Thoughts on Dry Cut Circular Saws

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I'm building a smoker from a propane tank with a 5/16" thick wall.  I'm about ready to cut the main cooking chamber door in the tank - the cutout will be 32" long x 22" deep.  My original plan was to make this cut with my plasma cutter, but if I can make good straight and square cuts with another method that reduces the chance of warping, I'm open to trying it.  I've heard of a few smoker fabricators who use a metal cutting circular saw...maybe similar to this one:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08287HSJL...v_ov_lig_dp_itWho has experience with these saws?  How well do they cut?  Am I concerned about warpage with my plasma cutter for nothing?  Any experienced insight would be appreciated.RedGod bless our military men and women and their families!  To all our veterans and active duty military...Thank You For Your Service!Vulcan MigMax 215Hobart Handler 210PrimeWeld Cut50D
Reply:Those saws and the 8 inch Milwaukee versions work great on flat sheet or plate. I have used mine to cut slots in scuba tanks and cylinders that have an open bottom.  I would not use a saw like that to make a plunge cut to start your cutout in metal. Plasma will not introduce much heat into the part when used properly.  Changes in shape are most likely going to be because there was stress contained in the material during the forming process. You removed a chunk of material so the remaining sections have room to move. Sent from my SM-G996U using TapatalkMillermatic 252 MIGMiller Dynasty 200DX TIGMiller Spectrum 625 PlasmaAltas 12x36 Metal LatheBridgeport Milling Machinewww.psacustomcreations.com
Reply:I would use one of these. These plunge cut just fine.  https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Produc...r-Saws/6370-20Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:You already own the tool. You can throw money at it but kind of defeats the purpose of the plasma.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:Personally I would use the plasma. I have the 8" Milwaukee and it's a beast, but 5/16" is pushing it as far as blade life goes. Set up guides to drag cut and use the plasma. Warpage would be very minimal on that thick of steel.
Reply:I bet its closer to 3/16.   The saw has its place but I dont own every tool they ever invented. Be a great tool in a real active fab shop.Last edited by Sberry; 1 Day Ago at 04:40 PM.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:I bought a cheap (~$15) metal cutting carbide tipped 7 1/4" saw blade from Lowes early this summer.Well, I was amazed how nice that blade cut steel, in a cheap Metabo circular saw.I was cutting very heavy gauge siding, and a 275 gallon oil tank.The blade never showed any signs of wear,, but, I did not try to make a day of production cuts,, either.For a one-off project, that blade did a great job.I found that blade when I was shopping for a carbide tipped 7 1/4" concrete cutting blade.That blade also cut very good,, I cut more than 100 feet of concrete, 3 inches deep, and never wore out the blade.Previously, I had used abrasive wheels in the saw,, those wheels wore out in no time.I also used a diamond blade in the saw,, that did well also. the diamond was somehow impregnated into the blade. (cutting stone, and concrete)We are lucky, around here, concrete is made with broken limestone "stones", rather than pebbles, that are incredibly hard, that are used in other places.The limestone is relatively soft,, you can drill our concrete with a carbide tipped drill in a non-hammer type drill.
Reply:Appreciate the responses.  If I don’t need to be concerned about heat distortion, my plasma cutter is certainly my preferred tool for this cut.  I understand it’s possible the door could spring anyway if the steel in this tank is under stress…just wanted to eliminate variables like heat distortion.  I really don’t want to fight a warped door. Thanks for the advice!RedGod bless our military men and women and their families!  To all our veterans and active duty military...Thank You For Your Service!Vulcan MigMax 215Hobart Handler 210PrimeWeld Cut50D
Reply:

Originally Posted by SeenRed

Am I concerned about warpage with my plasma cutter for nothing?  Any experienced insight would be appreciated.Red
Reply:Eye protection and long sleeve are highly recommended.Metal cutting circular saws are nice to have. Check blade arbor size, make sure it is available locally or have spare on hand.  I have a steel max and I cannot recall ever having the proper fitting blade.  The few grill I built,  you don not fully cut the door out until after you frame and hinge it,  then zip wheel it.  But I did not have a plasma cutter back then.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Oscar

How many amps and volts does your plasma cutter produce at the arc?
Reply:

Originally Posted by tapwelder

Eye protection and long sleeve are highly recommended.Metal cutting circular saws are nice to have. Check blade arbor size, make sure it is available locally or have spare on hand.  I have a steel max and I cannot recall ever having the proper fitting blade.  The few grill I built,  you don not fully cut the door out until after you frame and hinge it,  then zip wheel it.  But I did not have a plasma cutter back then.
Reply:More potential for springing could come from over tacking tacking the frame. But you can tune with heat if needed.  You will be alright, don’t let the arc hypnotize you and convince you to weld full out.  I did it on a spiral stair deck and “I knew better”,  it held an inch of water.
Reply:

Originally Posted by tapwelder

More potential for springing could come from over tacking tacking the frame. But you can tune with heat if needed.  You will be alright, don’t let the arc hypnotize you and convince you to weld full out.  I did it on a spiral stair deck and “I knew better”,  it held an inch of water.
Reply:

Originally Posted by SeenRed

It’s a cheapo Primeweld 50A machine.  The book claims that on 220V the output amperage is 40A and the output voltage is 96V.
Reply:

Originally Posted by Oscar

That is plenty to quickly slice through 5/16" thick steel.  Make sure the consumables are good, dial in the right cutting speed and air pressure and go to town on it.  I wouldn't even have thought twice.
Reply:I just don't want to do battle with a warped door, which adds time, labor, and frustration to a smoker build.
Reply:I vote plasma as well.  As mentioned use new consumables and dial in the cutter on some scrap to get a grip on travel speed, stand off etc.  Use some straight edge material wrapped around the chamber as a guide to rest the nozzle / tip against while cutting for clean accurate cut lines.  Don’t rush it and post some pics of the project.Lincoln, ESAB, Thermal Dynamics, Victor, Miller, Dewalt, Makita, Kalamzoo.  Hand tools, power tools, welding and cutting tools.
Reply:

Originally Posted by N2 Welding

I vote plasma as well.  As mentioned use new consumables and dial in the cutter on some scrap to get a grip on travel speed, stand off etc.  Use some straight edge material wrapped around the chamber as a guide to rest the nozzle / tip against while cutting for clean accurate cut lines.  Don’t rush it and post some pics of the project.
Reply:these types of saws, whether a chop saw or the style that you showed work great and i love them. very fast and clean cuts.  however for this application probably not the best option. other people have already cleared that part up lol
Reply:I saw the tv show, Franklin the BBQ guy built a couple in the garage with a Miller 212 and 4 1/2 grinder and a few wheels.www.urkafarms.com
Reply:

Originally Posted by SeenRed

I'm building a smoker from a propane tank with a 5/16" thick wall.  I'm about ready to cut the main cooking chamber door in the tank - the cutout will be 32" long x 22" deep.  My original plan was to make this cut with my plasma cutter, but if I can make good straight and square cuts with another method that reduces the chance of warping, I'm open to trying it.  I've heard of a few smoker fabricators who use a metal cutting circular saw...maybe similar to this one:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08287HSJL...v_ov_lig_dp_itWho has experience with these saws?  How well do they cut?  Am I concerned about warpage with my plasma cutter for nothing?  Any experienced insight would be appreciated.Red
Reply:

Originally Posted by MinnesotaDave

For this build, I cut all the 1/4" sheets with an old skilsaw - mounted a metal cutting (toothed) blade on it. Cut really nice.

https://weldingweb.com/vbb/threads/7...with-gun-mount