cutting a little steel

[/pine]

Some old (cheap) wood miter saws can be adapted to make metal cut off saws for cutting angles etc...
The 1/16" cut-off wheels on 4.5" grinders work amazingly well even for thicker stock (3/8, 1/2 etc.) just takes a little longer..

I have successfully cut some tight radius's with a thin cut-off wheel...

Good Luck...

 

[EddieWalker]

I like to use a metal cutting blade in my circular saw. It's loud, but pretty easy to use and the blades are fairly cheap.

Eddie

 

[Scooby074]

I've heard of using propane, but never done it. What pressure do you set the regulator at for something like 1/4" mild steel? Same pressure on Oxygen as the acetylene set up? Same tip?

Different tip.
Different pressures but oxy should be close to the same. Depends on tip
By rights youre supposed to use a different hose (Type T), but the normal ace hose Type R works.
You may need to change your tank coupler for the ace tank, but that depends on where you are getting your ace and what brand your torches are.

It works very well and is WAY cheaper than ace.

Here's a Harris chart as an example. What your actual settings are will depend on what brand of torch you have and site conditions/materials/personal preference. (the fuel pressures in that chart would be too low for my AIr LIquide torch, for example)
http://www.harrisproductsgroup.com/~/media/Files/PDF/Requested Resources/TIPSonCUTTING.pdf

 

[Professor Marvel]

Thanks for the input all. You have already given me several good ideas. I will check back tomorrow to see what else you come up with.

 

[woodlandfarms]

All very good points, I have cutoffs, portaband, chopsaw, each have a use. I got an oxy acet setup and would say it is uber handy to have but scares the heck out of me and in the end is not cheap. Wouldn't an inexpensive plasma be a better deal? I guess you need a 30 gallon compressor but.... My oxy set, with cart and tanks was nearly 700.

 

[Sodo]

Why dont you show a pic of what you are trying to do? You will get much better responses. Mower deck sounds like 12ga. maybe 1/8" if you know the thickness that helps too.

I do a significant amount of cutting with a 1/16" thick abrasive cutoff wheel on a 4 1/2" grinder. And sometimes some of the cuts with a jigsaw. Sometimes drill some holes and connect the dots then file it or grind it. How many repair (patches) to you have to cut? If just a couple patches there's no sense buying expensive tools unless you WANT the tools anyway.

 

[Shield Arc]

I've heard of using propane, but never done it. What pressure do you set the regulator at for something like 1/4" mild steel? Same pressure on Oxygen as the acetylene set up? Same tip?

Here is a good video on using propane.
http://youtu.be/f2amO0T3vkQ

 

[Ed of all trades]

Thanks Shield Ark, I am in the process of putting together an oxy/pro porch. Good info.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I have all of the above, well, except the CNC plasma, but if only had one it would probably be the sawsall. The biggest drawback to the sawsall is not all steels are created equal. Some are harder than others and for not all the most obvious reasons. A quality mower deck for instance might be made with hardened steel or a cheap one might have hard spots in it just because the steel manufacturing was less than proficient.

My suggestion is buy what you need at that time. Eventually you will have at least one of each.

 

[Shield Arc]

Eventually you will have at least one of each.

Oh if it could only stop there!