texasranger556
Platinum Member
Rather than clamping a guide, I picked up one of these from Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-magnetic-tool-holder-62178.html
On my power max 45, the torch rides along the edge pretty nicely. Only thing is if you're maxing out the machine and cutting something like 5/8" plate it will get warm and the paint gets a little gummy. I've threatened to wire wheel the paint off to fix that, but it hasn't bothered me enough yet. It will collect metal grindings, but I wipe it with a chunk of 2x4 to get the heavy stuff off, then wipe the rest off with my glove. One of the better $5 I've spent.
Funny enough, the project you're describing was the first project for my plasma cutter too. Picked up a cheap 7' blade which was too long for my JD (couldn't spin it all the way around without hitting the rear tires), so I cut about 5" off each end. Plan was 6, but the bolts at the edge would have interfered. I didn't remove the cutting edge and it was a bit of a pain getting through both layers of metal, but nothing a flap/grinding wheel couldn't dress up. Now I have a 6'-2" rear blade!
Awesome view by the way. I used to live in Renton and a coworker lived on the water in Samammish (sp?) with a view not quite as nice as yours. I remember toward the end of winter you could snowmobile in the morning and ride jet skis in the afternoon. Absolutely loved the PNW.
http://www.harborfreight.com/18-in-magnetic-tool-holder-62178.html
On my power max 45, the torch rides along the edge pretty nicely. Only thing is if you're maxing out the machine and cutting something like 5/8" plate it will get warm and the paint gets a little gummy. I've threatened to wire wheel the paint off to fix that, but it hasn't bothered me enough yet. It will collect metal grindings, but I wipe it with a chunk of 2x4 to get the heavy stuff off, then wipe the rest off with my glove. One of the better $5 I've spent.
Funny enough, the project you're describing was the first project for my plasma cutter too. Picked up a cheap 7' blade which was too long for my JD (couldn't spin it all the way around without hitting the rear tires), so I cut about 5" off each end. Plan was 6, but the bolts at the edge would have interfered. I didn't remove the cutting edge and it was a bit of a pain getting through both layers of metal, but nothing a flap/grinding wheel couldn't dress up. Now I have a 6'-2" rear blade!
Awesome view by the way. I used to live in Renton and a coworker lived on the water in Samammish (sp?) with a view not quite as nice as yours. I remember toward the end of winter you could snowmobile in the morning and ride jet skis in the afternoon. Absolutely loved the PNW.
