Squaring off cuts

[countryss]

How do you guys go about squaring off cuts on lets say square tubing or angle iron? I have an oscillating spindle sander bench grinder and angle grinder. I would love to have a 12" disc sander but not in the budget.

 

[gte718p]

Built one based on these. When you can't afford, build.

http://www.tannewitz.com/t_disk_sanders.asp

 

[rsanter]

first step, cut it as square as you can
second, use a hand held grinder to true it up a little if needed

how square do you need it?
if I needed it perfect I would put it on my mill

bob

 

[Larwyn]

My cheap little horizontal/vertical bandsaw cuts plenty square enough for my purposes.

The bench grinder, if you keep the wheel dressed, is fine for squaring up cuts on smaller bits of metal. A handheld grinder and/or a file will square up the ends of longer work pieces just fine.

 

[gorilla]

I usually use my belt sander or my milling machine. Quite often when working in the field I've used a square to scribe a line and then ground to the line.

 

[A_Pmech]

I cut it square to begin with.

 

[NASTYZEN]

I cut it square to begin with.

Usually a good thing to start this way.

Using a square to scribe a square line to grind to, works well when you have too.

 

[zmotorsports]

I use my 12" disc sander.

Prior to owning that I would scribe my line and cut it just outside the line and grind flat to the line with hand held grinder.

My 12" disc sander is probably one of the most (if not most) used tool when fabricating. Seems like there is always a rough edge that needs deburring or squaring off.

Mike.

 

[lukemonster]

one word- BANDSAW

 

[gorilla]

Not all band saws cut square, dull blades often don't cut square. The best one word solution would be a cold saw.

 

[98TJ]

Chop saw?

 

[John85259]

I have a Dake cold saw. It's awesome. Perfectly square cuts every time, done quickly. Cold saw= money well spent. Not cheap, but every time I walk past it I smile. If I went to a psychiatrist to have him make me feel that good it would cost a lot more than the cold saw. Another benefit is that when I get tired of it I can always sell it and get some money back. Can't do that with psychotherapy.

I'd rather invest in tools than help send a psychiatrists kid to Harvard.

 

[elevator joe]

Ditto on the cold saw they're awsome

 

[Karnage]

Anyone heard of a file?

 

[SWT Racing]

Usually a good thing to start this way.

Using a square to scribe a square line to grind to, works well when you have too.

I do the same thing at home when I don't have access to all the tools we have at work.

You might try scribing the line before you cut as a guide (for your saw, chisel, hammer, torch, cussing, etc.)

PSA: If you are using a combination or carpenters square, check it for squareness. Many times, they are slightly off since most of the ones that are available at the big box stores are for wood. Sometimes, you get lucky and get one that is out of square and have markings that are slightly offset from one side to the other. This makes it really fun when centering things up on a chassis surface plate.

 

[SWT Racing]

Anyone heard of a file?

I will use a file as well to make sure the end is flat (and deburred), after I've made the cut square.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Dry cut saw makes clean square cuts, too.

Even my portaband can do it pretty well now that I got a base and a miter guide for it.

But now you guys have me wanting a 12" disc sander.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Dry cut saw makes clean square cuts, too.

Even my portaband can do it pretty well now that I got a base and a miter guide for it.

But now you guys have me wanting a 12" disc sander.

Jack, you can come use mine anytime you want........

 

[countryss]

awesome. i do check for square on the chop saw but i will scribe and grind the piece now too.

 

[Larwyn]

My 12 inch disc sander lives out in my woodworking shop. I find that I use it more often out there. If the need arises, I can always move it to the garage where the real (metal) work happens...

 

[Brad54]

Spend some time truing your cutting tools, to get a straight square cut to begin with.

Cheap bandsaws are no different than expensive band saws: they need to be dialed in. Square the miter gauge, check the squarness of the head stock, and check the adjustments in the bearings and blade guides.

Check the squareness of a chop saw's blade just like the woodworking guys do with table saws. If it's out of square one way or the other, adjust and shim until it's square.

I've got an old power hacksaw in the basement that I'll restore sometime next year... I hear they're excellent for making perfectly square cuts. Not real **** compared to a cold saw, and slow as hell, but it was also only $20 and whatever I'll have in the restoration.

-Brad

 

[tarbellb]

with the tools you have now- scribe a line, grind till your square. not fun, not fast, but thats what i had to do.

save up some money and get a this:
Evolution Tools 14" metal saw
http://www.medfordtools.com/evolution/evo355.html

or the equivalent Milwaukee 14" metal saw.

$400 initial investment, well worth it.

i would NOT get a abrasive saw again. the metal saw (metal blade, slower RPM) make much cleaner, faster, repeatable cuts.

 

[iamironman]

Dry cut saw makes clean square cuts, too.

Even my portaband can do it pretty well now that I got a base and a miter guide for it.

But now you guys have me wanting a 12" disc sander.

Dang, Jack!

You went all out on that set up didn't you? Nice!

I'll jump on the cold saw band wagon, too. After that dry cut and those power hack saws are pretty accurate. Then a good band saw do pretty well. As already said spend a little time to dial in whatever you have.

As far as abrasive chop saws go, you can have them. I don't even own one and never miss them. Loud, messy, and very inaccurate. (Of course, ymmv.)

 

[larry4406]

Jack - please to explain the sweet portaband setup.

 

[240sxguy]

I pm'ed him to ask about it. Its this; http://www.swagoffroad.com/Porta_band_Product.html

Jack, hope you don't mind me interjecting.

Evan

 

[mjb]

I use a guide squared to the flat platen on my belt grinder. Goes really fast with a 36 grit belt.

 

[bad_idea]

what do you need the cut that accurate for? i find a grinder or portaband cuts square enough (when operated with skill) for welding.

 

[Larwyn]

what do you need the cut that accurate for? i find a grinder or portaband cuts square enough (when operated with skill) for welding.

Exactly!

 

[ElectroLight]

I scribe a line with a square or protractor and cut on the band saw. Any deburr/cleanup required is done on a cheap Craftsman disk/belt sander.