Which tool for the job?

LiE · 21 Aug 2013 at 11:54

Recently acquired a large cable reel. We are going to turn it into a garden table, but to do this we need to cut one of the large circles into a smaller one. Does anyone know what would be the best way of tackling it? I thought a jigsaw but the wood looks tough.

Some pics

LiE · 21 Aug 2013 at 12:03

6.5cm considered deep then?

LiE · 21 Aug 2013 at 12:21

Cheers guys, how does this look? Seems reasonable for £50.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-erb373rsp-1100w-reciprocating-saw-240v/80388?kpid=80388&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&gclid=CM_S58i1jrkCFSXLtAodDi4Aww#

Will the saw be OK at cutting curves?

LiE · 21 Aug 2013 at 12:38

Found somewhere local to hire one - http://www.mjhire.co.uk/6/section.aspx/view/prodinfo/pid/652 not bad.

@pitchfork - what issues do you see with the saw? plunge router looks like a beast, never used one before.

LiE · 21 Aug 2013 at 12:53

Cheers Benny. The reel has 1" metal rods through the middle which I'd also need to cut, I guess the saw will do the job too.

LiE · 21 Aug 2013 at 13:39

valve90210 said:
Might I ask where you acquired the reel from, I've been looking since they were mentioned in a thread here a while back but not found anything that wasn't prhobitively expensive!

It was left across the road in some unused space for several months, so one night I acquired it. I have to say though, the thing is bloody heavy!

LiE · 21 Aug 2013 at 14:46

Yea we want to get chairs under it ideally. We have a plan for shortening it. A tricky thing as you say it's a clamp and as soon as you cut the metal rods it will essentially collapse. So the plan is to turn it on it's side, shorten it, and use the existing wood to fix the 2 side together. We will probably add in some additional wood for strengthening.

LiE · 21 Aug 2013 at 14:59

No grass in my garden

it's going on the deck.

LiE · 21 Aug 2013 at 15:22

Thinking of easier ways of doing this, I had an idea of simply removing the side of the reel and attaching something else to use as a base. We have a cheap garden table which I could use the frame to attach to the top. Alternatively, anyone have any ideas for a base/stand that would go well with this type of top?

LiE · 21 Aug 2013 at 16:26

Yup, already built

It will be replacing this: