Cutting steel?

[NR5A]

Ok someone told me you get what you pay for and being on a budget (disability checks) I tried to cut costs. I got a cheap 7" chop saw from Northern Tools. That burned up after the 3rd cut, but it sure was nice.

So I tried a cutting wheel on my grinder and didn't really like that. For one thing the blade wears down really fast.

I tried a hacksaw with a 18 tooth blade it cuts but is slow and hard for me to do because of my health.

Thought of using my scrole saw but I must have a wood blade that won't cut thru butter. So maybe a metal blade for it?

Wonder if you could use a circular saw to cut the tubing? I've got the circular saw.

Anyway I'm looking for low cost ways to cut the tubing. I've started working on my DeltaWolf and would like to someday ride it. lol

Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota

[TheKid]

Check out the threads below under "Garage Hacker's Discussion/ General Building Tips & Tricks/Circular Saw"

[Pagan Wizard]

Metal cutting blades are made for circular saws, however, you must have a metal cased circular saw. If your saw is encased in plastics, the shower of sparks from cutting the steel will melt your saw.

[TheKid]

With enough practice, a grinder will cut accurate angles, too.

[NR5A]

Maybe the grinder is a good way to go but it scared the heck out of when a piece of the cutting disk hit me in the face. Yes I had safety goggles on. It hit me on the cheek and because of that I'm scared to try it again.

My circular saw is a plastic cased one so guess thats out. I will try again with the grinder. Trying to figure out how to hold it is a problem for me. However I believe the guard on mine will rotate which would make cutting a lot easier. Wouldn't have to hold the thing vertical to cut...... hmmm.

Ok its my bedtime..... any certain grinder blades I should be using??

Jerry - NR5A

[gbbwolf]

Might want to invest in a full face sheild instead of goggles.
Cost is about the same as a pair of goggles.

http://www.enasco.com/product/SB16274N

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=face+sheild&tag=mh0b-20&index=tools&hvadid=20667632&ref=pd_sl_91sleemsr8_p

http://doitbest.com/Safety+Glasses+and+Sun+Glasses-AOSafety-model-90028-doitbest-sku-325058.dib

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=74556-429-90028-10000

[Richie Rich]

I >>STRONGLY<< recommend a full face shield and leather gloves.

The first time a disk disintegrates at 13-thousand RPM, you'll be glad you're wearing them. I speak from experience.

.....RR...

[savarin]

I >>STRONGLY<< recommend a full face shield and leather gloves.

The first time a disk disintegrates at 13-thousand RPM, you'll be glad you're wearing them. I speak from experience.

.....RR...

Hmmm, looks like we've all been there done that:(
Always wear full face shields and all other safety gear as required.
My worst was a large heavy duty angle grinder that grabbed and threw itself into my chest. (no guards, my boss was a tight fisted sod) Went right through my leather apron, leather jacket, woolen sweater, sweatshirt and T-shirt. Just glad it was winter and I was wearing so much.
Luckily it only drew a thin red line across my ribs. Hurt like hell though.

[trikeman]

I am still afraid of cutting with my angle grinder and those zip discs, although I do it. On the other hand, I recently purchased a $50 Harbor Freight 14" cut off saw and a good abrasive blade from Nothern Tool. It eats steel for breakfast, and I don't feel unsafe using it. It is noisy and throws a lot of sparks so I use it in the back yard, and I recently purchased an old BBQ grill that I set it on when I cut. That catches most of the sparks and hot metal. I can cut accurately with my hack saw, but I wanted to cut practice coupons and it made short work of that so I could spend my time welding not cutting.

[TheKid]

I wear my leather welding apron all the time. Looks like I'll be making a Kevlar vest to wear under it.

[n9viw]

Kid, sorry to break the news to you, but Kevlar is good for BLUNT impacts, not CUTTING impacts. You can, however, now get cut- and puncture-resistant fabric from sites such as http://acuarmor.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=C_TE&Store_Code=AA&Category_Code=
but most Kevlar vests wouldn't stop a screwdriver or a letter opener, much less a hot cutting disk.
I'm sticking with the old classic, leather. ;)

[TheKid]

I wasn't serious. The full shield and leather vest is fine with me.

[Pagan Wizard]

Actually in my line of work, we deal with Kevlar on a dailiy basis. I particularly own gloves that are Kevlar lined that are specifically designed to prevent cuts from knives or even razor blades. They however will not prevent a puncture type of entry. A new form of Kevlar has just been recently developoed that will prevent punctures, but it is not yet readily available, even to those in my line of work. n9, if you wish, I can show you these gloves at any time.

[SirJoey]

I can attest to the need for leather gloves, from first-hand experience. It's been 7 full months since my "exploding spring" accident, which jammed a piece of shrapnel into the joint of my pinky, & it STILL hurts, after all this time! :eek: Apparently, it did more damage to my finger than I initially thought.

The story from the old forum: http://www.lucidscience.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1844&SearchTerms=adventures+in+the


http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[n9viw]

Owie! I hate finger injuries, particularly because I already have arthritis in all the joints of my fingers... thanks, Mom and Dad, for that lasting "legacy". :rolleyes:

P-dub (thanks Joey, I like that!), if we ever do get together for some welding, you can bring em over to show off. On that note, my garage is so full I can't even get to the back workbench anymore. My wife is so set on getting the house finished, I haven't been out there except for tools or supplies in almost six months. :(

[Richie Rich]

It sounds as if you guys need to wear a coat of mail. (No, not the Postal kind....think of what the medieval Knights wore under their suit of armor).

http://tinyurl.com/3dgm8g

In those days, not much could penetrate mail. Then, along came the invention of gun powder and bullets and the tin suits went the way of the dinosaurs.

.....Richie >>

[TheKid]

It's still used by researchers and others for studying sharks. Occasionally, a shark will penetrate it. Good suggestion. Maybe I'll go to the local dive shop and pick some up. How much could it cost? A couple 'a hundred bucks maybe?

[AtomicZombie]

And don't forget one of these...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Splatter_Mask_(WWI).jpg/800px-Splatter_Mask_(WWI).jpg

Good for exploding zip discs, flying slag and Ontario mosquitoes.

Actually, I think the mosquitoes around here could bit through it.

Brad

[savarin]

And don't forget one of these...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Splatter_Mask_(WWI).jpg/800px-Splatter_Mask_(WWI).jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Splatter_Mask_%28WWI%29.jpg/800px-Splatter_Mask_%28WWI%29.jpg)

Good for exploding zip discs, flying slag and Ontario mosquitoes.

Actually, I think the mosquitoes around here could bit through it.

Brad

Hmmm, shouldn't they really be called spalling masks?
Weren't they worn by tank crew in the 1st world war to protect from the spall shrapnel on the inside of the tanks?

[savarin]

It sounds as if you guys need to wear a coat of mail. (No, not the Postal kind....think of what the medieval Knights wore under their suit of armor).

http://tinyurl.com/3dgm8g

In those days, not much could penetrate mail. Then, along came the invention of gun powder and bullets and the tin suits went the way of the dinosaurs.

.....Richie >>

The jolly old English long bow could, way before bullets, just ask the French at Agincourt (sp)

[Odd Man Out]

Hmmm, shouldn't they really be called spalling masks?
Weren't they worn by tank crew in the 1st world war to protect from the spall shrapnel on the inside of the tanks?


Yup -- just as the caption on the picture states... additionally they were mainly worn by crews of the behemoth German made WW1 tank the AV7 which had a crew of 18!!! :eek: