Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Demolishing fiberglass tun
Howardd
I’m remodeling my bathroom and need to take out a one piece fiberglass tub with integral walls. The unit is too large to fit thru the doors. What would be best way to cut the unit up into manageable pieces that would creat the least amount of fiberglass particles in the air?
Thanks
Howard
Sawzall with big teeth
Re: Demolishing fiberglass tun
Mark Nowicki
Cement board power shears.
Wear a duct mask
TJD Edmonton
No matter what method you use the air will be filled with glass fibers.
Perhaps even...
John in NM
a heavy duty tin snip? A pair of Wiss shears that you don't mind maybe wrecking?
Re: Sawzall with big teeth
Howardd
What is the advantage of big teeth?
Re: Demolishing fiberglass tun
johnv
there are probably wood struts arranged around the walls at corners and edges. Also some in the floor. When I took out one that was forty years old it was a PTIA and took much longer than I anticipated. I used a sawmill , the bigger teeth worked much better on the wood and generated more like small chips, say more like grains of salt rather than dust. Still necessary to wear face protection, possibly also a shield.
Less dust?
Sawzall fiberglass blade. *LINK*
Mark Nowicki
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products-Repository/North-America/Accessories/Cutting/SAWZALL-Blades/HACKZALL-Blades/49-00-5400
http://https://youtu.be/5U78PxVQkwk?t=70
Re: Demolishing fiberglass tun
Mark Nowicki
Try scoring the gel-coat all the way to expose the fibers.
You might be able to snap off enough to fit through.
Re: Demolishing fiberglass tun
kneale brownson
And gloves. Fiberglass parts can cut your hands.
Re: Demolishing fiberglass tun
William Duffield
Why not use an angle grinder with a diamond blade, a well designed shroud and good dust collection. My thinking is that no matter how you do it, you are going to make a lot of dust and fibers. It's better to catch as much as possible at the source instead of after it has been scattered. Even good dust collection is not an excuse to not wear a mask and eye protection.
Re: Demolishing fiberglass tun
Barry Irby
I have cut up maybe half a dozen. Used a Sawz-all with a demo blade. I consider it my Light Saber.
Wear good PPE, mask, Eye protection, and gloves at a minimum.
Nasty work but the Sawz-all makes quick work of it. Be cautious of wires and Pipes that may be concealed.
Re: Demolishing fiberglass tun
Walt
I did the same in 2006. Sawzall worked best, there was a surprising amount of plywood. Floor was solid ply as I recall with pretty good slabs in the sides. The most miserable part of the entire project.