cutting steel plate
#1
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Bremerton
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 87
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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?
#5
CF Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 87
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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.
#6
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: middle tn
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0ho
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
Trending Topics
#8
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Mass.
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I agree it may just be cheaper to have someone cut it than buying a couple hundred bucks worth of blades and grinding wheels.
#9
Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Here, There, Everywhere
Posts: 745
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Year: 1997
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 5.2
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.
#11
CF Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: South Bend, IN
Posts: 1,273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.6 stroker
I can agree both ways. I've used hundreds of both. I've used harbor freights discs for light and medium duty grinding and cutting and never had one blow. Love some dewalt discs tho
#12
Newbie
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Tulsa, OK
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
+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.
#13
CF Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Virginia Beach by way of Michigan
Posts: 5,482
Likes: 0
Received 24 Likes
on
24 Posts
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.
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.
#14
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.
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.
+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.
#15
Newbie
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
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)