cutting steel plate
What do you guys use to cut 1/8 and 3/16 plate steel? I am going to make some tube fenders and need to cut the plate to bolt to the existing fenders. Would a jig saw with a good metal blade work? I know a plasma cutter is the best way but I dont have $1000 to fork out?
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honestly, a circular saw with a metal cutting disc is your best bet.
and get a good angle grinder. Its slow, noisy and dirty but it does the job when you don't have anything else. |
If you have a steady hand an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel works pretty well also.
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Reciprocating saw with a metal cutting blade works too.
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WHy not just trace the patternand take it to a local place that has a plasma table or a water jet. The work will be 1000x time cleaner/faster. Not sure of what the prices are in your area, but in my area they are reasonable.
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Yeah a jigsaw with ALOT of good metal blades will do the job and a 4.5 angle grinder for making long strait cuts works very well I had a plasma cutter and really only used it for cutting brackets off axle tubes lol I like the grinder and saw alot better I guess in just old school lol
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Definitely an angle grinder. same took can cut and finish steel plate, tube, or dow.
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Originally Posted by PingPong
(Post 1356349)
WHy not just trace the patternand take it to a local place that has a plasma table or a water jet. The work will be 1000x time cleaner/faster. Not sure of what the prices are in your area, but in my area they are reasonable.
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Angle Grinder and lots of Harbor Freight Cutoff discs. I use my Sawzall when I'm out of blades and a jig saw for corners on sheet metal or thin plate. We have a Plasma cutter at work but to mark it and take it in has always been to much of a pain and to time wasting for me.
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Originally Posted by Niac
Angle Grinder and lots of Harbor Freight Cutoff discs. I use my Sawzall when I'm out of blades and a jig saw for corners on sheet metal or thin plate. We have a Plasma cutter at work but to mark it and take it in has always been to much of a pain and to time wasting for me.
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Originally Posted by krawlthis
(Post 1358462)
Idk about habor freight wheels... I have had too many blow up on me. Dewalt or other more expensive wheels are the only ones I will use. They won't blow up as easy and last longer. I say its worth the extra $
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+1 on the angle grinder. And it might just be me, but I find that the Harbor Freight cutoff discs actually cut better than the ones I can buy at Lowes/Home Depot and they cost 1/2 as much. I have never had one fly apart on me either, and I have been through 50+ of them. What I have had come apart are the wire wheel/cups. Those wire pieces HURT when they fly off at 200mph and stick in your skin.
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angle grinder. get an extra piece of steel and clamps to use as a guide and then cut a shallow "ditch" in the plate with the angle grinder. Remove the guide and go to town.
As for what wheels to buy, it really doesn't matter. I prefer DeWalt, but it's preference. No matter who makes the wheel, if you put lateral stress on it while cutting it'll fly apart. As far as going through a ton, that only happens when you try to cut through the steel to quickly (also a reason for them flying apart). Take it slow and let the wheel do the work. I an angle grinder and chop saw to cut all my bumper pieces and only used 3 cut off wheels for the angle grinder. It's all about patience and doing it right. |
Originally Posted by no rdplz
(Post 1359456)
angle grinder. get an extra piece of steel and clamps to use as a guide and then cut a shallow "ditch" in the plate with the angle grinder. Remove the guide and go to town.
As for what wheels to buy, it really doesn't matter. I prefer DeWalt, but it's preference. No matter who makes the wheel, if you put lateral stress on it while cutting it'll fly apart. As far as going through a ton, that only happens when you try to cut through the steel to quickly (also a reason for them flying apart). Take it slow and let the wheel do the work. I an angle grinder and chop saw to cut all my bumper pieces and only used 3 cut off wheels for the angle grinder. It's all about patience and doing it right.
Originally Posted by ugoleftillgorite
(Post 1359401)
+1 on the angle grinder. And it might just be me, but I find that the Harbor Freight cutoff discs actually cut better than the ones I can buy at Lowes/Home Depot and they cost 1/2 as much. I have never had one fly apart on me either, and I have been through 50+ of them. What I have had come apart are the wire wheel/cups. Those wire pieces HURT when they fly off at 200mph and stick in your skin.
http://www.heavydutystore.com/walter...-pr-63806.html They cut faster and last longer than anything else I've been able to get my hands on so far. +2 to letting the cutting wheel do the work, if you force it through the cut they wear down really quickly. |
Get a Port-A-Ban Bansaw if your goin to be doing any straight or angle cuts on pipe or plate they work amazing and they're rather cheap from Harbor Freight tools I should be picking one up soon you can even buy a bracket that makes it work like a horizontal bansaw for a cheap price
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