Cutting Tools

[jimgerken]

Plasma torch following a clamped -on straight edge like a pc of angle iron. Nice clean straight cut. Right after that you will want a PlasmaCam.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Plasma torch following a clamped -on straight edge like a pc of angle iron. Nice clean straight cut. Right after that you will want a PlasmaCam.

You can also follow a straight edge with a oxy acet torch. Takes some practice, but you can get nice cuts that don't take much clean up.

 

[lzicc]

I am looking at some of the reviews on Amazon for that Milwaukee circular saw and it got excellent reviews. It looks like it cuts 1/4" steel pretty fast and leaves a clean edge. It also has the capability of going up to 3/4". I like Milwaukee tools.

 

[weldingisfun]

For most of my cutting needs this saw does it all. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Bandsaw It has placed my cutoff saw on the shelf.

For plate, and I have cut up to 1/2 inch, and sheet metal to include roofing tin this saw can't be beat.
7-1/4" Metal Cutting Circular Saw

 

[Gary Fowler]

For 1/2" and thicker, I would use a oxyacetylene torch and have it cut, cleaned and welded to whatever before you got it cut with an abrasive saw or even home sized (30Amp) plasma. For thicknesses up to 1/2", I use a 00 tip that cuts a small kerf and when cleaned properly leaves very little slag. You can drag a OA torch beside a piece of angle also to make straight cuts. The problem folks have with OA torches and slag clean up is usually they use too big of a tip (and it usually is not properly cleaned)and mostly melt the metal off rather than cutting it via High Pressure oygen. Sure it takes a little longer to preheat with a smaller tip but once it is hot, you can cut 1" thick with a 00 tip easily. For most stuff around farm / hobbist an 0, 00 and 000 tip will do all your cutting needs. I have cut 16 gauge sheet metal with a torch with hardly any slag and very little warpage. You just have to move fast and steady.
You could also use a #2 cutting tip for heating if you dont have a rosebud. A #3 or #4 welding tip also works good for concentrating the flame to a smaller area than a rosebud.

 

[PutnamVictor]

I purchased a Metal Cutting Circular Saw and my chop saw has never been used again. Clean, cool, dust free, and very little sparks.

I have nothing agent HF, I buy stuff from them too, just not stuff that I plan on using more then once or twice, and not anything that can hurt me when it fails.

 

[J_J]

Using the plasma cutter to cut a straight line is not difficult at all. You simply use a straight edge guide, and drag down the guide.

 

[lzicc]

It seems like Plasma may be the way to go. I've used one before on sheet metal, but that was over 10 years ago. I like the idea of being able to make difficult cuts. Does the edge of the cut have much left on it?

 

[Gary Fowler]

Check the IPM cutting rate of the plasma rig you think you can afford and see what it says for 1/2". Most of those home units barely cut 1/2 plate at max power. If you can afford a 100 amp unit or bigger, you would be ok, but I think (and I am not an expert on plasma, because I use OA rig) you will be disappointed with the cut speed and quality on 1/2" plate. Thinner stuff, would work great with less distortion with plasma. Thicker stuff works good also, but you need more thatn 30-40 amps to get good cuts on thick material. Most of my experience with plasma has been on industrial 400 amp rigs and they work great. The sure made a lot of smoke though

 

[RPW]

I've cut 1/2 with a 40A plasma but it was s-l-o-w. For that thickness I'd be looking at a 60A minimum or O/A. One of my goals is to get a torchmate CNC table with both plasma and O/A torch attachments. Currently have chopsaw, portaband, die grinder, circular saw, plasma (40A) and of course O/A. Been buying shop tools a little bit here a little bit there so a to not get the better half too angry at me
Richard