Cutting up to 1/4in steel - what do you recommend?

[mutsei]

minnosota dave
u have no morals for tools. i'm a carpenter and
all those carpenter tools are for WOOD. DRAGONEGGS -- anything from an angle grinder ( $70.-- UP ) is sufficient.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

minnosota dave
u have no morals for tools. i'm a carpenter and
all those carpenter tools are for WOOD. DRAGONEGGS -- anything from an angle grinder ( $70.-- UP ) is sufficient.

Now now...no need to feel sorry for the tools I use for aluminum - I blow the dust out of them when I'm done

The router does a nice job of knocking off sharp corners too if that helps :dance1:

 

[Ken45101]

A lot depends on what you are cutting. A portaband will not cut through the middle of a big sheet of metal. A circular type saw will not cut small curves. A plasma cutter is difficult to use on corrugated metal. Tin snips will work well on thin metal.

I have a plasma cutter (TD) and love it! I am amazed at how quickly and easily it cuts sheet metal.

A warning about using an abrasive blade in a portable wood saw: Most of them are plastic today and don't work well with hot metal particles. You need a top of the line all metal saw.

 

[k0ua]

I like my Grizzly band saw for any materiel that will fit in it. It makes nice clean ready to go cuts including any angle cuts. For large sheets of Thin materiel I use my Bosch jigsaw with a metal cutting blade. I use the torch once in a while. If I just need to cut something quick like rebar or a bolt or something I use the 4 1/2 inch angle grinder with a cut off disk.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I forgot to mention old power hacksaws. This Sawmaster is probably 60 years old but cuts straight and fast. Another alternative to consider. It has approx 4x6 work envelope and they are fairly easy to find for $100-$200.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

I like my Grizzly band saw for any materiel that will fit in it. It makes nice clean ready to go cuts including any angle cuts. For large sheets of Thin materiel I use my Bosch jigsaw with a metal cutting blade. I use the torch once in a while. If I just need to cut something quick like rebar or a bolt or something I use the 4 1/2 inch angle grinder with a cut off disk.

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Hey which Grizzly is that? I've been eying one of the swivel head models to replace my cheap Jet.

 

[k0ua]

Hey which Grizzly is that? I've been eying one of the swivel head models to replace my cheap Jet.

Here you go:

Grizzly.com

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

K0ua - thanks, that's the saw I was looking at, seems like a pretty good value for a small timer like me.

 

[Threepoint]

[snip]
I have a plasma cutter (TD) and love it! I am amazed at how quickly and easily it cuts sheet metal.[snip]

Be still, my heart! Been thinking more and more about a small plasma cutter, and tho I have no frequent need for one, I think it would improve the quality of life just knowing it's in the shop.

I don't think anyone's mentioned the good ole Sawzall-style electric reciprocating saw. My Makita and Porter Cable Tiger Saw just keep going and going, and there are many others on the market these days. They are fine with bimetal blades for cutoff work on pipe, channel, angle iron and square tube if you don't mind touching up the raw ends with a grinder. Hard to get things perfectly square with one. But I'll often do that rather than use the 14" abrasive chop saw. That thing really throws the sparks and metal dust.

 

[petegoud]

Small things usually turn into bigger things. Be prepared!