Very basic cutting questions....and more.

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Hey all, What do you guys suggest for noobs as far as cutting goes?  I have angle grinder, miter saw, jigsaw, sawsall, and air cutoff tools, but dont know which is best for cutting steel.I assume it depends on what your cutting?  thickness, etc?  If I wanted to cut angle iron or tubing, I would think a metal cutting blade in the miter saw would be best...yes or no?If I wanted to cut a plate though, Id like to use something like a circular saw.  I ask cuz I am starting on my table soon and Im gonna need to make some cuts.  I picked up some drops and they are not exact.  Id rather pick up more tools/equipment to play with than pay to have someone else cut it....lol.   Also, there is a guy by me who has about 20 1/4" plates of different sizes sitting in his garage that he wants to get rid of.  They are cut up all choppy, but range from 6'x4' to 3'x3' and everything in between.  Using a weight calculator, I came up with about 1300lbs.  I have absolutely no idea what I would do with them, but he said he would give all to me for $500.  I think i could talk him down to $400 though.  What do u think?Would I go broke in cutting wheels just straightening them out though?  Im new at all this as you can tell, but everyone here has been great, so I figured I would ask what you all think.Also, I picked up drops for table and cart.  Table is gonna be small, due to lack of space.  Got a 36"x20" 3/8 plate for top.  Also 42x20 10ga for shelf, 12x56 and 24x24 12ga (for cart and other stuff), and also 4'x4' sheets of 18 and 20 ga (to practice auto sheet metal).  Came out to 140lbs and 2 4x4 sheets for $230.  I feel like that is alot to pay, but is that where its at right now?  What are you guys paying per lb for drops?  dont want to sound like a chepaskate, just want to get a handle on this so I can move forward without feeling like Im getting taken for being a noob...Thanks for the help
Reply:For cutting ga material I use a recipocating saw with metal blades, I mark my line to follow then go.  For heaver material I have a OA cutting torch that has been my go to for 40 years.  If I didn't already have OA I would be trying to convince my other half of the value of a plasma cutter for all of it.  Sounds like a good price for 1300#, look what you paid for 140#, price accordingly.  For angle and tubing less than 4" wide I use a metal chop saw I think it has a 14" blade
Reply:I have very little experience in metal working, but after fixing my tractor bucket, I've learned a few things. 1/4" plate can be cut by any method you listed, but you will spend a ton on parts and waste a whole lotta time.  I burned through a 10 pack of Milwaukee sawzall blades in a hour trying that, maybe getting a foot cut.    Of the manual cutting techniques, I vote for a portable band saw.  For speed and production on that plate, my vote would be OA or plasma cutter, then finishing the edge with a grinder.  I'm sure other opinions will follow.Last edited by Drf255; 10-08-2011 at 06:05 AM.TA Arcmaster 300CM3XMT 304S22P12 suitcase feederX-Treme 12VSOptima pulserTA161SMaxstar 150STLHypertherm PM45OP setupStihl 020AVP, 039, 066 Magnum
Reply:If I wanted to cut angle iron or tubing, I would think a metal cutting blade in the miter saw would be best...yes or no?
Reply:You'll love it.  http://pass.partsmaster.com/WEBIMAGE.../2007/EVO3.WMV
Reply:Originally Posted by kllrbeeHey all, What do you guys suggest for noobs as far as cutting goes?  I have angle grinder, miter saw, jigsaw, sawsall, and air cutoff tools, but dont know which is best for cutting steel.I assume it depends on what your cutting?  thickness, etc?  If I wanted to cut angle iron or tubing, I would think a metal cutting blade in the miter saw would be best...yes or no?If I wanted to cut a plate though, Id like to use something like a circular saw.
Reply:I almost always use a guide with the saw since I want nice straight cuts if I'm going this route
Reply:Nice saw Cryo Gal, looks more adjustable than some of the Evo's I've seen.Thanks for the post Semper FiJesus may have been a Carpenter, but his dad was a Millwright" A grinder and a can of paint, will make a welder what he aint' "I've done so much, with so little, for so long, that now I can do anything with nothing!
