Bridge I-Beam cutting.

[LouNY]

I got tired of renting tanks years ago for limited occasional use, so I bought a pair of tanks from Tractor Supply and now I can exchange them there.

 

[Deere Dude]

I got tired of renting tanks years ago for limited occasional use, so I bought a pair of tanks from Tractor Supply and now I can exchange them there.

Don't you buy nice new tanks and when rotated they give you piece of crap old tanks. I would have a hard time with that.

 

[Big Barn]

The gas suppliers in my area will only sell you one size of acetylene tank for exchange. Too small. If you want bigger you have to lease. They’ve spent probably millions of dollars on algorithms to squeeze every last dollar out of the little guy.

 

[4570Man]

I saw this tank at a shop.

 

[Stimw]

Don't you buy nice new tanks and when rotated they give you piece of crap old tanks. I would have a hard time with that.

The gas don't care what the outside of the tank looks like!
I have 2 sets of the medium bottles and a set of the small grab and go bottles.
Too bad I only use them for heating since I bought my Miller Plasma cutter.
Then there is the large bottle for my MIG. I guess I am a bottle hog!

 

[LouNY]

Don't you buy nice new tanks and when rotated they give you piece of crap old tanks. I would have a hard time with that.

So far I've always gotten decent tanks.

 

[Big Barn]

I guess I am a bottle hog!

Me too! I embarrassed to say I haven’t gotten around to building a mobile “cage” for my oxygen and inert gas tanks. Acetylene and propane are secure in a covered outdoor storage.

 

[kthompson]

Visit rental center.

 

[fried1765]

Regarding abrasive cut off wheels. I use 4 1/2 and 7 zip cut wheels every day. Almost exclusively for making a small precise cut or removing a welding tack I screwed up on (lots of those )

These cuts are mostly well under a minute in duration. In my opinion any cut jobs involving longer lengths of time will certainly increase the chance of even a moment of carelessness which could end drastically. A good example would be where Gary mentioned not having enough clearance for the grinder in the web of the I beam. Good chance of getting the disc bound up in that corner while changing direction. JMO

I have a lovely permanent gash mark on my inner right thigh, from a 4-1/2" grinder that bound up and got me.

 

[fried1765]

OP here. I used to burn through heavy steel with 1/4" welding rods with the welder maxed out. It was a messy job. I will have to figure out what a zip cutter is, never heard of that.

I got all kinds of good advice so far and all is well received, even to make the bridge not as long. If I made a ramp and jump the last couple feet wouldn't work because I can't build up enough speed.

Either way, I took a beam out today and was able to cut through using a 4-1/2 cheapo discs. I was able to gut through to the webs from the outside with a fresh disc.

Now to cut 6 of them total without any mishap. I got goggles and earmuffs but thought about a face shield maybe. Those discs kind of explode on me so I will get some metal diamond cutters for sure even if I will be done with these cuts.

I think you may be misinterpreting the use of the term "ramp".
The intent of my "ramp" comment was that you might, prepare a longer access ramp, using fill, or rock and fill.
Seems like two feet more access/approach ramp on each side would do the job.

 

[Big Barn]

I think you may be misinterpreting the use of the term "ramp".
The intent of my "ramp" comment was that you might, prepare a longer access ramp, using fill, or rock and fill.
Seems like two feet more access/approach ramp on each side would do the job.

Personally I liked the OP’s Evel Knievel approach. Did lots of that in my younger tractor days.

 

[Big Barn]

OP here. I will have to figure out what a zip cutter is, never heard of.

Zip cut is the name Walter Surface Technologies uses to market their abrasive cutting discs.

 

[dragoneggs]

Anyone have recommendations on 4-1/2in diamond abrasive discs? Always used regular abrasive discs but thinking of switching over. Seems some think they are safer? I have broke a couple and don't want to experience it again.

 

[Deere Dude]

I think you may be misinterpreting the use of the term "ramp".
The intent of my "ramp" comment was that you might, prepare a longer access ramp, using fill, or rock and fill.
Seems like two feet more access/approach ramp on each side would do the job.

Thanks,
I think I got it figured out..


Actually, the bank is not real hard pan material and is susceptible to erosion. I planned on concreting an anchored 10'x3' bed for the lead edge of the I-beams.

The other end will just be laying on the flat ground for now. Once I get the steel in place and floor boards down, then I can drive across with fill to build up an approach. As of right now, there is no way to do anything on the other side, in fact I am still trying to figure out how to place the whole structure.

I might start another thread on the actual placement of beams, welding it together and the wood floor and railings.

 

[LD1]

I don't like the diamond wheels.

I like 5" cut discs...but get .045 and not 1/16. They cut faster. And food knes last awhile.

Sure the diamond last longer, but in my experience, after just a few cuts they are slower, and they are noisy

 

[fried1765]

Thanks,
I think I got it figured out..
View attachment 579551

Actually, the bank is not real hard pan material and is susceptible to erosion. I planned on concreting an anchored 10'x3' bed for the lead edge of the I-beams.

The other end will just be laying on the flat ground for now. Once I get the steel in place and floor boards down, then I can drive across with fill to build up an approach. As of right now, there is no way to do anything on the other side, in fact I am still trying to figure out how to place the whole structure.

I might start another thread on the actual placement of beams, welding it together and the wood floor and railings.

When placing your spliced beams consider alternating the placement of the spliced ends.

 

[farm boy00]

I have had good luck cutting through a 20in or so I beam with a sawzaw. Was a decently straight cut and actually pretty fast with a good blade

 

[Xfaxman]

I also use reciprocating saws with metal cutting blades sometimes.

Here they are with tree cutting blades:

 

[Deere Dude]

When placing your spliced beams consider alternating the placement of the spliced ends.

Great idea. I got all 6 cut off yesterday and today. I went through maybe 20 1/16" discs and half a dozen .45 inch discs. Not bad at all. Some lasted a quite a while and some lasted about 2 seconds, depending if I snagged something/

 

[void777]

Deere Dude

if not already suggested saw-all with 12 inch metal cutting blade.