Plasma cutting square tubing or angle iron

[Industrial Toys]

Here you need expensive contracts or go with those TINY customer owned tanks that cost a lot for what you are getting.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Here you need expensive contracts or go with those TINY customer owned tanks that cost a lot for what you are getting.

Just what kind of contract do you need for a customer owned set of tanks> I can see high $$$ if you lease the tanks on a per month basis. I don't know about Canadian regulations, but you don't need to stick with TINY tanks if you buy them at least where I live. I own two 100 CF O2 tanks and one acetylene tank and only pay for the gas when I swap them out which isn't that costly, no monthly rental fees.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Not sure. I just know it's not conducive to occasional use. I have never seen large customer owned tanks. The gas companies here are worse than the Mob! You can go to TSC for customer owned tanks, but it's still just a depot for the Mob!

 

[Big Barn]

I did a lifetime of farming (50 years) of cutting with oxy-acetylene and added an abrasive chop saw when they came out.



Now that I’m retired I have a couple of bandsaws





a power hacksaw



and a plasma cutter



As someone else mentioned a chop saw (abrasive or dry cut) would probably be your best choice.

 

[HCJtractor]

Big Barn, you’ve got a very nice shop there! Looks like you can do about anything with those great tools. And yes, I’m leaning more and more towards a nice dry cut chop saw. Thanks guys for sharing your opinions

 

[dragoneggs]

Big Barn, you’ve got a very nice shop there! Looks like you can do about anything with those great tools. And yes, I’m leaning more and more towards a nice dry cut chop saw. Thanks guys for sharing your opinions

Would love to swap out my 14in abrasive chop with a dry cut saw. Hate the sparks and mess.

 

[HCJtractor]

Would love to swap out my 14in abrasive chop with a dry cut saw. Hate the sparks and mess.

I just ordered a Morse Metal Devil chop saw, and the accessory clamping system they sell. It looks like a quality saw. Their clamping system seems well thought out as it grabs round stock and allows angle iron and square tube to be clamped on a diagonal plane to facilitate cutting. Their website has a good illustrational video showing optimal ways to clamp various shapes, to minimize cutting flat surfaces. Makes sense.

 

[cabinhollow]

Would love to swap out my 14in abrasive chop with a dry cut saw. Hate the sparks and mess.

Then you have to deal with the metal sawdust.
Even with boots on, pants legs over boots, 30 min after cutting, I am picking metal out of my socks.
Then, just as soon as you are doing cutting, you have to sweep the floor or it is like walking on ice.
It is getting to the point, I am going to hook a shop vac to mine.
But, I make 50 to 100+ cuts each time I use it.

 

[Industrial Toys]

WHAT is a power hack saw? Funny, a friend was talking about one last night saying how much cheaper it was to run than a band saw. I get good life out of band saw blades.

 

[Jeepnford]

Then you have to deal with the metal sawdust.
Even with boots on, pants legs over boots, 30 min after cutting, I am picking metal out of my socks.
Then, just as soon as you are doing cutting, you have to sweep the floor or it is like walking on ice.
It is getting to the point, I am going to hook a shop vac to mine.
But, I make 50 to 100+ cuts each time I use it.

I don't cut nearly as much as you but I'll take my Fein dry cut saw any day over my old abrasive saw.