Best way to cut steel?

Chris23 · Nov 10, 2007

This is so basic it is embarassing but I know you guys have a lot of experience so here goes.

I have started serious metal work but don't have specialist tools. I have hand tin snips for thin steel. I have an old & cheap hand hack saw that allows the blade to wander making straight cuts impossible and both 115mm & 230mm angle grinders. I also have a slide mitre wood type saw that I hoped might be useable as a chop saw but I don't know if there is some reason that metal cutting blades don't seem to be available for this size 255mm with 25mm bore - safety? I also have a 2hp compressor.

The question is where is my money best spent to be able to cut steel.

I want to be able to cut thin steel sheet for car body type work, plate to 6mm and box section/ tube to 75x50mm.

Money is an issue as is storage space.

Chris

malcolm · Nov 10, 2007

I cut metal under 1mm (occasionally up to 1.5mm for short lengths) using a set of tin snips about a foot long with long flat shears on the end. Seems the tidiest way of cutting thin stuff.

Above that I'd tend to use those ultra thin angle grinder cutting discs. Often some tidying up to do with an angle grinder if any real accuracy is required. My work is occasional so time isn't so important.

Are you doing lots of cutting of a particular size and shape of steel, lots of cutting on lots of different shapes, or just occasional work?

Ratty · Nov 10, 2007

Have a look at this thread. Also try searching forums for 'cutting steel', there have been lots of exchanges of opinions!
Personally - (on a budget) air nibblers are good for sheet stuff, if you're not using them too often you can pick them up v cheap from places like screwfix & Northern tools. For tube/box get some ultra thin cutting discs (1mm), Weldequip (forum member) has them as do a lot of places. I believe you can get even thinner ones.
It's worth getting a good hacksaw and some bi-metal blades, they are useful and inexpensive tools.
Don't try and cut metal with a saw designed for wood - they run at much higher rpm and yes, would be dangerous!
A plasma cutter would handle all the sizes, depends on your budget.

Chris23 · Nov 10, 2007

Malcolm

Usual amateur problem. Not a lot of anything the same & repetitive, lots of different & in bursts! Definitely amateur quantities rather than industrial.

Chris

murex400 · Nov 10, 2007

A few people on here have got them rage evolution chop saws and swear by them Iron daz has one they will cut all your solid and hollow sections. or Opt for a band saw which will cut faster and be more accurate. For plate you can get a cropper or if your really flush and serious get your self a guillotine mine can go up to 8mm plate any thing bigger and it the plasma or oxy set

aametalmaster · Nov 10, 2007

Or try a cut off disc for the sheetmetal. Get the ones about 1/16" thick that run like 25,000 rpm and use it in an air grinder or get the 4" dia ones and use it with a regular electric grinder. I have an air nibbler that will do 16 ga and its great but big bucks to buy. Try a cheap 4x6 bandsaw for the tubing...Bob

Wozzaaah · Nov 10, 2007

For up to 6mm plate I use a metal cutting circular saw, mines a Clarke Contractor but evolution also do them. The best thing about them is that they leave a perfect burr-free edge, the worst is that they're quite noisy. Blades aren't too bad for the Clarke one but the evolution ones are a bit more pricey. For box section, you'd be hard pushed to beat a bandsaw. Abrasive chopsaws are fairly quick but the discs wear fairly rapidly, they're very noisy and dirty. I have 2 bandsaws and an abrasive chopsaw too

.

Drains · Nov 10, 2007

Hacksaws are good, but put in a nice new blade, and tighten it up!!

Chris23 · Nov 10, 2007

Thank you for the help.

Guess I will try with some thin blades in my grinder & buy a new hacksaw that might hold the blades better. If it doesn't work out then the other options are ready.

Chris

Hitch · Nov 11, 2007

Yup, get some good quality ultra thin discs, Reca, Kroneflex or Rhodius are top makes. They are more expensive than ones like silverline, but much nicer and last longer.
They will cut anything you want to be honest, from thin sheet upto plate.

If you have lots of staraight lines to cut in thin sheet, perhaps a cheapy air nibbler.
For the plates, the cold cut chop saws (evolution) are pretty good if you use them properly.

Chris23 · Nov 11, 2007

Hitch

Thanks for the makes. It is so much easier if I know exactly what to ask for until I have some experience of using the things.

Are there differences between the different makes of bi-metal hacksaw blades? If so then please suggest some good ones.

Chris

oddball90 · Nov 11, 2007

Sandvik

Welderpaul · Nov 11, 2007

Eclipse

oddball90 · Nov 11, 2007

Also depends on 'tpi'

Chris23 · Nov 11, 2007

Sandvik & Eclipse. Wow makes that I have actually heard of!

Thanks

Chris

Welderpaul · Nov 11, 2007

The thinner the metal you are cutting, the more TPI (teeth per inch) you need on the blade to produce a neat, smooth cut.

Hitch · Nov 11, 2007

Bahco (Sandvick) bi metal blades are spot on. The orange and blue ones

irondarren · Nov 11, 2007

think its something like 3 teeth in contact with the work piece on steel (might be wrong), so if you are cutting 6mm thick steel then 12 tpi would be fine, but if 4mm then 18tpi would be better.

stay clear of cheap chinese ones the teeth fall off

Ratty · Nov 11, 2007

Hitch said:
Bahco (Sandvick) bi metal blades are spot on. The orange and blue ones

Just the ones I got in homebase end of line sale - 2 for a quid.

irondarren said:
think its something like 3 teeth in contact with the work piece on steel (might be wrong), so if you are cutting 6mm thick steel then 12 tpi would be fine, but if 4mm then 18tpi would be better.

That's interesting - I'd never thought about the reason for more or less teeth other than more teeth, smoother/finer cut, less teeth quick but rough, sort of thing.

Rusty · Nov 11, 2007

For cutting sheet metal up to 1mm these are great.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-TTD-POWER...ryZ12578QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
The ones I use were made by wolf ( when they made quality tools

Best way to cut steel?

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