Manual magnetic oxy acetylene straight line cutting track

[Feet 'n Inches]

For cutting shorter chunks of thick steel, I used a piece of 50 x 50 x 6 angle with a Victor torch and a bored out plate nozzle that could handle thicker steel. Just a case of resting the nozzle's locking nut on the top edge of the angle and keeping the speed of travel as consistent as possible. Provided the nozzle was clean, the profile of the cut was almost as good as what the Pug could produce.

 

[Paul.]

I might have posted this before, but for anyone who doesn't know what a track cutter does, here is the BOC Pug doing its thing, this photo from a place I worked at in the 1980's

 

[Brad93]

Here is a Victor Track Cutter cutting a 30° Bevel

 

[Feet 'n Inches]

I might have posted this before, but for anyone who doesn't know what a track cutter does, here is the BOC Pug doing its thing, this photo from a place I worked at in the 1980's

View attachment 249907

Seeing that pic takes me back. It also shows the drawback of such tools - making sure the hoses didn't catch on the edge of the plate and being careful when lifting them clear to make sure that you didn't set the machine into a wobble or shunt it too far forward.

 

[Paul.]

I used to like flame cutting, something very satisfying about it, we also had an old BOC profiler, the type that used a sheet metal pattern, the patterns had to be hand made 6mm all round smaller than you actually wanted the job to turn out to allow for the diameter of the magnetic drive roller / follower, proper work...

 

[Munkul]

We still use ours quite a lot - including for circles. Take off one of the wheels, screw down the centre wheel, and attach to a rod and magnetic centre swivel

I'm still amazed sometimes at the quality of cut it can produce.

 

[Brad93]

We still use ours quite a lot - including for circles. Take off one of the wheels, screw down the centre wheel, and attach to a rod and magnetic centre swivel

I'm still amazed sometimes at the quality of cut it can produce.

Mine does circles but I’ve never had to use it yet

 

[Agroshield]

I used to like flame cutting... proper work...

Was this you?

http://www.dieselduck.info/historical/01 diesel engine/Doxford/works.htm

 

[Geoffm]

I had a track cutter given to me with a broken torch. When I get a round tuit, I will make a mounting for the plasma torch.
There are videos on YouTube of home made ones, powered by a variable speed drill turning a threaded rod leads crew. Looked simple to make.

 

[Munkul]

a round tuit

Can you get me some while you're in the shop? I need some of those too!

 

[Mikes]

I had a track cutter given to me with a broken torch. When I get a round tuit, I will make a mounting for the plasma torch.
There are videos on YouTube of home made ones, powered by a variable speed drill turning a threaded rod leads crew. Looked simple to make.

I've seen the one that's taken in Dubai. A bit Heath Robinson but gave a surprisingly good cut. A good source of ideas.