Cracking a metal detector coil open

[PiQuest]

hey...
Whats the best way to cut a standard metal detector coil open around the center edge, maybe using a dremel tool with a mini cutting disk or something better, or even hot wire perhaps...
Anyone have any good ideas.....?

 

[PiQuest]

-- moved topic --

 

[d1g1man]

The last one I cut open I used a Weller soldering iron with the flat tip.

It worked well, without any damage to the internal components.

Make sure you wear protection. Gloves, Safety glasses and adequate ventilation.

That plastic stinks, smokes and gives off toxic fumes when you put the heat to it.

So which coil is receiving an autopsy today?

 

[silverskidmarks]

A sharp utility knife will work just fine.Just be carefull not to cut to deep the first time through.

 

[Ed in SoDak]

I'd use a hacksaw to get most of the way through, then the soldering iron. Put the iron on a dimmer and you can dial down the heat to slow the arrival of the fumes. Just keep a wet rag to cool the stinking melted stuff down. Or maybe a plastic solvent. Or a heat gun to reactivate the glue and pry it open. Or a belt sander, going slow so as not to gum up the paper.

And the Top Ten Answer: Put it in the wife's oven and melt it off. Bada boom!

-Ed

 

[tab-nabit]

On a coil, I once set a utility knife blade in a vise and had a propane torch on low flame to heat the blade. Then held the coil to it and worked it around. It was a fairly clean heat cut. Coil was bad so I wanted to look & see. It was a friends coil he was trashing. It had leaked in water and sat for several month. He had a replacement.

 

[thebeatmachine]

I just cracked open two White's coils with white color plastic. I used a utility knife only and cut it open like a can opener no problem.