cutting metal - dirt devil

[hexbinary]

Hi

Wondering what is a step above hacksaw for cutting metal.

band saw? scroll saw?

This is to cut the angles in the tubing.

thanks.

 

[fluxcored]

The kind of tubing necessary for a kart?

4,5" angle grinder + file. If you've got the money: chopsaw + file.

I'm looking for a bandsaw or power hacksaw but simply because I have to cut larger stock now.

99% of the time I use my angle grinder. My cold saw is gathering dust. I guess even when I buy a bandsaw my grinder will remain my weapon of choice - fast, deadly efficient, reasonably accurate and it sets me on fire regularly.

 

[dpaxson]

ya i've moved up to a chop saw, but for my first kart i used a grinder with a 1/16" cutting blade and a hacksaw to cut all the pieces

 

[Raywelder]

Angle grinder at home for me. But I'm saving up for a hand plasma! Or trying to at least.

 

[Khyren]

heh, I wish I had the funds and place to put the stuff that my work is selling off because we are closing. powertherm 1000 plasma, 2 hyd-mech 1" wide x 62" blade bandsaws with PLC's, and a scotchman muti angle pneumatic cold cut saw. I will miss being able to cut precise angles with ease... Not to mention all the free scrap metal I can get my hands on. Prices are dirt cheap for anyone in the central kentucky area and there's not much left.

 

[zero1dhd]

angle grinder with cut-off wheel will work for just about anything. I've cut 1/2" thick plate with one, takes a while and possibly a few blades. I get down with my cut-off wheel. For tubing, if you want to make quick and precise fish-mouth cuts, you have two options (with home type tools) cut-off wheel and touch it up with a grinder wheel or setup a jig on a drill press and cut the tubing with a hole saw of the same diameter of the tubing. The hole saw works like a champ, as long as you setup the jig properly. If you need to cut a lot of angles and 90*'s, get a chop saw with grinder blade. Rigid makes a good one with a built in quick release clamp. Also if you have some good skill cutting straight, I also use a jig saw with a long metal blade and/or a sawzall (reciprocating saw).

I haven't used a hacksaw in years, it just takes too long. Mine is sitting in the bottom of my toolbox hanging out with other tools I no longer use...

 

[choppedandtwisted]

I prefer my 4.5 angle grinder too. I have also had good luck with Sawzalls and metal cutting blades. You go through them a little more slowly than cut off wheels. The only thing that sucks is if you don't have a long enough blade or you pull back on the saw and it bucks bending the blade. Plasmas are very nice but overkill for most things if you ask me.
Jeff

 

[fluxcored]

Hole saw idea works very well. It's time consuming though and it's rare that I use this method nowadays.

The little I'm off coping with a grinder is welded over.. With a welder, a grinder and a BFH (Big eFfing Hammer) you can accomplish a lot in life.

I would like a plasma - if I can get it for free.

 

[kibble]

I saw a how-to online a while ago to make your own home made plasma cutter. I seriously considered taking on that project.

I would love to have a plasma cutter!

 

[pmat]

I use my jigsaw and metal blades

 

[ChadClancy]

99% of the time I use my angle grinder. My cold saw is gathering dust. I guess even when I buy a bandsaw my grinder will remain my weapon of choice - fast, deadly efficient, reasonably accurate and it sets me on fire regularly.

Heh! I just did that for the first time the other day using my 7 inch grinder. I was wearing a flannel shirt and one of my shirttails was directly in the path of the sparks. I started to feel a little warmth down there and saw that it was starting to catch. I whipped that shirt off and stomped on it a couple times. Other than a blackened shirt, no harm done.

I wonder if any of my neighbors got a laugh out of that crazy guy who's always cutting metal and welding in his driveway catching on fire.

 

[oscaryu1]

Chop saw for those accurate cuts, and angle grinder to wreak havoc onto the rest of the metal.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Those fiber cutoff wheels will go through ANYTHING! I have yet to see one not eat through what its touched to.

 

[Scout]

Chop saw for cut-to-length, grinder to clean up the cut and do detail work.

 

[brendonv]

I use a drop saw for most of my stuff as its more precise and faster. When u use a angle grinder with a cut off wheel u need to grind it flat after (well i do) as its on a slight angle and when u need an exact 90 degree angle its not to good. I use an angle grinder for sheet metal and cutting up the exercise equipment i use for all of my metal.

I went trash picking and picked up 3 bench press thingos. They got nice thick retanglular and square tubing which is great for making go karts and motor mounts. Never have to buy metal. In australia we have a curb collection twice a year where ppl chuck out there old "crap". I find mowers, engines, lots of those television excerise equipment things like the "ab king pro" and such. hehe. Pick up some nice things in those things. I mean the tip or junkyard as u guys call it is good but u still have to pay which is a bit crappy. Curb collection = free = good. XD

 

[Rickracer]

I have a portable band saw, it's like my right hand when doing metal work, also use a 4.5" angle grinder, die grinder with a cutoff wheel, air saw, and a variety of other metal cutting tools, but the portable bandsaw is my favorite. I do have a full size bandsaw and chopsaw too, haven't used either in quite a while.

 

[IHcubguy]

port-a-band does works well!, i have a milwaukee 6amp. deep cut, plus i can clamp it in my vise, like a bench top! If you rock it back in fourth slowly while cutting it flies through tubing/pipe. and a plus is...no sparks!!