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

[dragoneggs]

Looking to spawn a discussion on tools, brands, accessories for cutting steel and I suppose aluminum. I only have a 14in chop saw for metal. Wondering about what to invest in... Oxy Torch, Plasma, whatever. Doubt I will do much of anything thicker than 1/4in and most will be 1/8in or less. I am a hobby/weekend warrior and will not be doing offsite work. Please advise!

 

[Shield Arc]

Next to a torch, I think a port-a-band is real handy to have. You can make or buy a table for them also.
SWAG V4.0 Portaband Table

 

[R W]

A 4.5" or 5" angle grinder would be a good addition to your workshop.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Cutting stuff is a long long list...

I use my chop saw most often - it's noisy and dirty but is fast, which is generally the point for me
I have a Jet bandsaw which I do not like (others love them).
I really like high quality bandsaws though, just don't have one currently.

Toss up between the cutting torch and plasma, but I favor the torch because I use it to heat as well - but I've been using the plasma more for gouging and starting to like it for that too.

For thin stuff, or tight curves I've been known to use a jig saw.
Air die grinders and cut off saws and an air body saw.
Thin cutoff wheels in the angle grinder.

For aluminum I use wood working tools: jigsaw, skill saw, table saw and chop saw.

Hard to narrow down what you should buy without knowing more about what you want to do with it?

 

[tcreeley]

The fastest way is to use a cold chisel and score a line across the piece using hammer blows, then bend it. You will get a stress crack very quickly and a nice break. 1/4" will require a deeper scored line. Use a 2.5 to 3 lb hammer. I always grind the edge on a cold chisel to a curve so that I can roll the chisel edge into the next part of the line without a rough edge.

Good luck. ...You can also score it with a hacksaw- then bend it back and forth for a break. A vice is also handy.

 

[George2615]

For small pieces of up to 1/4" I use an air powered cut off tool. For longer stuff I use a torch then grind the edges smooth. Also have used a saw-z-all. My porta band recently died and would cost almost as much to repair as a new one. Someday I'll have to buy a new one. On my wish list is a band saw for steel.

 

[ThomasH]

Another thing that can be done is make the portable version of a chop saw. In other words, put an abrasive blade in your circular saw, it works reasonably well for thinner sheet goods. I also use my porta-band a lot when cutting smaller rounds, angle, or flat material up to 3".

 

[downsizingnow48]

There are several hand held circular saws specifically for cutting metal. Milwaukee, Jancy, Makita, Rage, probably others. I use this Makita:

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Forgot about the Rage saw - I have the handheld one and it cuts good.
Face shield mandatory! Yikes those shards can be sharp!

 

[Threepoint]

Anyone using one of these: Double Cut Saw - Huge Savings on this 5" Double Cut Saw The video and the reviews look interesting. One reviewer says he cuts 1/4 steel no problem.