Best way to finish out the edge of my welding table

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I have a 2x4 foot 1/2in plate of AR steel that was cut with a torch, the cut is straight but it has the little ripples from the cutting torch. What I would like to do is make the edge as smooth as possible. I have hit it with a 4" grinding wheel and that seems to do a OK job but I was wondering if I could take a hand held belt sander with course sandpaper and have any better luck keeping a true as possible edge.Any other ideas will be great.
Reply:id take a framing square and extend a line from both factory edges, so you know the flame cut side is a true 90.  Then take the grinder, a 9" would be better than a 4" but use what you have and grind to the line you drew.  It will take awhile...I would think the belt would get torn up on a belt sander, id stick with an angle grinder.  Start with the standard grinding wheel, finish it off with a flap disc for a nice smooth finish.
Reply:Just my opinion, but i would sell the AR plate and probably wind up with enough money to buy a much larger sheet of mild steel plate. lol    I definitely don't think I would make a table out of it.  Just for the record, that could be as much as a $400 piece of plate depending on what AR it is.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:pardon my english but what the AR steel is ? High tensile steel? Mmmm... Thank in advance... I have a different term in different language in a different country...Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:Westlawn, "AR" plate is "abrasion resistant"  It is used in high wear parts like wear strips on loader buckets and such.  Even used for Armor plating.  I priced a 4x8 sheet of 1/2" AR 500 last week and it was right at $1500 American dollars...I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Cool... ... would be nice for a welding table...Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:Westlawn - AR = Abrasion resistent. Commonly used for direct contact with rocks and sand, digging buckets, dump truck floors, etc.737Mechanic- I wonder how rough the cut is now? An "A" man using a torch guide, or a portable track guided torch, could clean the edge up to nearly machine quality. Ditto for plasma. But I don't know were to send you for the cut. I suppose if you need welding and grinding  practice, you could build the lowest deep grooves up, and work the edge with a 9" grinder.If the plate is not part of a bench yet, Hammack has a good point.I was thinking, (I know, with what?) They used to say the streets in America are paved with gold. Now when I see acres off 1" plate, including AR,  laying all over city streets, I realize it's sort of true!  edit - Sorry, didn't see the previous AR answer before posting. Didn't mean to shoot him twice!Last edited by denrep; 05-25-2008 at 09:06 AM.
Reply:edit - Sorry, didn't see the previous AR answer before posting. Didn't mean to shoot him twice!no problem... u buy the beer...AR- il be good against accident hammering and stuff like that... I woule go for a table with that then selling it and spend on a cheaper table... at least it would be a nice topic in a welder bar...Unit in my fab shop dept:my good hand and team that trust me...A lone welder make art... a village full of welder make Miracles...
Reply:Just make sure to hold the grinding wheel flat to the surface you are cleaning, that way it takes down the 'high spots'.The belt sander would work if you can find some belts that will hold up, regular belts for wood won't last.