Slimy38
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 01:24 PM |
|
|
Cutting steel plate at home
Just a quick question, has anyone got any recommendations for cutting steel plate in the absence of any big machinery? What's the maximum
thickness of steel that can realistically be cut with a hacksaw, or perhaps a cutting disc on an angle grinder? I do have a jigsaw but as I've
only ever cut wood with it I'm not sure if that's any better than a hacksaw?
|
|
|
|
|
pekwah1
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 01:38 PM |
|
|
well i've cut through 10-15mm steel with my hacksaw, took a while but i don't have any power in the garage!
Don't think there's any limit for a hacksaw, just until it's blunt!
Hacksaw is not a lot different, but quicker. There's a tendancy for the cut not to be as good with a hacksaw and it's more important to
have the right blade for the job
|
|
|
mark chandler
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 01:40 PM |
|
|
9" angle grinder, let the blade do the work do not push hard and hold tightly in case it snatches.
Boring, noisy and smelly
Jigsaw, quality blade and lube
Really boring, not so noisy and cleaner
By hand
Groan, there must be a better way.
|
|
|
big_wasa
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 01:43 PM |
|
|
Grinder and plasma cutter 
|
|
|
mcerd1
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 01:48 PM |
|
|
depends how good a cut you want I guess....
most jigsaws I've seen are only rated for thin metal, you'll be able to cut thicker by hand with a hacksaw, but its hard to cut fancy
shapes with a hacksaw
a thin cutting disc on the grinder is probably the answer for most things, but again its hard to do complex shapes
a gas torch is fairly easy to get hold of and will do quite thick steel and any shape cut you like - but its not very neat (plasma is neater but costs
a lot more)
how thick would you like to cut ?
what sort of shapes / sizes of plate are you talking about ?
-
|
|
|
nick205
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 02:02 PM |
|
|
Chain drilling a series of small holes can help with thicker material. The hacksawing is then much easier, but the finishing afterwards will be hard
work.
|
|
|
Smoking Frog
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 02:03 PM |
|
|
A thin cutting disc in the grinder works for me. Hacksaw works better with some WD40. I wouldn't use a jigsaw for thick stuff, blunts the
blade too quickly.
|
|
|
Slimy38
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 02:14 PM |
|
|
The main cut will be a 6mm plate, but a 200mm wide circle with a second 180mm circle inside it (like a really big washer!). I was actually thinking
about cutting four semi circles and welding them back together, or even getting some 30mm strip metal to build it up in even more sections. But
whichever way it's going to be a curve to cut, and I suspect I'll need the angle grinder to finish the job.
|
|
|
Canada EH!
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 02:18 PM |
|
|
Be careful were the sparks fly when using a grinder and cut off wheel.
I wasn't paying attention and now have a pair of coveralls and a pair of jeans with large burn holes, caught it just before I started smoking.
|
|
|
Slimy38
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 02:34 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Canada EH!
Be careful were the sparks fly when using a grinder and cut off wheel.
I wasn't paying attention and now have a pair of coveralls and a pair of jeans with large burn holes, caught it just before I started smoking.
Ah, I'm really skilled at grinder sparks, I seem to be able to get them to land on whatever sawdust or other kindling is lying around. Even if
the sawdust pile is actually behind me and the size of a ten pence piece!
|
|
|
mark chandler
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 03:13 PM |
|
|
You have a welder, if you can run an arc gouging rod you can burn it out, loads of sparks and fun.
|
|
|
mcerd1
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 03:37 PM |
|
|
if you want a nice neat circle I'd just get it laser/waterjet cut for you
most places won't charge that much to do it....
-
|
|
|
hkp57
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 03:53 PM |
|
|
If you already have the plate I would say look for your local blacksmith or small fabrications shop, Have a chat and I am sure they would cut it while
you wait. neater job and a tenner well spent i would say.
|
|
|
NigeEss
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 04:23 PM |
|
|
Rough it out with a 1mm cutting disc in the grinder then finish in a lathe.
Or quicker and easier, do as others suggested and get it laser/water cut.
Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.................Douglas Adams.
|
|
|
Slimy38
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 06:24 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by mcerd1
if you want a nice neat circle I'd just get it laser/waterjet cut for you
most places won't charge that much to do it....
Aha, you've just reminded me my brother in law has a nice new laser, I wonder if he'd be up for having a go at metal cutting...
I don't have access to a lathe, and I only have MIG welder so arc gouging is out unfortunately.
I haven't actually bought the plate yet so I'll have a look at getting it made up first, that might be the simplest option.
|
|
|
jps
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 06:26 PM |
|
|
for the bother it'll be I'd definitely find someone to do that for me, rather than attempt it with hand tools/ domestic power tools.
|
|
|
tegwin
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 10:20 PM |
|
|
I routinely cut 16mm plate with a jigsaw.... Slow cut and slow feed, even managed quite tight turns..... Hold on though because it doesn't half
kick if it catches!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would the last person who leaves the country please switch off the lights and close the door!
www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv
|
|
|
Slimy38
|
| posted on 31/10/13 at 10:34 PM |
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by tegwin
I routinely cut 16mm plate with a jigsaw.... Slow cut and slow feed, even managed quite tight turns..... Hold on though because it doesn't half
kick if it catches!!
Do you have any recommendation for brands of blade, or even particular types?
|
|
|
gto1973
|
| posted on 13/11/13 at 09:05 AM |
|
|
this isnt really for what u want but there are steel cutting blades you can get to go on your skillsaw good for straight lines im talkn steel ones not
the alloy ones few engineers i know use then for cuttung up yar pipes they got tungsten tips put on and make metal fly!
|
|
|
