Cutting 1/2" plate

[dkroth]

Dennis,

Unless you're getting the Makita look for a used framing saw on CL or at a garage sale. $30-$50 will get you a brand name 7.5" blade from Amazon. Used saws start at $5.

 

[Fluxion]

I have been trying to get a pic of the cut I made on some 1/2" plate with my Rage1 saw but I can't get a decent pic with my iPhone to show the surface finish. My wife has my DSLR in St. Louis visiting her parents but I don't have a macro lense anyway. I have a digital point and shoot around here somewhere that does decent macro shots but I can't find it.

Anyway, here it is.

 

[gte718p]

POS, POS, POS... I had the bigger HF "Metal Cutting Saw"...It was BRAND new and it burnt out making the first 4' long cut thru my plate. I started the 60" long cut after and it was officially dead...I wanted to get it done so I checked the RPM ratings on my good LENOX metal cutting blade and it was perfectly fine to run in my "normal" Milwaukee circular saw...I could have saved money and not wasted my time on the HF, my Milwaukee cut that sheet just as easy as cutting 3/4" MDF... Left a BEAUTIFUL, better then factory edge.

Without a doubt, metal cutting blade and a big boy circular saw is no issue.

Then the HF quality assurance fairy was not kind to you. I've been using the metal cutting circular saw for almost 5 years. I've done two work benches, multiple carts, bumpers, sliders, skid plates for my two off-road vehicles and a ton of tube work. I think I paid $50 something with the coupon. I've only broken the plasma cutter out once since I've owned it. Money well spent.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Then the HF quality assurance fairy was not kind to you. I've been using the metal cutting circular saw for almost 5 years. I've done two work benches, multiple carts, bumpers, sliders, skid plates for my two off-road vehicles and a ton of tube work. I think I paid $50 something with the coupon. I've only broken the plasma cutter out once since I've owned it. Money well spent.

That's the way it goes with HF power tools...some guys can buy the 9.99 grinder and still be using it 20 years later swearing its better then a Metabo, others get one that dies & fries before you wear out the first grinding wheel. I have a HF 7" polisher I bought to abuse for a single job...I've been beating on it without mercy for years now, still going.

My Milwaukee circ saw powered right thru MUCH easier then the HF right off the bat...Biggest difference from my point of view is in chip retention, the metal saws retain & control chips very well...obviously the normal circ saws don't even try to

If I find a Milwaukee Circ saw cheap at a garage sale or something I'll buy it as a 2nd unit to dedicate to metal cutting...

To those wondering about blades...heres what I swear by...and yes there is a difference between Ferrous & Non-Ferrous blades to those wanting to cut Aluminum plate..

http://www.amazon.com/Tools-Circular-Thin-Steel-Cutting-21883TS714068CT/dp/B001QL13N0/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1431521862&sr=8-13&keywords=lenox+metal+cutting+blade
http://www.amazon.com/Tools-Circular-Steel-Cutting-4-inch-21881ST714040CT/dp/B002910FCQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1431521962&sr=8-2&keywords=lenox+7+1%2F4+metal+cutting+blade

 

[jimcolt]

Here is a picture of 1/2" cutting using a 45 amp Hypertherm air plasma. Cost per foot of cut on 1/2" steel....which includes electricity, compressed air and consumables for the torch is less than 5 cents per foot (is more with other plasma cutters, Hypertherm typically cuts at the lowest cost), cut speed is around 30 inches per minute. The holes were cut with the plasma as well....these parts cut on a small 4 x 4 cnc machine. You can cut almost as well by hand if you guide the torch along a straightedge. The torch can rest right on the material. There is not a cheaper way to contour cut steel than with an air plasma cutter.

If you brought your 5' length of 1/2" steel to my shop I would cut through the 5' in 2 minutes and would charge you less than $5. Unfortunately NH is quite a drive, but there are plenty of shops in the Phoenix area with plasma cutters.

Jim Colt

 

[DpSyChO]

This is a pic of the bumper before I cut and finished the ends.



I'll look and see if I have anything laying around thicker than 1/2" I can cut tomorrow and take a better pic.

Ahhhhh fellow Samurai owner...........

 

[ChevyEFI]

Well, I made a run to HF last week to get blades in hopes of junking out my circ. saw.

But they had the 7 & 1/4" metal cutting saw in the discontinued pile. When I had previously looked, it wasn't listed on their site. So I bought one.

It comes with a blade that is, I believe, the same as their $19.99 metal cutting blade. It got me about 4' into things. Oh, and I decided to cut it in half, lengthwise. So I'm off to get another blade.

Speaking of the size, I was incorrect. 63" x 73.5" 3/8" with a little notch at a corner; about 7"x3".

 

[TimeWarpF100]

Well, I made a run to HF last week to get blades in hopes of junking out my circ. saw.

But they had the 7 & 1/4" metal cutting saw in the discontinued pile. When I had previously looked, it wasn't listed on their site. So I bought one.

It comes with a blade that is, I believe, the same as their $19.99 metal cutting blade. It got me about 4' into things. Oh, and I decided to cut it in half, lengthwise. So I'm off to get another blade.

Speaking of the size, I was incorrect. 63" x 73.5" 3/8" with a little notch at a corner; about 7"x3".

If need be I can cut that for you. I owe you one for bailing me out on the clutch issue. N/C of course!

 

[TimeWarpF100]

Here is a picture of 1/2" cutting using a 45 amp Hypertherm air plasma. Cost per foot of cut on 1/2" steel....which includes electricity, compressed air and consumables for the torch is less than 5 cents per foot (is more with other plasma cutters, Hypertherm typically cuts at the lowest cost), cut speed is around 30 inches per minute. The holes were cut with the plasma as well....these parts cut on a small 4 x 4 cnc machine. You can cut almost as well by hand if you guide the torch along a straightedge. The torch can rest right on the material. There is not a cheaper way to contour cut steel than with an air plasma cutter.

If you brought your 5' length of 1/2" steel to my shop I would cut through the 5' in 2 minutes and would charge you less than $5. Unfortunately NH is quite a drive, but there are plenty of shops in the Phoenix area with plasma cutters.

Jim Colt

Yup! One not too far away . .