a canopy for a fan? I have an electric hand jigsaw. Could I use that without snapping the blade? I remember someone saying they made some sort of jig. I can't find that thread.

01/24/2006, 07:10 PM	#2
enemec1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Rydal PA Posts: 907	The jigsaw will be just fine just turn slowly so you don't snap the blade. I just cut mine this past weekend. __________________ Help my wife is going to kill me, I'm spending my sons college funds. Current Tank Info: two 30 gallon cubes

01/24/2006, 11:57 PM	#5
Sohal11 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: OC Posts: 200	Jigsaw is fine but it is not smooth as the hole saw. I would invest in the hole saw. It would save you the time and it gives a professional look. IMO __________________ Don't look back...Always look ahead. Current Tank Info: Nano

01/25/2006, 06:36 AM	#6
dtaranath Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 542	thanks for the tips! I didn't realize they had such large hole saws! I certainly prefer the professional look... Off to Home Depot.... __________________ ______________________ 220g mixed reef

01/25/2006, 08:30 AM	#8
KAiNE Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Middle TN Posts: 667	Harbor Freight is so much cheaper for hole saws. They are fine unless you use them heavily, like for work. HD and lowes wanted like $40 for a 4" around here. So i got both sets from Harbor Freight for less than 1 hole saw cost. __________________ "When the people fear their government, there is Tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is Liberty." -- Thomas Jefferson

01/24/2006, 07:23 PM	#3
tekknoschtev Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SCS, MI Posts: 2,037	Jigsaw will be fine, and worked well on some tests, but we went to Harbor Freight and picked up a set of hole saws (6 saws, I believe, 4" all the way down to 2"). Our fans needed the 3". It was only abou $8 or so.

01/24/2006, 10:12 PM	#4
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	IMO I would use the holesaws it will be about as easy as drilling a hole

01/25/2006, 02:11 PM	#9
dtaranath Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 542	Thanks again!! I just checked out Harbor Freight, and you're right. It's people like all of you that make this website great. You guys save me a ton of money every time! __________________ ______________________ 220g mixed reef

01/25/2006, 02:16 PM	#10
tekknoschtev Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: SCS, MI Posts: 2,037	Hhaa, well, save you a ton of money that you're eventually going to spend elsewhere on the tank

01/26/2006, 01:31 PM	#12
zahner Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 242	you could also use a fly cutter but you would need a heavy duty drill press for that