Reply:Steping out of lurk mode, and catching up on the forum since I haven't had time for reading much lately.I second the dedicated steel cutting circular saws for plate work. I don't have my dedicated saw yet, but have used my circular saw with the Freud metal cutting carbide blades on many occasions. My biggest was cutting a 4'x4'x1/2" plate for my welding table (future project). Had to stop several times to let the motor cool to avoid burnout, but total cutting time for a 4' long cut in half inch steel was less than 4 minutes, and the cut is smoother than the surface of the plate. And the blade also says for 1/4" or less.I also second the use of a guide for this operation, as the blade was still cutting great after this cut, but a few smaller cuts later without a guide, a slight twist offline and a couple of teeth chipped off the blade.  Oh well, till I can get it to the sharpener for a few replacement teeth...And finally I also second full protection if using a non-steel oriented saw (in fact with ANY). There are lots of HOT sharp chips flying around.All this and I do have a torch (oxy propane), but need to practice more with it to get my travel speeds consistent for smooth cuts.Mike "Dodis"Century 135 MIGMiller Thunderbolt XL AC (working on DC converter) (SCORE! got a H/F box off eBay for this one too) now gotta get busy!!! Harbor Freight 130 TIGOxy/Propane Victor Torch
Reply:Originally Posted by kllrbeeHey all, What do you guys suggest for noobs as far as cutting goes?  I have angle grinder, miter saw, jigsaw, sawsall, and air cutoff tools, but dont know which is best for cutting steel.I assume it depends on what your cutting?  thickness, etc?  If I wanted to cut angle iron or tubing, I would think a metal cutting blade in the miter saw would be best...yes or no?If I wanted to cut a plate though, Id like to use something like a circular saw.
Reply:Originally Posted by CosmicRamblerI've taken the chop saw blades after they wear down and put them in an old miter saw. You do have to remove the guard which is usually plastic.Also put them in a table saw, got to be a lot more careful, know where to stand and go slow, lots of eye protection, full googles at least. But you can get cuts on bigger pieces of plate. Best if it is with the motor having a belt drive. Can also be done in a circular saw, got to have that work piece really clamped down, usually want a guide. Make sure you get extra brushes with it. Usually the first thing that must be replaced after so much cutting, about like the angle grinders.
Reply:I have a heavy sawzall type thing, a torch set, and a 14" abrasive metal cut-off saw. I did pick up a 12" abrasive blade for my miter saw for the odd precision beveled cut. I think the blade is made for the chainsaw based gas powered cut-off saws and says "high-speed" on it. Who knows if it will last. I am not to worried about the saw, I only intend if for very rare usage and I will definately be taking the sawdust collection bag off of it should I ever use it
Reply:Originally Posted by DSW They use a completely different size arbor. The 14" abrasive blades have a 1" dia arbor, the 10" and the 7 1/4" circular saws have 5/8" arbors.  At well over $4K for a 230v  stationary shop saw, there's no way I'd want to run an abrasive blade in it for any reason. Trying to spin a blade with an oversized arbor on one of those smaller saws sounds like a really good way to go get to see the inside of an ER. I'm also not sure why you suggest new brushes.
Reply:Originally Posted by Groo I think the blade is made for the chainsaw based gas powered cut-off saws and says "high-speed" on it. Who knows if it will last.
Reply:Originally Posted by CosmicRamblerNaw, you can get adapters to resize the arbor holes. They just plug in. Got a box of them somewhere. Same idea as the adapters for the diamond shaped holes. Haven't had to use that ER and I've done it for a few years.
Reply:I have a metal cutting saw by milwaukee. It cost about 300.00 works great
Reply:saw Cryo Gal mention this saw :http://pass.partsmaster.com/WEBIMAGE.../2007/EVO3.WMV.Is this something different to the carbide saws that were mentioned ? I was about to make some fixture to attach to the sawzall for "more precise" cutting thin steel profiles(have a plasma but feel I also need some type of guide other than a straight edge or maybe it'smy lack of practice with it) but when I saw the cryo saw in action, I thought that wouldcover the thin steel cutting better than a small/porta bandsaw (haven't got much space)
Reply:Hey all, Just an update....I ended up getting this one new off Ebay for $80.http://www.toolfetch.com/Category/Me..._Saws/rage.htmThis thing is nice and beefy.  Should work great for the small amount of cutting I need to do.  Thanks for the advice!