Making Nicer Torch Cuts ???

[aarolar]

Preheating is important but mostly in thicker parts, in plate up to 1/2 or so it's not that big of a deal as long as it's not super cold like in the winter.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Lots of good info - thanks. I almost wish I hadn't seen those cuts, now I really feel bad :laughing: It certainly gives me something to shoot for though. It is good to know what is possible.

gg

 

[Ed of all trades]

I have seen cuts done on a lathe with a cutting torch that looked like glass. The man set the torch in a stand and just advanced the lathe to make the cut. If you know what is possible you know how high to aim. I like ti draw the torch toward me on short cuts because I can wiggle less. On long cuts I go to the side so I don't have to reposition as often. Ed

 

[aarolar]

Made these parts last week for a job at work, the cuts are alittle choppy but when you get that thick every single bump or shake shows.

 

[Shield Arc]

Made these parts last week for a job at work, the cuts are alittle choppy but when you get that thick every single bump or shake shows.

View attachment 466479

Oh WOW, those are some nice cuts! aarolar you sure have some skills! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[Mysfyt]

Made these parts last week for a job at work, the cuts are alittle choppy but when you get that thick every single bump or shake shows.

View attachment 466479

You did that by hand??!! That's as good as my old Linde burning machine!!

A friend of my father once told me he saw a guy cut out 4 inch circles out of 3 inch thick plate that would clean up in a lathe in one or two passes. I never believed him....until now.

 

[aarolar]

No sir on this table.

 

[stuckmotor]

I found my cuts improved when I learned how the torch actually worked. What holes do what.

But in general (and sadly) as with the plasma, I tend to make my best cuts when it doesn't matter, and am nervous and jerky when it does!

Industrial Toys,
Do you have a link to a discription of how a torch actually works? My torch cuts used to be awful and I'm thinking of getting another one.

 

[Shield Arc]

No sir on this table.

View attachment 466480

OK, so maybe you cheated with the cuts:laughing:. But you still have some great Tig welding skills!

 

[Mysfyt]

No sir on this table.

View attachment 466480

OK. That makes sense. You did have me going there for a bit!:laughing:

 

[aarolar]

Still not simple to cut plate that thick even in a table.

 

[Shield Arc]

Still not simple to cut plate that thick even in a table.

I've been in Fab shops where they cut material that thick. Seems as all the shops used propane.

 

[aarolar]

We run propane it's a lot cheaper.

 

[Arc weld]

Natural gas is popular too on cutting machines. If you have the right tip and the right preheat, the plate could be 12" thick and you could do a cut as nice as Shield Arcs. Thick plate cuts nicer than thin plate and if you're using a cutting machine, there's no excuse for not having a perfect cut. The most common reason for flaws on thick plate is not enough preheat. For bevelling thick plate, they often use an extra preheat torch or 2. A shop up here goes through 200 tips a month fabricating vessel components.

 

[Shield Arc]

In the mid 1970s I helped build a General Electric testing facility, in San Jose California. The plant was a scaled down nuclear power plant, but it would never go on line. There was a pipe welder, who could hold the torch in his right hand, and roll a piece of pipe across the welding table with his left hand. And cut a perfect bevel on the pipe:shocked:. It was amazing to watch him do that!

 

[Gordon Gould]

I worked on my torch cutting a little more. I cleaned the tip first. I adjusted the Ox pressure to give me the jet engine sound with the cut lever down. Had to lower the pressure to do that. It cleaned up the slag and got me square corners top and bottom. Still have to work on speed and angle control but I think I have gained some. This is yesterday's with the top and bottom ground smooth and today's w/o a grinder. Not perfect and there is one place I had to restart. I will try some guides next.

Thanks for the suggestions !! Any more are welcome.

gg

 

[aarolar]

Did you use a straight edge?

 

[Gordon Gould]

Did you use a straight edge?

No, that is what I need to do next. I wanted to try to set it up for the jet engine or ripping noise and by the time I got a feel for that play time was over. Beside lowering the Ox pressure I found making my preheat flame a little softer also helped.

gg