What can i use to cut metal?

[kendelrk]

as ive seen toy story mention countless times princess auto

 

[redsox985]

In Canada I would say to check out Princess Auto like Kendel said. When buying an angle grinder, the actual power specs are rarely referenced. They're usually bought depending upon size, being 4", 4.5", etc. I think 4.5" is the most common and most versatile as it can use both 4.5" and 4" discs. For cutting sheets, get good quality cutting wheels. The best I've found for cutting thick plate is a bandsaw. The cuts are clean and accurate. The plasma cutter I used never left neat edges.

 

[Gokarts4Life-11]

ya i'll run over to canadian tire and buy an angle grinder, they're on sale

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Just get the Mastercraft brand 4 1/2" angle grinder from Canadian Tire. I have 3 of them, been beating on them relentlessly, no problem. If you time it right, you'll get it on sale for $20-$25. They do it VERY frequently.

Another Canadian Tire tip- If you purchase something at regular price, and that item goes on sale within two weeks of you buying it, bring your reciept to the store and they will give you back the difference between what you paid, and the sale price.

I use these grinders for 90% of my steel cutting. Sometimes a recip saw will get into a tighter spot (like when cutting brackets OFF your kart), but- they can go thru blades pretty quickly and you'll get a much straighter cut with the grinder.

Whereabouts in Canada are you? You watching the game right now? Canucks are 1-0 over Boston.

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Perfect- you figured out the Canadian tire thing while I was typing...

EDIT- TIP- Use cutting wheels for cutting, and grinding wheels for grinding. A grinding wheel (usually about 1/4" thick, removes too much material, takes longer, and gets things a lot hotter while cutting than a thin-kerf cutting wheel (less than 1/8"). Conversely, grinding with a cutting wheel is unsafe- It flexes too much and is not designed for that kind of sideloading.

 

[Gokarts4Life-11]

thanks a lot guys, another question, where can i get a torque converter that would cost me an arm and a leg to ship?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

that would cost me an arm and a leg

I think you mean "wouldn't"...
Sorry- that I don't know.

 

[Gokarts4Life-11]

lol ya my bad, thanks anyways

 

[Bluethunder3320]

we had a 8" (i think) dewalt angle grinder at welding class and it was huge!!!

what i use:

angle grinder for small cuts or pieces i cant fit under the chop saw...
4.5" dewalt, paddle switch, rubber handle, "heavy duty" version, around 10 amps, $80 on amazon
4.5" harbor freight grinder, around 5 amps i think? $15.... got it replaced once.

chop saw works GREAT during frame fabrication... cant cut things once attached to frame...
14" hitachi chop saw... 10-15 amps? $100ish at home depot i believe it was (lowes?)

hack saw.... works great for cutting ANYTHING without a power cord, i can cut 12 gauge pipes easily with a good blade...

coping saw... for little sheet metal mostly...

havent tested skill saw (reciprocating) and black and decker jig saw on metal yet.....


so all in all, different tools are made because, well, they are for different jobs...

 

[devino246]

In my experience, angle grinders that big are so cumbersome that they're nearly useless for anything but masonry work. I used a 6"(i think) grinder with a wire wheel to clean out my floorboards and it killed my arms.

 

[gokart14]

i hate cutting metal with angle grinder. it always comes out messed up. i guess thats just me

 

[Bluethunder3320]

and using a wire wheel on a grinder, be prepared to get acupuncture!!

happens to me so much.. i get them through my jeans and 1/4" into my legs.

 

[redsox985]

we had a 8" (i think) dewalt angle grinder at welding class and it was huge!!!

what i use:

angle grinder for small cuts or pieces i cant fit under the chop saw...
4.5" dewalt, paddle switch, rubber handle, "heavy duty" version, around 10 amps, $80 on amazon
4.5" harbor freight grinder, around 5 amps i think? $15.... got it replaced once.

chop saw works GREAT during frame fabrication... cant cut things once attached to frame...
14" hitachi chop saw... 10-15 amps? $100ish at home depot i believe it was (lowes?)

hack saw.... works great for cutting ANYTHING without a power cord, i can cut 12 gauge pipes easily with a good blade...

coping saw... for little sheet metal mostly...

havent tested skill saw (reciprocating) and black and decker jig saw on metal yet.....


so all in all, different tools are made because, well, they are for different jobs...

I am not a big fan of chop saws. They are just not accurate enough as they remove a lot of material and need to be cleaned up after as they melt the material and leave it behind.

and using a wire wheel on a grinder, be prepared to get acupuncture!!

happens to me so much.. i get them through my jeans and 1/4" into my legs.

What kind of wheels are you using that it flings them that deep into you?! Also, are you using the flat or cup style. I've found the cup style don't fling nearly as many and when they do, the wires don't go as far/fast.

 

[Bluethunder3320]

What kind of wheels are you using that it flings them that deep into you?! Also, are you using the flat or cup style. I've found the cup style don't fling nearly as many and when they do, the wires don't go as far/fast.

i used a dewalt cup style... it costed like 12 bucks.

 

[r_chez_08]

I use my dads 9" angle grinder when i am cutting and want to use an angle grinder. It makes short work of most things

 

[Doc Sprocket]

i hate cutting metal with angle grinder. it always comes out messed up. i guess thats just me

It's just you. Practise makes perfect. Take it slow, and let the wheel do the work. You can make very good cuts with an angle grinder. In fact, I have access to a 14" Milwaukee chop saw, and I don't use it anymore because I have found I make more accurate cuts my marking and cutting by hand with my trusty little angle grinder. This includes angles other than 90*, too. Use the thinnest cutting wheels you can find.

 

[Gokarts4Life-11]

Thanks a lot everyone. By the way Toystory-4wd I live in Ontario, ya great game also

 

[Cam]

if you're only cutting one thing then maybe just bust out the old hack saw? will take a while but wont cost anything. I cut down my clothes line with a hack saw the other day

What part?

Must of been bloody tedious haha

Id be hooking it up to the wagon after the first few strokes : P

 

[flamed181]

flexavit makes a great cutting wheel called a razer 41/2" and a 6" for right angle grinder