Easy Way to Cut Pipe Holes in Drywall

This article is about how to cut circular holes in drywall. Cutting circular holes in necessary when installing electrical outlets, recessed lights or even smoke detectors, therefore we will show you how to do it like a pro. Making the actual holes is very ease, the challenge is to use the right tools for the job and to prepare the wall in a professional manner. If you have to cut circular holes in an old wall, you have to use a stud finder as to make sure you won't damage the studs and to work with great care, otherwise you might cut electrical wires or water pipes. On the other hand, if you have to hang a new drywall board around a circular object, it's best to make the cut before installing it.

There are several tools which can get the job done, but you should choose the one which fits your needs best. For example, if you have to cut a very large circular hole (let's say over 6") you should use a drywall saw. Oppositely, for small round holes, we recommend you to use a hole saw drill, as it will cut the drywall quickly and accurately (you can cut small holes with a regular drywall saw, but not as accurately).

Before cutting the drywall, make sure you have turned the electricity off, otherwise you could injure yourself if you hit a wire. Nevertheless, you should take a look over the installation plans, as to identify a suitable spot to cut the hole without having to worry about hitting pipes, wires or studs. Cutting holes in a drywall is a serious job, therefore we recommend you to let the qualified professional handle it.

If you install new drywall sheets, it is easier to cut the circular hole first and afterwards to hang them to the studs. The main challenge is to take accurate measurements, otherwise the hole might not fit into location. Work with patience use a tape measure or an T-square and you will get the job done as a professional. If you need to install an electrical outlet, you should read our article about cutting a square hole in drywall.

Made from this plan

Materials

• Drywall board

Tools

• Utility knife, T-square, tape measure
• Drill machinery, hole saw drill bit
• Drywall saw

Tips

• Use an adjustable hole saw drill to obtain accurate cuts
• Take accurate measurements before cutting the holes
• Make sure you don't damage electrical wires or pipes when cutting the circular hole

Time

• 5 Minutes

Best tools to cut circular holes in drywall

Hole saw for drywall

You can cut circular holes in drywall using different tools: the easiest method is to use an adjustable hole saw drill bit, but you can also get the job done with a regular drywall saw. A hole saw drill bit will cut a circular hole in a matter of seconds and you only need to draw the center of the circle on the sheetrock.

If you choose to use a drywall saw, you have to draw the circle first with a compass and then cut out the hole. This is the best method if you have to cut large circular holes in drywall.

Adjustable hole saw

In this project, we will show you how to use an adjustable hole saw drill bit to cut circular holes in drywall boards. You can see in the image that this tool is highly versatile, as you can choose the appropriate radius for your needs.

Smart Tip: In our case we had to cut a 2" circular hole and install a water pipe. You can find on the market hole saw drills with different dimensions, starting with 1" up to 6".

Locating the hole on the sheet

First, you have to measure the location of the center of the hole from the edges of where you will install the drywall board. Taking accurate measurements is even more important than making the actual cut, therefore we recommend you to work with attention and great care.

Use a T-square and place it along the edge of the drywall board. Mark with a pencil the distance from one side to the center of the hole.

Marking the center of the hole

Next, move the T-square 90º and place it along the first mark. Measure the distance from the other side to the center of the hole and mark it on the drywall board. This mark represents the center of the hole we are about to cut with a hole saw drill.

Before making the cut, we recommend you to check if the mark is appropriate, otherwise the hole won't fit into position.

Marking the hole on the drywall

Use a carpentry pencil to make the mark more visible, by drawing an X. It is essential to take accurate measurements, as even a small mistake could compromise your project.

Smart Tip: If you want to make the cut with a drywall saw, you also have to draw the circle with a compass. Therefore, set the radius and draw the circle with a pencil.

Hole saw drill bit

In order to cut the circular hole in the drywall board, you have to use a drill machinery with torque control and a hole saw drill bit. From our experience, we recommend you to use a drill machinery with torque control, otherwise you cannot control its speed.

Before using the drill machinery, make sure it is in a good condition, otherwise you risk both injuring yourself and damaging the drywall.

How to cut circular holes in drywall

How to cut circular holes in drywall

Set the speed of the drill machinery to average and place it over the center of the hole. Work with patience and with great care, otherwise the hole won't fit into location.

Hold the drill machinery firmly, with one hand on the handle, while with the other hand you have to push the start button. Make sure the drill machinery is perpendicular on the drywall board, as to get a proper hole. Press the start button and press gently the drill machinery towards the drywall board, while you hold it firmly with your both hands.

Smart Tip: Before cutting the circular hole, measure again the radius of the fixture, to make sure you use the appropriate hole saw drill bit.

Cutting circular holes in drywall

Next, increase the speed of the drill machinery and press it towards the drywall. The hole saw drill bit will cut out the drywall very quickly, therefore make sure you hold it perpendicular.

Cutting a circular hole in drywall with a hole saw produces a lot of dust, therefore we recommend you to use eye protection and a respiratory mask. In addition,  if you cut a hole in a wall, it would be better to place several old rugs on the floor, to protect it from the residues.

Cutting circular hole in drywall

After the hole saw has cut the drywall board, you have to pull the drill machinery and evaluate the hole. If you have followed our tips you should get a proper hole with accurate edges.

As we have already said, you can also cut circular holes in drywall by using a keyhole saw. This tool is very useful when cutting drywall, especially for large holes.

Cleaning the dust

After you have cut the circular hole in the drywall sheet, you have to vacuum the dust, before hand it on the wall.

Cutting circular saw in drywall

As you can see in the image, cutting a circular hole with an adjustable hole saw drill bit is the best choice when having to install recessed lights or other fixture. Nevertheless, if you have to cut a large circular hole, you can also get the job done in a professional manner by using a keyhole saw.

Smart Tip: The most important aspect when cutting circular holes in drywall is to take proper measurements. Use a tape measure to check the distance from both edges to the center of where you will install the sheetrock.

Thank you for reading our article on how to cut circular holes in drywall and we recommend you to check out the rest of our projects. Don't forget to LIKE and SHARE our projects with your friends, by using the social media widgets. SUBSCRIBE to be the first that gets our latest projects.

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Source: https://howtospecialist.com/structure/how-to-cut-circular-holes-in-drywall/

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