For those with plasma cutters, what do you use as a guide to keep a straight line? I have seen guides online that will help guide a straight line or circle but they sure are proud of them at over 100 dollars. Any homemade suggestions?
Plasma Cutting Guide
- Thread starter Cuerno Largo
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I used scrap metal clamped with some vise-grips. Just measure the offset from the edge of the tip to where it actually cuts and space the edge of the metal that far away from where you want it to cut.
Same. I use pretty much anything straight and a pair of my welding visegrips. What ever is straight and within my reach. always worked well.
If your doing production day in & day out then I'd suggest spending the time welding up an adjustable (for length) quick release straight edge.
If your doing production day in & day out then I'd suggest spending the time welding up an adjustable (for length) quick release straight edge.
brian
SILVER Star
a good line and a steady hand.
Straight lines - same as above - figure offset and clamp a straight edge. For circles I drill a hole, then use a flat piece of aluminum w/ hole for torch and anchor in the center hole for radius. If I need a solid circle I simply weld up the center hole.
instead of a clamp i use magnets, i get the small size grounding magnets they sell at the weld shop, HF ect,,, the kind with the brass bolt through it and bolt it to a flat stock, it does two things, straight edge of course and it holds it off the work piece so it doesnt get in the way. half the time i just use one magnet and hold the other end with my hand.
I've used cardboard, not the thin 6-pack type but decent double layer stuff. Depending on how many cuts you need to make it works fine. Have also used phenolic sheet material. You can usually find the stuff for reasonable $$ at surplus yards or the like. An additional note on phenolic is that if you want to make patterns just break out the router and away you go.
I use a couple of cheap magnet levels - five footer with a magnetic strip down the side. I also use on of those magnetic tool strips that is great for shorter cuts. Got it as a two pack from HF or Costco.
I used to have a jig that clamped to the top edge of my welding table. It was basically two pieces of angle iron. One that acted as a "fence" to hold the steel straight and another welded to the 1st at a 45 degree angle. The 2nd was spaced up about 1/4 of an inch so that steel could slide under it.
Clamp to table, let the cutting guide hang off the bench. Slide a piece of steel along the clamped edge as a fence and run the torch along the perpendicular part.
All cutting is done off the edge of bench in mid air and drop falls to the ground.
Saved a lot of time.
I used to have a jig that clamped to the top edge of my welding table. It was basically two pieces of angle iron. One that acted as a "fence" to hold the steel straight and another welded to the 1st at a 45 degree angle. The 2nd was spaced up about 1/4 of an inch so that steel could slide under it.
Clamp to table, let the cutting guide hang off the bench. Slide a piece of steel along the clamped edge as a fence and run the torch along the perpendicular part.
All cutting is done off the edge of bench in mid air and drop falls to the ground.
Saved a lot of time.
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i USE ALUMINUM side rails from a soft tonneau cover. They have a thick foam tape underneath them so the piece is not conductive. Works well.