cutting metal, tubing etc...

[simon88xj]

right now i got 4 1/2" angle grinder and was wondering do i really need chop saw or band saw to do the cutting?
the material i will cut are tubing, 1x1 up to 5x5 3/16" square tubing or up to 6 inch round tubing.
and beside that, in the future, i am going to get me a plasma cutter, cutting material up to 1/4 thickness. gonna get one for xmas. any one know where i can get one used, any of you guys planning to upgrade to a bigger one and selling the old one? looking for the one not using gas if possible,i try to stay away from gas stuffs.

found one and cant affort it right now, used $1000 shipped but saw some on ebay for $999 NEW HYPERTHERM PMX 380 W/ 20' TORCH

[MigManiac]

When the term GAS is used in conjunction with plasma cutters 99.9% of the time they are refering to compressed air.

[simon88xj]

When the term GAS is used in conjunction with plasma cutters 99.9% of the time they are refering to compressed air.

you mean the air coming from the air compressor? i saw some plasma got the built in air compressor, does some dont have the air on the plasma?

[bcraytor]

That's right... My TD Cutmaster uses air outta the shop compressor. I do filter the air and run it through a drier before it enters the unit. (Saves on electrode wear and cleaner cuts without trash in the air.) Can also use a bottle of nitrogen if I want. (But why, air is cheap!)

Regards

[hankj]

Simon,

Try some .045 thick cut-off wheels on your grinder. You can get 'em in type 1 or 27 - your choice. I like 1's because they don't like side loading very much. I use Flexovit brand, from Enco.

Hank

[James D. Clark]

How much material cutting will you be doing? The cutoff disks on the 4-1/2 grinders will work if you don't have to use it for long periods of time. You can cut the square stock with a sabre saw. It won't be fast but cleaner than the cutoff disk. Also small diameter round stock. For the 6 inch round use the cutoff disk or a bandsaw. But I wouldn't want to cut the large stock with the cutoff disk or the sabre saw for more than a small project. I've cut 2x2x1/4 angle stock for a welding table with cutoff disks on a 4-1/2 grinder and the same stock for my welding cart with a sabre saw. They will work if certain proceedures are used.

[simon88xj]

what is sabre saw?
any pics of how it look like?

[simon88xj]

what does this do? any opinion on this band saw for cutting tubing? good investment? or should i stick with my grinder?portable speed band saw

[diesel]

Get a disk and try it. Keep track of how many cuts you make. A chop saw will make at least 20 times the cuts per blade. My personal experience with these hateful little devices has been less than favorable. I will say that since I have a chop and torch I only use the zip disk when those won't work. Like when I have to reach over the frame and cut a bolt against the wooden floor of the wreakage I call my latest project.

[James D. Clark]

what is sabre saw?
any pics of how it look like?

The 1st picture shows a sabre saw. It uses "tee" shank blades. The blade runs on a roller support that keeps the blade vertical when working against the steel when it's sawing. The steel shown is 16 ga.

The second picture shows the 1/8 inch and 1/4 inch angle that was cut with the sabre saw for the welding cart that is shown in the 3rd picture after the angle stock was welded.

The cart is shown in another thread about designing a cart with a CAD program.

[ripshot]

right now i got 4 1/2" angle grinder and was wondering do i really need chop saw or band saw to do the cutting?
the material i will cut are tubing, 1x1 up to 5x5 3/16" square tubing or up to 6 inch round tubing. [/URL]

The main reason I use a chop saw is.... It is faster and the cuts are square!

[simon88xj]

sabre saw=jig saw

am i right? it seem to me it look like it maybe i am wrong.
i got a miter saw, i know someone use them to gut metal tubing by changing the blade. someone told me the cons on doing so will shortern the life of the saw motor and beside that, it will crack the housing since it was mostly plastic on the cover.

right now i got my eye on the HH400, any pro and con on them and where's the cheapest place to get em?

diesel, what ya mean try on with disk? i use to cut metal tubing with the grinder and it's a b!@#$ to do so, and i do understand it not going to be straight cut.

bandsaw, is it only good for a lot of tubing cutting right? what else does it do?

[hankj]

The best tool for all-around stock cutting, tube, round, square, angle, is a band saw.



The samll operator doesn't come with it! his one cuts 4" x 6" stock in sqaure or mitred form.

Hank

[simon88xj]

does the band saw and chop saw do the same purpose?

[hankj]

Similar. A chop saw cuts with an abraisve disk - faster and messier. A band saw uses a saw blade, slower, cleaner, nicer cuts. Band saws tend to be able to cut larger stock.

Chop saw:


Hank