Protect Pipes and Wires
When cutting through a stud with pipes or cables, use a pencil to shield the cable or pipe from the cutting blade.
Removing studs that have water lines or electrical cables running through the middle of them is a difficult task that can lead to potentially time-consuming and expensive repairs. To minimize the risk, I use my oscillating multitool instead of a reciprocating saw, which gives me more control. For added insurance, I insert a carpenter’s pencil into the cut side of the hole. This does two things: It holds the pipe or cable to the far side of the hole, farther from harm. It also creates a protective barrier that reduces the chance of the blade nicking the pipe or cable as it finishes the cut.
—Brian Campbell, Minneapolis
Illustration by Charles Miller.
From Fine Homebuilding #322
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