Yeti and the Marshmallow

[Basement Yeti]

I am just learning wood working myself. Prefer metal. Anyway, you will need a circular saw, and a jig saw. For metal, you CAN use those saws with the right blades....but. if you qre going to buy a saw, buy them with a cord. I have a nice mlwauke cordless, and i only pull it out when doing something quick, that, woukd take lnger to unroll, and re-coil he extension cord.

Chase

I am hesitant to buy even a jigsaw because all I will be doing is a few small projects inside my van. A corded saw would be utterly useless to me on the road so I am definitely going with cordless. As for a buzz saw, I can have all the big cuts done at Home Depot/Lowes or do with the Jigsaw. It's already kind of a tool I don't really need but I'm buying it for the sake of ease.

 

[MrBeast]

Just a thought but you are going to have house batteries and an inverter, that will run a jig saw.

 

[Basement Yeti]

Just a thought but you are going to have house batteries and an inverter, that will run a jig saw.

Right, but I am not going to have a massive battery bank. Cordless just seems easier for the amount of wood working I will actually be doing.

 

[chasespeed]

Actually, a cordless saw is about useless most of the time. The battery will not last long AT ALL. You will spend more time trying keep the battery charged.

I have them, and do use them, BUT, as stated, only for QUICK things....

I am tradesman. I LIVE by my tools. I have to carry them sometimes 1/2-3/4 of a mile through the woods to shelter to work, up a 40 foot ladder, or up 8 flights of stairs to a roof.... I do fully appreciate a few things, portability, reliability, speed, and getting it done RIGHT.

I am trying to save you some money, and stress. A jigsaw is capable of making straight cuts... but, you need a guide to do it.... and it will take forever... the circular saw is probably the most used saw out there.

A decent inverter will power those saws, no problem.

Now, why are you taking the saws to use on the road? There was probably something I missed in the thread.

Not criticizing man, so, dont take it that way...

Chase

Chase

 

[kjp1969]

Actually, a cordless saw is about useless most of the time. The battery will not last long AT ALL. You will spend more time trying keep the battery charged.

I agree- and the batteries will soon die and fail to keep a charge, leaving you with a useless hunk of junk. I just had to replace a couple of Makita batteries at $60 apiece.

Forget the battery bank, just get an inverter and use the tools with the engine running.

 

[Basement Yeti]

There are a bunch of problems with buying a corded jigsaw or buzz saw. One, I live in an apartment complex, my van is parked in a dirt lot, there are no electrical outlets at all for me to use. I have no electrical system set up yet.

Two. I'm cutting out the shapes for my wheel wells and fuel filler protector, and a few small cabinets, enclosures, not a house. It'd be a complete waste for me to buy a buzz saw and a jig saw for the amount of work I am doing.

I'm going to be living in the van, not starting a business on the road. I don't have a need for a jig saw, let a lone a buzz saw. Heck I barely have a need for the drill I bought after I am done with this conversion.

 

[Basement Yeti]

Buzzsaw, the one with the circular blade, sorry, not up on all the lingo, haha.

Yeah, you guys are right, thanks for pointing me straight. I'll go with a corded jigsaw. I will figure out somewhere to cut the wood. Maybe my sis will let me use the balcony for my van dwelling shenanigans or I can steal someones parking spot below our balcony and drop an extension cord.

Should I stick with Dewalt? Can someone point me in the direction of a good saw?

 

[MrBeast]

Dewalt is a good brand.

And do take the tools with you, you will find that you come up with more uses for them than you thought you would.

I carried my drill and Sawsall on my semi with me, I was always using them, just remember, a man's work can only be as good as the tools he has avalable and his ability to put them to good use.

I can garuntee you once you are on the road you will have several things on the van that you decide to change and those tools will come in very handy.

 

[Basement Yeti]

Sage advice my friend.

Some of the jig saws have amperage listed in their titles. There is a Dewalt for 150.00 rated at 6.5A, and one for 85.00 rated at 5.5A that has poor reviews...

5.5A, 85 bucks. Crap reviews.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006FIOE8/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER"]Amazon.com: DEWALT DW317K 5.5 Amp Top Handle Jig Saw Kit: Home Improvement[/ame]

6.5A 150 bucks. Good reviews.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW331K-6-5-Handle-Jig-Saw/dp/B0007XXHHI/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1300933097&sr=1-3"]Amazon.com: DEWALT DW331K 6.5 Amp Top Handle Jig-Saw: Home Improvement[/ame]

Halp.

 

[MrBeast]

The second saw looks like a much better saw to me, the first one looks weak and cheesy, I say get the second one, keep it for life.

 

[Basement Yeti]

Ok. Now I went ahead and bought that caulking at the building supply store I got my insulation.

It's not going to fly. I need some that I can use when I install my roof vent, and maybe fridge vent.

Also, I need to figure out how to seal those 1/4" holes in the floor. If I cut the weird housing off where the bolts thread into, can I just fill them with caulking? Or should I fill it with caulking and replace the bolts? Same for the side with the bulkhead still in tact?

Another issue is radiant barrier. I was going to use it but I am learning now that radiant barrier requires an air gap and can actually make a domicile warmer without an air gap.

 

[MrBeast]

For the bolt holes in the floor you should stuff carrage bolts in em.

 

[Basement Yeti]

For the bolt holes in the floor you should stuff carrage bolts in em.

Even with bolts in them they leak water.

 

[MrBeast]

Even with bolts in them they leak water.

you are seriously over thinking it, but if you are that concerned about it put a little gasket goop around the bolt hole before you put it in.

Just do try to remember, its a van, not a space shuttle or a submarine, :snorkel:

 

[Basement Yeti]

The underside of the van needs to be power washed occasionally. When it's insulated I don't want water getting under there.

:snorkel: