Torch circle cutter

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If any one needs to build a circle cutter this is a good one. I built it about 25 yrs. ago. I copied one an old weldor had and of course had to make a few improvements as we all do. This one fits a Victor but can be built to fit a Smith. Every thing is stainless except the rod. It was chromed when I built it. I have another rod that screws to this one for bigger circles.This round was cut from 1/2" plate. I used a 000 tip, 5#A and 35#O for the cut. Attached Images
Reply:I wish I had something like that.I'm still trying to follow the line, then finishing up with a cone stone in the grinder"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Hello Bob, looks like a very functional circle burner. Like you, I built a circle burner based on one that I had seen used by another fitter at the beginning of my career. I have done a number of them since then and have made different versions to fit different brands of torches and also plasma torches. I do prefer the style you have shown as I feel that there is less "shake" between the torch and the cutting attachment. Many of the commercially availible ones have too much play in them for me. Along with the cutting attachment I often use a rotary burning table to make things simpler. Essentially the rotary burning table is simply a burning grid that is attached to a spindle that can be rotated. You can place your part on the table grid, place the pivot point of the burning attachment into the punchmark for the circles center and go to cutting. Great of you to put this out here for others to see. I have included a couple of pictures of one of mine. Best regards, Allan Attached Imagesaevald
Reply:Wow Allan, that is a circle cutter with style. It has a certain artistic look to it. I like it.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammI wish I had something like that.I'm still trying to follow the line, then finishing up with a cone stone in the grinder
Reply:very nice cutting. i used to work with a guy who had a little motorized deal torch which is supposed to be used for cutting circles from what he told me. he never cut any circles but he cut everything else with it.....bevels straight cuts copes you name it and man could he cut like a machine. i tried it once and man it was hard! im a cut then grind forever kinda guy haha!
Reply:Hello El_Lloydeo, was that machine by chance a "Koike Aaronson"? Many years ago I worked for a company that had a machine as you described. It could be "steered" to make cuts by pointing it in the direction you wanted to cut and had drive wheels that rested on the material you were cutting and also had a rheostat to control the speed. It also had an attachment for cutting circles that made an adjustable arm with a pin rotate at an adjustable speed to cut a range of different diameter circles. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Originally Posted by aevaldHello El_Lloydeo, was that machine by chance a "Koike Aaronson"? Many years ago I worked for a company that had a machine as you described. It could be "steered" to make cuts by pointing it in the direction you wanted to cut and had drive wheels that rested on the material you were cutting and also had a rheostat to control the speed. It also had an attachment for cutting circles that made an adjustable arm with a pin rotate at an adjustable speed to cut a range of different diameter circles. Best regards, Allan
Reply:Hello Bob, I don't know whether you use anything like this or not, but whenever I burn circular pieces that I can rotate(if they are small enough) I try to use a table that spins. Here is an example. Best regards, Allan Attached Imagesaevald
Reply:Here is a simple oneA butterfly without wings, is just an ugly bug
Reply:It's a matter of user preference, but I prefer MM's style, where the torch head can rotate in the collet. For me it makes it easier to pass the torch and hose around the circle.Good Luck
Reply:Hello denrep, I have used those as well and there are many applications where they are much better suited to the purpose. For example; if you need to burn holes inside the web of a beam they are one of the only types that will work as they have the ability to work within the inside of the flanges of the beam. There are many instances where that sort of clearance issue can dictate their use. Personal preference is certainly a determining factor for which type an individual likes to use. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Aevald, One of the guys that used to work for me had something similar, made on an old trailer spindle. I built one similar to MM's several years ago and it worked well for cutting a bunch of circles but took too long to adjust just for cutting one or two.  I always keep going to the simple one. Simple mind maybe.
Reply:Hello Bob, completely understand that logic. I guess that's part of the challenge of fabrication and welding in general. Having the wisdom to know when a particular choice will yield the most timely and reasonable result. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Originally Posted by Magnetic MechanicHere is a simple one
Reply:Hello Oasis, looks like that worked pretty good for you. You're right about the internet and the various forums, a host of information out there if you're willing to take the time to do a bit of looking. Horray for your ingenuity and willingness to get after it, looks as if the results came out pretty good. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:I needed to cut 1 inch holes in 1/4. This is what I came up with for plazma.VernLast edited by Vern2; 01-10-2010 at 08:50 AM.
