cutting metal
- Thread starter mit
- Start date
- Views: 3934
kennyd
Advertiser
Is this a joke question?
ultrarunner
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2004
- Messages
- 24,450
- Tractor
- Cat D3, Deere 110 TLB, Kubota BX23 and L3800 and RTV900 with restored 1948 Deere M, 1949 Farmall Cub, 1953 Ford Jubliee and 1957 Ford 740 Row Crop, Craftsman Mower, Deere 350C Dozer 50 assorted vehicles from 1905 to 2006
Depends on the metal? By hacksaw, did you mean power hacksaw?
sandman2234
Super Member
- Joined
- Dec 4, 2005
- Messages
- 6,108
- Location
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Tractor
- JD2555 and a few Allis Chalmers and now one Kubota
A hand held hacksaw won't hold a candle to a torch, unless the torch is out of fuel or oxygen.
I use a hand held portaband saw almost as much as my torch. Blades are reasonable and one will cut most metals I deal with when fabricating things.
David from jax
I use a hand held portaband saw almost as much as my torch. Blades are reasonable and one will cut most metals I deal with when fabricating things.
David from jax
ultrarunner
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2004
- Messages
- 24,450
- Tractor
- Cat D3, Deere 110 TLB, Kubota BX23 and L3800 and RTV900 with restored 1948 Deere M, 1949 Farmall Cub, 1953 Ford Jubliee and 1957 Ford 740 Row Crop, Craftsman Mower, Deere 350C Dozer 50 assorted vehicles from 1905 to 2006
I asked what type of metal because a cutting torch works best on ferris metal. Heat causes problems with stainless hardening and then we have Aluminum....
wushaw
Elite Member
A hacksaw if you want a clean cut and hacksaws come in handy if you falling behind in your exercise regiment.... also a hacksaw won't catch flamable materials on fire like field, barn, house, self...etc.
RonMar
Elite Member
Mit
Not enough information. This is definitely a case of the right tool for the job. I use a metal chop saw with abrasive wheel for most of my steel stock cutting. A metal bandsaw would also work well for this with a neater cut, but typically slower. For thin sheet steel, I prefer a plasma cutter as it leaves a nice clean cut. For thicker steel, a torch is probably better but the heat can lead to distortions and the cut requires more cleanup. As mentioned stainless and aluminum are different animals. For aluminum stock, I use my compound mitre saw with a high tooth count carbide blade(cuts a lot like hardwood) or the sawsall with metal blade. Stainless is probably best left to the bandsaw. For me, a hacksaw is only as a last resort where nothing else would fit, or out somewhere with no power source but my tired old elbow... I would turn to my battery powered sawsall with metal blade(and often do) long before I dug out the hacksaw...
Not enough information. This is definitely a case of the right tool for the job. I use a metal chop saw with abrasive wheel for most of my steel stock cutting. A metal bandsaw would also work well for this with a neater cut, but typically slower. For thin sheet steel, I prefer a plasma cutter as it leaves a nice clean cut. For thicker steel, a torch is probably better but the heat can lead to distortions and the cut requires more cleanup. As mentioned stainless and aluminum are different animals. For aluminum stock, I use my compound mitre saw with a high tooth count carbide blade(cuts a lot like hardwood) or the sawsall with metal blade. Stainless is probably best left to the bandsaw. For me, a hacksaw is only as a last resort where nothing else would fit, or out somewhere with no power source but my tired old elbow... I would turn to my battery powered sawsall with metal blade(and often do) long before I dug out the hacksaw...
Jay4200
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2005
- Messages
- 2,053
- Location
- Hudson/Weare, NH
- Tractor
- L4200GST w/ LA680 & BX2200D w/ LA211
mit said:
Neither. A plasma cutter is 'best to cut metal'.
JayC
djw250
Silver Member
I bought a metal cutting tool recently that just blows me away every time I use it. It is a Steelmax metal cutting circular saw. I got it on eBay, thinking it might be OK but not really expecting much. When I tried it out, I couldn't believe how well it worked. It will rip through a piece of 3X1/4 channel almost like a regular circular saw cuts a 2X4, and the cut is clean, burr free, and cool to the touch as soon as you finish. It will cut up to 5/16 thickness, and up to 2.5 inch depth (like pipe or tubing). Not sure how long the blade will last, and they are a little pricy (about $40) but I think well worth it if they last a decent time. Several companies make a saw like this, and they even have one from Harbor Freight that comes with a blade for $99. Some of you may want to check these things out.