muddstopper
Veteran Member
I always wanted a track torch. The older I get, the more my hands shake, and the uglier my cuts get. I looked for a used one for a while but didnt like the prices of a complete setup. Looked for just the torch itself without the track, but was afraid of what ebay had to offer in the used torchs. So I just decided to use one of my hand torch's and see how that worked out. Aint to many home made track torches on Youtube and they all where made to do straight vertical cuts only. I wanted to cut bevels so I had to figure out how to mount the torch so it could cut straight or on a bevel. These pics are of my first cutting attempts. I think it does pretty good. I made a few mistakes, which I will change and will explain.
First mistake was using a 3/8 all thread rod for the lead screw. It works, but has a tendency to wobble and flex as the torch travels the track. I plan on changeing it out for a 1/2 all thread to see if that helps with the wobble. Second mistake was the mount for the torch itself. It works just fine for straight cuts, but when you tilt the torch on an angle, it wont go low enough to get proper torch height. I ma just going to weld a piece of 1in square bar to the bottom of the mount and redirl it to accept the part that actually hold the torch. Other than those two items, I am pretty satisfied with how well it works.
The track is 1in angle. The top part is just 6in 3/16 flat plate. I welded 3 3/8 nuts to the bottom of the plate to run the all thread rod thru to pull the torch along the track. I use a cordless drill to turn the rod. I had a piece of 1x2 flat bar that I drilled to accept a 3/4 in all thread rod for height adjustment and 2 1/2in round rods to keep every thing lined up. I ended up having to redrill the holes for the guide rods to accept a 5/8x1/2in bushing because I had to much slop and wiggle. I purposely made the 5/8 threaded rod and the 1/2in guide rods long but will probably trim them off once I figure out just how much height adjustment I really need. For mounting the torch, I had some 3/4 black pipe that I sawed in half lenght ways. This proved to be an exact fit as a saddle for the torch body. I just welded it to some angle and use a hose clamp to hold the torch in place, For the end of the torch, I just welded another piece of angle for the torch to rest on. It does'nt move. Where the torch mount attached to the 1x2 flat bar. I used some 2x2 3/16 plate that I drilled so I could bolt it to the flat bar. I drilled the holes and made one a slot so I could angle the torch by simply loosening the bolts and tilting the torch mount.
I also welded some 2x3/16 flat bar to the bottom of the track leaving about 2 inches sticking out to allow something to clamp the torch to the metal. I advise clamping both ends of the track, I already bumped the track while cutting and made a boo bo crooked cut in a practice piece. I only had one end clamped at the time, but thats why they call it a practice cut.
First mistake was using a 3/8 all thread rod for the lead screw. It works, but has a tendency to wobble and flex as the torch travels the track. I plan on changeing it out for a 1/2 all thread to see if that helps with the wobble. Second mistake was the mount for the torch itself. It works just fine for straight cuts, but when you tilt the torch on an angle, it wont go low enough to get proper torch height. I ma just going to weld a piece of 1in square bar to the bottom of the mount and redirl it to accept the part that actually hold the torch. Other than those two items, I am pretty satisfied with how well it works.
The track is 1in angle. The top part is just 6in 3/16 flat plate. I welded 3 3/8 nuts to the bottom of the plate to run the all thread rod thru to pull the torch along the track. I use a cordless drill to turn the rod. I had a piece of 1x2 flat bar that I drilled to accept a 3/4 in all thread rod for height adjustment and 2 1/2in round rods to keep every thing lined up. I ended up having to redrill the holes for the guide rods to accept a 5/8x1/2in bushing because I had to much slop and wiggle. I purposely made the 5/8 threaded rod and the 1/2in guide rods long but will probably trim them off once I figure out just how much height adjustment I really need. For mounting the torch, I had some 3/4 black pipe that I sawed in half lenght ways. This proved to be an exact fit as a saddle for the torch body. I just welded it to some angle and use a hose clamp to hold the torch in place, For the end of the torch, I just welded another piece of angle for the torch to rest on. It does'nt move. Where the torch mount attached to the 1x2 flat bar. I used some 2x2 3/16 plate that I drilled so I could bolt it to the flat bar. I drilled the holes and made one a slot so I could angle the torch by simply loosening the bolts and tilting the torch mount.
I also welded some 2x3/16 flat bar to the bottom of the track leaving about 2 inches sticking out to allow something to clamp the torch to the metal. I advise clamping both ends of the track, I already bumped the track while cutting and made a boo bo crooked cut in a practice piece. I only had one end clamped at the time, but thats why they call it a practice cut.
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