the Otherpower.com Discussion Board || FYI-Cutting plate steel

Front Page - [Homebrewed Electricity-- (wind) (solar) (hydro) (steam) (controls) (storage) (mechanical)] - Classifieds - Site News
Everything - Newbies - [Remote Living-- (housing) (heat) (light) (water)] - Rants & Opinion - Diaries - Our Products

FYI-Cutting plate steel
By Reno, Section Wind Posted on Mon Jan 10th, 2005 at 08:48:21 PM MST
none

I have been collecting material for a dual rotor have yet to locate a hub that I do not have to pay retail for. Anyway, had nothing to do today so I decided to get started. I was offered to have my 3/8 inch plate steel cut with a plasma cutter but in the spirit of do it yourself I wanted to try and cut it myself. My tools were a 5.0 amp adjustable variable speed gigsaw and some blades for thick metal. I get a kick out of the package for the blades (it has a picture of an I beam on it). So I got to cutting first with oil then decided to cut it dry. Well in case anyone is interested it is working I am 3/4 of the way complete the first 10.5inch disk and still on the first blade. I stop every once in a while to let things cool off. If anyone was wondering how to cut thick steel hope this helps, now back to the gigsaw.

FYI-Cutting plate steel | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 editorial)

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel (3.00 / 0) (#1)
by JavaMoose on Mon Jan 10th, 2005 at 02:21:23 PM MST
(User Info)

How fast is the cutting going? I would think it would be a bit slow with a jigsaw...but, as you said, the DIY factor make it worth it. :)

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel (3.00 / 0) (#3)
by Reno on Mon Jan 10th, 2005 at 05:05:29 PM MST
(User Info)

Not taking long at all.
It looks like 2 blades will do a a full circle and a little more. The first blade is still good for thinner plates. For anyone who thought they had no option but to pay well now they have an option.

[ Parent ]

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel (3.00 / 0) (#2)
by johnlm on Mon Jan 10th, 2005 at 03:11:31 PM MST
(User Info)

You could have had your friend let you wield the plasma torch and then you would have been doing it yourself and done with 10 plates by now. I have a relative with one of those plasma torches, - damn fast, but you have to clean up the edges (grinder) if you want a nice clean edge.
Johnlm

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel (3.00 / 0) (#4)
by Reno on Mon Jan 10th, 2005 at 05:08:42 PM MST
(User Info)

I also could call up bergey and buy a genny but then I wouldn't be posting here would I. Also the cutter was at his place of work so there would have been hoops to jump through. It is working and I am very pleased. A few of my friends were sceptical about using a jigsaw and are waiting to hear if it worked that is why I thought others here might be interested.

[ Parent ]

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel (3.00 / 0) (#5)
by Norm (peppysue@suite224.net) on Mon Jan 10th, 2005 at 06:25:39 PM MST
(User Info)

I cut a couple of disks 8 inch Dia. 1/4 inch plate and was thinking as I did it.....(dam...glad it isn't any thicker!) also...if I'm gonna do anymore of these I think I'll make a bandsaw still have the metal-cutting blade.... that goes to a bandsaw by Black&Decker You hooked up a half inch drill to a shaft on the saw ....was always going to buy it never got aroun to it.....some 30...40 years ago...(don't think they make them anymore! ??? LOL! how time flies!
( :>) Norm
( :>) Norm
[ Parent ]

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel (3.00 / 0) (#6)
by stm on Mon Jan 10th, 2005 at 06:35:05 PM MST
(User Info)

My uncle (a blacksmith) taught me a nice trick to save on the expensive oil used when cutting iron of all sort.

Dont use it at all!! - make a mixture of plenty of brown soap (the kind used for washing floors) and normal water. That has done the job for him for the last 20 years or so. just spray the soap-water onto the hot blade/iron, as you would normaly do with oil.

