Metal cutting?

C

celticpride2133

Joined
Jan 30, 2012
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I'm looking to get my shop set up for some metal work. I'm trying to figure out what my cost will be for me to get an oxy acetylene torch set up will be with 2 full tanks? or do you guys have any other suggestions for cutting options that may be a bit cheaper but still similar in efficiency? thanks
 
$500 will do it.

You're not planning on using OA for cutting out knife blanks are you?
 
Plasma cutter is a better option, conserves steel.

you can use OA for knives but it leaves a lot to grind off.

an angle grinder works good also.
 
I agree around 500 sounds right for an OA setup. If it's for cutting blanks I just used a porta-band for a blank for the first time and wow! I cut this out in 5 mins -
WP_20130529_001_zpsdeee8f2c.jpg


Just clamp the porta-band in a vise and make a few relief cuts and you're set :)
 
A dedicated metal-cutting bandsaw is what you need.
There are two inexpensive options: a mounted portaband-type, or the Harbor Freight/Grizzly 4 X 6" horizontal/vertical saw.
You can't use a wood cutting bandsaw.
 
An OA torch works by burning the steel. Used to cut high carbon it leaves an area around the cut that has the carbon burned out of it and will need to be ground away. A Plasma cutter does much the same thing only using a plasma arc to super heat the metal and a stream of air to burn and blow the steel out of the way. Still has a carbon effected zone though some what smaller if used well. I have several OA torch set ups and have considered a small plasma cutter but, would continue to use a band saw to cut my knife steel. Mostly I use a mounted portaband and rarely my bigger band saw.
 
OA is hugely more expensive (at least in the UK), far more wasteful and less safe than other gas torches such as MAPP, Propane etc. If you're going to cut using other methods, bandsaw, slitting disk, laser, water jet etc. then I would recommend revising your plans for other gas uses.
 
Having spent much of my life as a professional steel fabricator of one sort or the other I will give my opinion on Mapp gas and propane in a cutting rig. Both work and propane is available everywhere. But, they are slower to preheat and its easier to over run your cut, harder to light and adjust, the tips are much more expensive and more difficult to clean. I have a few laying around in my pile and at times use propane, but, prefer acetylene by far. The only danger is over pressuring the system or being ignorant enough to run the bottle laying down or the like. As far as the expense, I have no idea what it sells for in the UK, but, in the US though you can save some money on fuel cost, unless the shop does a huge amount of cutting they stick with acetylene. You will go througgh several bottles of oxegen for every bottle of acetylene.
 
I used to have a Thermal Dynamics plasma cutter in my shop. I sold it, planning to buy a bigger one, but a good deal never came along.. I got an oxy/acetylene rig instead (for $250), added a heavy duty smith cutting torch, various heads, etc. IMHO it's much more versatile for general steel fab work and tool making. I've got about $500 in it total, and I can cut any thickness steel I might want. True it doesn't do any non-ferrous work, but I never found myself needing that feature from plasma anyway. Add that the utility of various gas torch heads for forging work, rosebuds, welding tips, etc.. (Bending, upsetting, HT, differential tempering, etc.), and to me, the plasma becomes much less needed. It's got kind of this rock-star status among new-comers to metalworking, but I think it's just about the wow factor. Takes me no longer to setup for plasma than it does for oxy, and all I have to do is change out the tips on the smith head to switch to various ranges of work.

Will I add another plasma cutter to the mix? Yes, at some point I'll have a large TD or Hypertherm unit, but bear in mind that the largest single phase units have a max cut capacity of about 1 1/4", and cost $3,000 or so new, and don't lose much value on the secondary market. I'm not in any hurry, unless a job pops up that justifies it. Bandsaws, shears, cold saw, oxy rig, all rank higher in usefulness to me..
 
What impressions if any do you guys familiar with plasma have about the combo units that go for about $700-1000? I am meaning the TIG/stick/plasma jobs out there. I know a high dollar Miller will get the job done, but are there any good units for just small stuff out there?
I hardly ever cut thicker than 1/2" and if I do I have a source for that. Prefer to do smaller myself though. Welding will be just small projects, knife and tool making and such. I have a MIG welder and a stick welder and am proficient with them for most stuff alreay but would like to add TIG. I have used TIG before and am fairly comfortable with it, and would really like to have a plasma cutter around the shop. Would be nice to kill two birds with one stone.
 
I have a chinese 3 in 1 that when working is comparable to the real deal. I had to send it back twice in two years for warranty work though. I have a Miller Arc, and could not tell the difference in useability or arc quality (granted I'm not a professional welder.) Miller is 15 years old, and never been repaired. From what I have read, the dedicated plasma or tig are more reliable than the combo units.

If I bought again, I would buy this one: http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/multiprocess-welder.html
 
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