metal cutting!

[chicago]

Hey all,
I was just wondering what you folks were using to cut your steel pieces with?

Saw zall
plasma cutter
band saw
chop saw
angle grinder?????

Thanks,

Chicago

 

[Cube Dweller]

Keith,

On a budget I'd say the best bang for the buck is a $50 Harbor Freight abrsive chop saw. Just get on their mailing list and they'll send you fliers. If you get on the email list too they'll occasionally send out 20% off coupons. I've cut a ton of tubing and angle with mine and it keeps going. Plus, you can notch tubing with it too.

 

[lavarunner]

a machiine shop full of tools...

Depends on the material as to what I cut it with!!!!

 

[tltaylor22]

I've got the larger water cooled bandsaw from Harbor. I've had it for over 7 years and have done a ton of fabrication and production work with it. The components seem to be the same as the unit I had at work that cost over 1500. If your looking for a plasma, I tested out the new little suitcase plasma from miller. Xtreme or something. Very nice, cut perfect and was really small.

 

[2mbb]

yeah, it's like Lavarunner say's, it's all about what you have at hand and what what you're trying to cut. I have a sawzall, chop saw and 4.5" angle grinder. The angle grinder is by far the most versatile of the three. The chop saw works good for cutting lots of small stock, but (mine at least) bogs down on the bigger pieces. I had some 1" stock that I could not cut with the chop saw, but my angle grinder made easy work of it.

 

[GreatLakesWaterjet]

Plasma, Laser machine and soon to be Waterjet. Oh yea, Ive got a chop saw, angle grinders and many other hand held tools too. It depends on what material you are cutting. Don't forget a good ole torch!

 

[2badfjs]

chop saw and 4.5" angle grinder

chop saw is the best bag for the $$

 

[Doug_S]

Abrasive chop saw
Bandsaw
Plasma cutter
Hacksaw (if all else fails)

 

[alia176]

Chop saw
Porta band saw
Plasma
OxyAcet
Sawsall
Recip saw
tin snips
Angle grinder
Bench grinder with abrasive blade for cutting
-------------------------
All depends on what metal (thickness/type) is being cut!

 

[Gold Boy]

angle grinder 4 1/2", chop saw.

 

[nat]

I have a Grizzly 6x9 horizontal bandsaw, I love it. I have been doing some mods to it and I use it the most for cutting. I also use my sawzall, 4" angle grinder, hacksaw, my vertical mill/drill and I have a beater jigsaw, so I don't ruin the good one.

 

[chicago]

Thanks for the posts gents,
I just picked up a dewalt 4.5 in angle grinder, and I have a sawzall, chop saw and access to a cutting torch if I need it.
I was just wondering what the pros on MUD are using...
Im glad Im at least in the ball park.

Chicago

 

[brian]

weld shop full-o-stuff, great for forcing metal(or alloys) to submit to my will

 

[White Shark]

Mostly plasma. Grinders, band saw, blah blah, etc. You get the drift....

 

[Clutchee]

Porta Band....just have friends buy blades & it works great.

 

[baxter650]

I have been using 1/16" cutoff wheels on my 5" grinder.

 

[MrMoMo]

Dont forget the Air saws, they are great for sheetmetal.

 

[FJ40Jim]

There are 7-1/4" abrasive blades available for handheld circ saws. I use the blades in a cheapo $29 skilsaw to make long straight cuts in sheetmetal. It's also good for cutting tube/angle/channel when you don't want to bother clamping it in the chopsaw.