Cutting thick (2") Steel

Shield Arc · Mar 15, 2012

I added the aluminum angle for when using the plasma.

yomax4 · Mar 15, 2012

I would call this an Oxyfuel application but if it's not an option; Borrow or rent a Thermal Dynamics Cut Master 152 Plasma. 120 Amps..Air Cooled. Cuts 2" like a dream. The only 120 Amp Air Cooled unit out there. Google it.

CJONE · Mar 16, 2012

If you use O/A the biggest thing that I found is the tip, mainly the cutting jet [center hole] has to be CLEAN and drilled accurate. I have tips that are huge and I never use them. I have a small tip that is my favorite one that will cut 2" cleanly. Adjust the Oxy pressure to the manufacturers rec or by trial. Most of my tips are in the 40-60 psi range. Like was stated preheat is your friend. You have to move slow and keep the torch head angles the same, if you move them at all you will screw up the cut. Cutting slag is not fun. A magnetic cutting guide is a huge help with thick plate if you don't have a track cutter. CJ

Shield Arc · Mar 16, 2012

I'm a real hack when it comes to O/A burning. I've worked with a few guys over the years that could burn better free hand than I could with a tractor torch.
When I set up a torch to burn I like to get the cutting cone as long as possible. 99 times out of 100 I only need to press the cutting lever an 1/8 inch or so. When I do find the sweet spot the flame sounds like a small jet engine.

monckywrench · Mar 16, 2012

I added the aluminum angle for when using the plasma.

I'll be copying that as soon as I score some angle. That's slicker than the proverbial deer guts on a door knob.

Shield Arc · Mar 16, 2012

monckywrench said:
That's slicker than the proverbial deer guts on a door knob.

That's a new one on me!:laughing:

If you get a magnetic burning square with brass bar, don't loan it out! Years ago I was working with some guys who weren't the sharpest tools in the shed. One of them go the bright idea to use my burning square to carbon arc a straight line. He forgot that a carbon arc would arc on the brass bar!!!!!!!!!!!!

CJONE · Mar 16, 2012

Shield Arc said:
I'm a real hack when it comes to O/A burning. I've worked with a few guys over the years that could burn better free hand than I could with a tractor torch.
When I set up a torch to burn I like to get the cutting cone as long as possible. 99 times out of 100 I only need to press the cutting lever an 1/8 inch or so. When I do find the sweet spot the flame sounds like a small jet engine.

+1 My little tip that I was referring to will literally split the flame for 2' and it sounds just as you describe. It was a cheepy from US tip company I believe. I wish I would have bought more of them. CJ

CJONE · Mar 16, 2012

Shield Arc said:
That's a new one on me!:laughing:

If you get a magnetic burning square with brass bar, don't loan it out! Years ago I was working with some guys who weren't the sharpest tools in the shed. One of them go the bright idea to use my burning square to carbon arc a straight line. He forgot that a carbon arc would arc on the brass bar!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like the same ones who always used my tri square for a chipping hammer!! CJ

yomax4 · Mar 16, 2012

Shield Arc said:
I'm a real hack when it comes to O/A burning. I've worked with a few guys over the years that could burn better free hand than I could with a tractor torch.
When I set up a torch to burn I like to get the cutting cone as long as possible. 99 times out of 100 I only need to press the cutting lever an 1/8 inch or so. When I do find the sweet spot the flame sounds like a small jet engine.

Nice Spike. I like your choice of Torches too.:thumbsup:

bdog · Mar 17, 2012

mjncad said:
Is the plate part of an existing piece of equipment? If so, plasma or cutting torches come to mind; but a plasma capable of slogging through 2" plate is going to be BIG $$$$$$.

Or is this a piece of plate at the steel yard? If so, I suggest having it cut with a waterjet.

A little more info on what you have in mind for this plate would be helpful.

Actually it is a truck bed on an International truck. The truck has some specialty equipment mounted on it. The bed is made of 2" thick plate and the plate weighs about 6,000lb. It is a long story but when they built the truck they thought the more it weighed the better. I am wanting to reduce the weight of the truck to get it under CDL requirements (26,000lb) by selectively cutting out portions of the bed that are not critical to the structure. For example cut holes in the bed under the tool boxes, auxillary diesel tanks, etc.