Cutting Cast Iron

[raleigh]

I have very little knowledge about cast iron. Can you cut cast iron with a regular oxy acetylene torch ? I want to bolt a cast iron door and frame into a side wall of a fire box on a smoker for a clean out door, but the cast iron door frame has a flange for a masonary application. I want to cut the flange off.

I need guidance, please.

[Jim-Tx]

Use a cutoff disk on a hand grinder. I've cut cast this way with good results and it's not hard to do.

[usmcpop]

Here's a section from a very old book (1916) regarding the cutting of steel, cast iron and tool steel.

http://books.google.com/books?id=2ilDAAAAIAAJ&dq=oxy-acetylene+cutting+cast+iron&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=89Y6wC12_y&sig=rWj6sZrPO3uCjJV4j4RJ3ajiDpY&hl=en&ei=gI65SaS6BZyWMc3ytKMI&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=3&ct=result#PPA269,M1

EDIT: ditto the cutoff wheel. Simple.

[monckywrench]

That and many others are available for free download from the Prelinger archive:

http://www.archive.org/details/oxyacetyleneweld00millrich

Just search for welding, oxy-acetylene welding, etc.

[Roger]

When you cut steel with O/A cutting torch your really burning a cut line. Preheat gets steel to kindling temperature and O2 jet starts steel burning. Cast Iron doesn't oxidizes as easy because impurities so preheat flame forms puddle and O2 jet blows puddle away. Only works for thin cast iron. Not a smooth clean cut.

Broco exothermic rod or carbon air arc will cut cast iron better again by forming puddle and blowing it away. Better because hotter more concentrated heat. Not a smooth clean cut.

Plasma cutter will cut Cast Iron.