/Steffen

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel (3.00 / 0) (#7)
by bob g on Mon Jan 10th, 2005 at 07:01:57 PM MST
(User Info)

i quit using cutting oils years ago,

i stumbled across one that is my favorite, coka cola

the water in it cools the bit or blade much better, and the sugar makes it stay in place quite well. a bit sticky, but it works very well

usually i use straight water now for all cutting and drilling operations, i have found it to work better than any cutting oils or fluids.

drilling truck frames one would have to sharpen the bit every few holes, with cutting oil, now with water cooling i can drill dozens of holes, large holes 5/8 to over an inch thru heavy plate.

bob g

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel (3.00 / 0) (#11)
by wing on Tue Jan 11th, 2005 at 07:39:29 AM MST
(User Info)

Hi, It is all to do with cutting speeds and stuff, all amterial have their own cutting speeds. I am a sheet metal worker by trade and have had to cut all types of material. but when it comes to tough stuff, steels,titainium I use old thick oil, because you need a certain amount of cooling with lubrication, but when it comes to Aliminium, parafin is best or animal fat!. And as a general rule the slower the better - "if it don't cut it don't force it!" on lighter cuts you can get away with just normal soapy water. this link may help.http://www.coe.uncc.edu/~hocken/courses/SophDesign/speedchart.doc

Regards
Stu
North Wales
UK.

[ Parent ]

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel-Pic of first disk (3.00 / 0) (#8)
by Reno on Mon Jan 10th, 2005 at 07:15:57 PM MST
(User Info)

Here is one of the disks I would say I spent about 15 minutes cutting.
The two points on the edges of the plate had to be grinded but other than that rather good result.

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel-Pic of first disk (3.00 / 0) (#9)
by wooferhound (tim((NoSpamAt))wooferhound.com) on Mon Jan 10th, 2005 at 09:41:06 PM MST
(User Info) http://wooferhound.com

How this is this plate you are cutting ?

)}=- W o o f -={(

[ Parent ]

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel-Pic of first disk (3.00 / 0) (#10)
by Reno on Tue Jan 11th, 2005 at 06:22:30 AM MST
(User Info)

3/8 inch I believe it is 1018 cold rolled.

[ Parent ]

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel (3.00 / 0) (#12)
by weldingrodd on Tue Jan 11th, 2005 at 04:23:20 PM MST
(User Info)

Hummmm....By now I bet you probably wish you had taken the offer of cutting it with the plasma arc...Not much that can cut a plate with less distortion than a plazma arc..
By the way they make a very thin approx. 1/16" thick wheel for a 4.5 inch grinder that works real well and are fairly cheap that do a nice job of cutting steel . Happy cutting!

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel (3.00 / 0) (#13)
by Reno on Tue Jan 11th, 2005 at 07:17:19 PM MST
(User Info)

No, no regrets at all both disks are cut. I can assume you are saying this based on a predetermined notion. At worse my palm got a lttle sore from holding the saw but no big deal. If you run the speed just fast enough to stop the chatter of the blade and oil the plate as you go it is very easy cutting. I can say I have found it harder cutting some hard wood and trying to keep it straight. As I said I wanted to try this and let others who had no other options know if they really what to build a dual rotor. For what its worth hopefully it helps someone who thouhgt they were out of luck. I wish I could find a hub as easy as I cut the plate this has been my hardest or at least most frustrating part of this project.

[ Parent ]

Re: FYI-Cutting plate steel (3.00 / 0) (#14)
by weldingrodd on Fri Jan 14th, 2005 at 04:37:46 PM MST
(User Info)

Glad you got them cut.
What type of hub are you looking for? Something with a straight bore same as shaft size or a "taper lock" type that uses an hub that has interchangable centers bored to size?
If you happen to live near a Tractor Supply Co Store they have a selection of weldable hubs which are meant for sprockets they carry(I just thought....sprocket could be used for a disk...for a rotor..??
Or maybe you know somebody with a "granger" catalog.They have bushings hubs etc.
Maybe a cheaper way out would be to weld 2 shaft collars to your hub with the correct bore for your shaft.
Do you have a key slot in the shaft ? taper locks will tighten down a lot tighter than a straight bore collar.
The lighter duty taper/hub combos are not real expensive.
Check in your area for a an industrial recycler. I have one near me that I can find items that were hundreds of $$$$ new that i get for $ 10 or 20$ a lot of times.
Also welding shops have a gold mines in there junk barrels often times.

FYI-Cutting plate steel | 14 comments (14 topical, 0 editorial)

Menu

� create account
� How to use the board
� FAQs
� search the board
� Google search the board
� Old Otherpower Board

Login

Make a new account

Username:

Password:

Total Views

��139 Scoop users have viewed this posting.

Related Links

� Also by Reno

You must be a registered user to post here. It's easy and free, and the link is on the upper right side of your page.
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective companies. Postings are owned by the poster, but may be deleted or moved at the ADMIN's sole discretion. The Rest � 2003 Forcefield.
You can Email the board ADMIN here. PLEASE include the username you signed up with!