Years ago, my method for cutting holes in installed drywall was to use a sharp utility knife and some elbow grease. Now I get out my oscillating multitool and fit it with a used metal-cutting blade. The blade easily follows the cutline and slices through fasteners, and it never goes too deep. I can let it run just below the surface and cut the drywall into easily managed chunks. The tool makes very little dust, and it absorbs the wear and tear that otherwise would have gone to my arms.
—Roberto Roman, Las Vegas
Edited and illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #260
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All these years I've just used my dull blades and oscillating saw to make an impromptu field-expedient sonic jewelry cleaner for whenever my gold rings and gold chains got caulk on them. Once I forgot to brush my teeth before work, so I found a detailing brush in the bottom of my tool bag, taped it to the same dull blade, and used my oscillating saw as an impromptu Sonicare (I used some drywall mud as field-expedient toothpaste). It never occurred to me to cut drywall, or even wood, with this thing. Great tip!
I was going to write a comment about how stupid this tip was (Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great method, but it’s about as useful a tip as suggesting we use a hammer to drive in a nail), but JustACabinetGuy did a much better job, and gave me some actual tips I could use to boot!
Seriously folks, we all pay a monthly subscription. I know you’re recycling old tips, but this isn’t worth the money you paid your illustrator to sketch a multitool. You can do better.
Xo
Using a utility knife to cut a hole in installed drywall? Never crossed my mind - well greased elbows or not. If I don't have a multitool at hand, I drill a hole and use a jab saw.
An alternative, especially for large projects, is a jigsaw and a blade that's been shortened so it only extends 1/2" (or 5/8") at max stroke. I keep the end square, but grind a bit of a 2-sided chisel point on it. It's faster than a multi-tool and makes less dust. If you've got the length correct, it will zip right over studs.