radius cut smoothing

arrow · Nov 20, 2011

What is a good tool to smooth out a 1 1/8" inside radius cuts made with a torch in 3/8 metal plate? Hand filing is getting old rather quickly. Do not have a drill press able to handle this diameter.

Shield Arc · Nov 20, 2011

I always use a die grinder with a roto burr.

yomax4 · Nov 20, 2011

I agree with the roto Carbide burr. Double cut. Next would be a flap wheel on the die grinder.

Brushhill dave · Nov 21, 2011

Cone stone hands down

arrow · Nov 23, 2011

Went to Lowes and picked up this Kobalt tool as it was the only rotary tool I could find there. It worked best at slow speed in a variable speed drill. Took about 5 minutes so its slow but gets the job done. As they are only about 4 bucks, I could by several to finish th job. They also work plastics and wood of course.
Thanks for your advise.

Hooked_on_HP · Nov 24, 2011

If I want it smooth I use a drum sanding roll.
Bill

lstinthot · Nov 24, 2011

I guess I have a long way to go cutting with the torch, my cuts look too jagged to be useful. I stopped cutting with the torch and find some other way.

Mace Canute · Nov 25, 2011

Making a template to help guide the torch will smooth up the cut a great deal as compared to hand held torch, unless you have a very steady hand.

jake98 · Nov 25, 2011

arrow said:
Went to Lowes and picked up this Kobalt tool as it was the only rotary tool I could find there. It worked best at slow speed in a variable speed drill. Took about 5 minutes so its slow but gets the job done. As they are only about 4 bucks, I could by several to finish th job. They also work plastics and wood of course.
Thanks for your advise.

Five minutes doesn't seem slow to me, for what you're grinding there. What are you making, a quick-hitch?

arrow · Nov 26, 2011

5 minutes was to finish up the hack job I did with the file which did most of the rough work. (over a half hour) They are brackets to go on top of a loader bucket to hold bar type forks. This way I can load and unload the forks w/o getting off the tractor as I have only a pin type mount for the bucket. The torch was used only for the radius as I could not get in there with the sabre saw. The right drill press would have eliminated this problem all together.