Angle Grinder or Multi Cutter Tool for Seacock Flanges

T

thesaintlyone

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 Sep 2015
Messages
902
Visit site
So I have to remove the old Gate Valve Seacocks and plan to cut off the outside flanges as they are all crap & corroded last time on the jouster a mate bought his Angle Grinder and he cut them off no problem making them easy to replace.

There is only one Blakes flange I have to cut off (poop outlet) as the flange is already broken on the outside and I can buy another flange anyway all other blakes have presented no probs whatsoever.

Given the material of the seacocks in question and the fact that I have no other use for an angle grinder on the boat would one of those oscillating multi cutters do the job with the correct attachment.

Regards
 
Will the multi cutter not be strong enough.....would rather buy something I know ill get use out of rather than something I only have one use for.
 
Plastic explosive, then you dont have to worry about an unused tool lying around.
If you buy an angle grinder you will find use for it.
If you still maintain you will only use it once then hire one off eBay (sell it for what you bought it for and only loose the cost of postage)
 
Not sure why you need to cut the Blakes flange. It is a separate piece so once you get the bolts out you can prise it off the hull - probably stuck on with sealer.

As said you need a grinder or a tapered metal cutting drill to do the other flanges. 2 minute job with the right gear.
 
thesaintlyone said:
So I have to remove the old Gate Valve Seacocks and plan to cut off the outside flanges as they are all crap & corroded last time on the jouster a mate bought his Angle Grinder and he cut them off no problem making them easy to replace.

There is only one Blakes flange I have to cut off (poop outlet) as the flange is already broken on the outside and I can buy another flange anyway all other blakes have presented no probs whatsoever.

Given the material of the seacocks in question and the fact that I have no other use for an angle grinder on the boat would one of those oscillating multi cutters do the job with the correct attachment.

Regards
Click to expand...

I have used an oscillating multitool to slice through a skin fitting inside the boat to separate it from the seacock so i am sure it would also work to remove the flange from the outside. Once i had removed the seacock i was able to unscrew the skinfitting nut then remove the skinfitting from under the boat by inserting a modified 1/2 drive socket into the bore of the skinfitting so it engaged with the internal lugs and screw it out.

An alternative if you don't want to buy an anglegrinder for the job is to knock a piece of wood into the skinfitting from under the boat, drill a 6mm hole in the wood central to the bore, then use a power-drill and hole-saw of the same diameter as the hole in the hull to drill through the flange.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
I can't imagine not having an angle grinder--they can do a lot more tricks than most folks realize. #2 power tool, after a drill, IMHO. Dremels and multi-tools are handy, but drill and grinder are the HD workhorses. Get one.
 
Bang a wooden plug into the hole and use a hole saw the same or just smaller diameter of the skin fitting, a stepped hole cutter will also do the job with the advantage of self centering and is always useful afterwards. Unlike grinders there is no risk of damaging the Gel coat.
 
I have both an oscillating multi purpose tool and an angle grinder. They are both better than the other in different tasks. The angle grinder is brilliant for cutting heavy duty steel, concrete, engineering bricks etc. It is, however, a prodigious generator of torque, which can, if you're not careful, pluck the machine out of your control and wreak untold damage to you and neighbouring structures. The oscillating multi tool lacks the brute power of the angle grinder, but makes up for it in controllability and finesse.

I think either tool will do the job, but if you have further uses for one or the other then I'd prefer that one. The blade to use for the multi tool would be one of the carbide tipped ones.
 
ChrisRayner said:
I have both an oscillating multi purpose tool and an angle grinder. They are both better than the other in different tasks. The angle grinder is brilliant for cutting heavy duty steel, concrete, engineering bricks etc. It is, however, a prodigious generator of torque, which can, if you're not careful, pluck the machine out of your control and wreak untold damage to you and neighbouring structures. The oscillating multi tool lacks the brute power of the angle grinder, but makes up for it in controllability and finesse.

I think either tool will do the job, but if you have further uses for one or the other then I'd prefer that one. The blade to use for the multi tool would be one of the carbide tipped ones.
Click to expand...

Tbh this is my concern with an angle grinder if the multi cutter works I think I would prefer that.

Regards
 
Tranona said:
Not sure why you need to cut the Blakes flange. It is a separate piece so once you get the bolts out you can prise it off the hull - probably stuck on with sealer.

As said you need a grinder or a tapered metal cutting drill to do the other flanges. 2 minute job with the right gear.
Click to expand...

Having alot of trouble with getting those nuts off I think the years on use and probably excess sealant has had a detrimental effect ironically its the crapper seacock thats being a pain in the arse
 
Tranona said:
Not sure why you need to cut the Blakes flange. It is a separate piece so once you get the bolts out you can prise it off the hull - probably stuck on with sealer.

As said you need a grinder or a tapered metal cutting drill to do the other flanges. 2 minute job with the right gear.
Click to expand...

The Broken blakes flange

29529799023_4decd03e69_k (1).jpg
 
PuffTheMagicDragon said:
If that is the only thing that's wrong with your Blake I would say that you're going to waste your time and money! Get a tin of epoxy putty and fill in the missing bit; it is not structural.
Your boat, your time, your money and your choice.
Click to expand...

If one bits broken off, what's the rest of the flange like? Replacing the flange and rebedding the seacock isn't exactly a dockyard job. An hour or two's work and it will be good for another twenty years. My experience with Blakes seacocks is that the flange sometimes rots but the rest will be fine. (The bronze bolts aren't cheap if you end up having to cut them or drill them to get the thing off!)
 
Yes I am expecting the rest of it to be okay new flsnges are about £18 just a pain getting it off but on the brightside I only have one thats a problem
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top