Is there a better tool to do this?

[antman213]

What tool/How would you go about cutting a stick of angle that is in an inside corner?
I'm helping fitout a food truck and needed to remove a section of angle in an inside corner. Obviously the rivets within the section needed to be drill out but actually cutting the angle without damaging the floor or wall was a real PITA.

Angle grinder, Osciallating Multi Tool, sawzall, carbide burr. Nothing really made good work of the situation.
I resorted to drilling multiple holes with a drill bit and breaking the piece out.

Does anyone know of a better way to go about this, or maybe a tool for the job?

Please excuse the lousy picture, the angle is actually much longer but this is the only picture I have showing it.(Its in the red circle)
The picture is looking down at the ground

 

[PCustoms]

You want to cut the "tail" off in that pic?

Oscillating multi tool seems like the only thing that would fit and not overcut.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

You realize those rivets and that angle are there for a reason right? Remove it and you will lose support in that area. What is it you are trying to do?

 

[tyyost]

I’m in the OMT with a good metal blade and some wax for lube. I’d suggest scoring the angle with a razor knife and combo square to help the blade get started. I’d cut the sides first with a putty knife behind as a stop, and then cut the center web.

 

[antman213]

You realize those rivets and that angle are there for a reason right? Remove it and you will lose support in that area. What is it you are trying to do?

I'm replacing the angle with a door frame, the frame is on all sides of the opening.

 

[antman213]

You want to cut the "tail" off in that pic?

Oscillating multi tool seems like the only thing that would fit and not overcut.

I wish I had a better picture but I'm actually cutting a mid section piece of the angle. This is just the only picture I have showing the angle.

OMT is what I tried at first but man the blades **** on those things

 

[Jim greengo]

Could you drill out the rivets an reinstall it with some stainless button head screws?
Then you could just cut off what ever you needed.

 

[PCustoms]

I wish I had a better picture but I'm actually cutting a mid section piece of the angle. This is just the only picture I have showing the angle.

OMT is what I tried at first but man the blades **** on those things

Well anything else is going to massively overcut:

Round blade, overcuts due to geometry
Reciprocating blade, overcuts due to recip action
Plasma cutter, overcuts because

 

[tyyost]

I wish I had a better picture but I'm actually cutting a mid section piece of the angle. This is just the only picture I have showing the angle.

OMT is what I tried at first but man the blades **** on those things

This is one of those cases where good blades shine, I have used Milwaukee/Imperial and DeWalt metal cutting blades for similar work in Al or cutting nails and bolts in assembled projects. This is one of the places where buying a good bimetal blade with metal cutting teeth pays off.

 

[HalfTonTom]

I'm replacing the angle with a door frame, the frame is on all sides of the opening.

It might be easier to adapt the door frame to the angle rather than wrestling with cutting the angle.

 

[G-ManBart]

I would probably try one of the larger cutoff wheels on a Dremel tool...I think they make them up to something like 1-1/4 or so then switch to a smaller cutoff wheel as you get near the center to minimize the mount it overcuts. They make similar cutoff wheels for die grinders as well...gotta be careful with them, but they do have their place.

 

[Honch]

Slip a metal putty knife or a piece of .016 stainless between the structure you want to cut and what you want to protect. Use the fluted side of a 1/8" pencil router in a high speed to cut the stiffener.



This is a method utilized frequently to remove damaged aluminum structure (stringers and frames) in commercial aircraft.

 

[antman213]

This was the job in question, I had to cut the angle as well as some other members without cutting into the sheet metal. It worked out but I need to invent a better way lol

 

[slowtwitch73]

Cold chisel?

 

[Southernbuild]

I'd try a Dremel with cut off wheels.

 

[tarbellb]

OMT and the best blades you can find ie $20/ea Fein or some other reputable carbide tipped

Or the die grinder, also w best hss or carbide bit you can find

(maybe a Dremel with lots LOTS of expensive little disc, but I detest those little craft tool turds)

It's a **** job, what you did is the best low cost method. the other methods are just a little faster and cleaner

 

[G-ManBart]

(maybe a Dremel with lots LOTS of expensive little disc, but I detest those little craft tool turds)

There are slightly larger, far more durable discs for rotary tools than the little ones commonly seen. Some are reinforced fiber and stand up pretty well...should easily handle a job like this without exploding time and again.