Reply:I have my small one that fits my inline Victor and I love itAnd I just made this big one for any other torch, it has a set screw so you can swing the whole shebang around or let it swing, all SS.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Pay no attention to the PBR can in the back of my truck, it was planted there I swearDisclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Wow Tozzi, thats a big circle cutter. Mine is made out of a roller bar out of an old copier. I have two bars and can screw them together to cut up to 4' 2". But yours is bigger than mine, maybe genetics.
Reply:I had to make some 28" and 36" test flanges(frying pans, pancakes) and the little cutter wouldn't do so I whipped the big one up from stuff laying around.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Mine.....Mike Attached Images
Reply:Here is mine, I made it out of an electrical contector. I do plan on making a larger one. I always I thought this was clever, very similar to mrmikeys. Mrmikey, id becareful not to tighten urs down soo hard as i noticed in ur pic, I fear if i did that it would break the seal. Attached ImagesLast edited by Doug247; 01-19-2010 at 02:18 AM.Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:...becareful not to tighten urs down soo hard as....
Reply:This is a really useful thread, I think making a circle cutter guide is my next project. Anyone ever tried using a ring magnet instead of drilling a hole in the center for the guide to pivot on? I'm more interested in the cutout than the hole so it would be nice to not have a hole that needed to be welded up...... or drilled to begin with. I'm pretty sure there are magnets that would have the holding power to hold the torch guide in place, just not sure how they will do with the heat...... more of an issue with small circles or thicker plate I would guess. Here's a pic of what I'm talking about for a magnet. Attached ImagesHH 187Miller Bluestar1EAHP AlphaTig 200XOur plasma at work came with a magnet but no one ever used it, kinda hard to on stainless or aluminum GBG.You'd have to use a rare earth magnet I'd think to get the holding power. I think eventually the heat would screw it up.You don't have to drill  a hole, just a centerdab will be enough for the point to register in.....Mike
Reply:I've used one of those magnetic grounds before. Take the nut off the top and used a big washer with a nut welded to the side of it. It would only be for circles over about 5" though.
Reply:no more freehand circles for me.. im going to make one soon .thanks for the info
Reply:HIHere is a pattern cutter I build years ago uses wooden patterns to trace circles are easy to size and trace. check out the video.[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdhEtUS_hew[/ame]have funTom
Reply:Tom. Is that a Pantograph type pattern cutter, if so do you use 1:1 SCALE OR DO YOU SCALE IT UPARh caps
Reply:Tom. I just realised who you are, in that I've watched some of your videos before. I've always been impressed.
Reply:got mine built here is a pic
Reply:HI Shox DocThanks As to the pattern cutter I use a direct copy using a styles following a pattern.The pattern is just out of the video.  I want to make it a magnetic tracer type but just have not had the time.  right now it use a drimmel tool to roll around the pattern and I hold a finger on it to hold the tool to the wood pattern.Have funTom
Reply:Thanks Tom. Have you a picture you can post up
Reply:HI DocI have a PDF file on the construction but this site cannot handle the 5M. size.Email me at [email protected] and I will send it to you.have funtom
Reply:Cheers, email sent TomI've also sent you a PM
Reply:I put this together the other day, nothing fancy, just free and quick. It's reversible and will go up to a 14 inch circle.
Reply:Here is my circle cutter I made last month.  I like to be able to fine tune the radius.  With the threaded pivot point I can accurately move the radius 1/16". Attached Images
Reply:To get a better cut on those arcs where you need to blow through to start, start the cut inside the piece that's waste and slowly slide the pivot pin forward until the pivot pin slips into the punch hole and then start your arc. You won't have those blow outs in your otherwise perfect arc. Just a suggestion.
Reply:Great suggestion Bob, Thanks
Reply:i made one.. never used it.. still sittin in my box at the shop.. too much time and effort for me..if you're not livin on the edge, you're takin up too much room..
Reply:tlgmp5, I forgot to mention, that is the baddest *** circle cutter I've ever seen. It's really a good idea and as finely made as any tool. You did an excellent job on it.
Reply:Thanks for the kind words Bob.
Reply:Hi tlgmp5Your circle cutter shows the greatness of a site like this.One is the exchange of ideas/finished work of people you would never meet.Two is the joy that these people have making tools the are very neat and the willingness to share them.My project box is full of interesting tools found here and at other sites. Some I made and some I may never make but at least I have them stored to see if I want to make them.Some of the simplest ideas make the slickest tool.ThanksTom
Reply:Tom,I agree.  Lots of great ideas on these sites!Travis
Reply:Here is my version of one. Attached ImagesDarwinian evolution used to fix stupid. Now that humans have mostly removed themselves from the process of natural selection the survival rate of idiots has skyrocketed.