cloudy
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 03:10 PM |
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Cutting steel plate
I'm needing to start making engine mounts and suspension mounts with 4mm steel, any better way than a hacksaw to cut it?
cheap equipment only, no suggestions of laser or plasma cutters!
James
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nitram38
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 03:11 PM |
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Jig saw?
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DIY Si
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 03:15 PM |
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It takes a while, but I use a grinder on 3-5mm plate. Mainly because it's the only way I can do it, other than hacksaw. And that'd take
forever.
“Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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flak monkey
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 03:15 PM |
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Get some 1mm angle grinder cutting discs from Wickes. I have used them loads of times for slicing things up and because they are so thin it doesnt
grab too much.
David
[Edited on 10/1/07 by flak monkey]
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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James
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 03:26 PM |
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Agree with David.
Get the thin discs about 1mm... like a hot knife through butter!
And my mounts for a Pinto (not the lightest engine around) are made of nothing more than 3mm plate and 3mm wall box section.
HTH,
James
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"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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cloudy
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 03:43 PM |
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suspected it would come down to my trusty grinder - it's the no1 used tool in my workshop!
James
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cloudy
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 03:44 PM |
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hmm on that point maybe i'll try and go 3mm, as i'm trying to keep the weight down after all! 
it's only a puny little gsxr i'm mounting
James
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Darren S
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 03:45 PM |
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These are superb. They last very well also.
http://www.tyrolit.com/page.cfm?vpath=divisions/metalfabrication/2in1
As you say, like a hot knife through butter. The 125mm dia version will just about fit inside the guard on a 115mm angle grinder.
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iank
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 04:09 PM |
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Another vote for the 1mm discs. I used Makita successfully.
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macnab
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 04:20 PM |
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angle grinder
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cloudy
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 04:46 PM |
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http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=25856&ts=47515
these are only 3mm , so you'd recommend sniffing out some ultra thin ones?
Any good high street sources?
James
[Edited on 10/1/07 by cloudy]
[Edited on 10/1/07 by cloudy]
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cloudy
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 04:48 PM |
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ignore me, found the makita 1mm ones 
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?cId=A238040&ts=47686&id=60739
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BenB
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 05:29 PM |
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As previously agreed- grinder discs the way to go. Using a hacksaw will take you months to cut it out, and you'll still need to dress it in all
probability.... Use a cutting disc to get roughly to shape then a grinding disc to shape the item.... You can even file it by hand to dress it
properly at the end....
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hillbillyracer
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 09:39 PM |
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We use them all the time at work, brilliant! I've found the stainless steel ones by Dronco & the same spec by Norton BDX to be best & as
little as 60p each.
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flak monkey
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| posted on 10/1/07 at 09:45 PM |
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Its not that bad with a hacksaw if you have a good frame and blade. Unless you are one of the many who cant actually cut straight with a hacksaw!
I cut all the bits for my alternator mount out with a hacksaw and thats 10mm plate (dont ask) because i had run out of discs. Good for the shoulder
muscles
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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NS Dev
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| posted on 11/1/07 at 08:01 AM |
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If its all odd bits then grinder and thin disc.
If you need a few similar bits, draw them up on CAD and get some quotes from subcon laser contractors, you may be surprised at the lowish price!
If they are all one plate thickness it should be pretty cost effective.
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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Nisseven
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| posted on 11/1/07 at 10:11 AM |
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Yep use the 125 x 1mm cutting discs. I have a second 100mm grinder, one of those cheapies you throw away when the brushes wear out, with a flap disc
on it to make nice smooth edges.
Bruce
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Alan B
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| posted on 11/1/07 at 01:04 PM |
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Cloudy.....
Could you let me quote the parts?
Living here in Florida will probably make me uncompetitive due to shipping, but I've just built a CNC plasma system and I'd like some real
jobs to quote to help me get some practice, and see how I compare on pricing.
Alan
[Edited on 11/1/07 by Alan B]
This applies to anyone...any parts you need cutting or have already been cut I'd love to see and quote...will help me a lot in seeing if I could
have a viable business (or sideline at least)
Cheers,
Alan
[Edited on 11/1/07 by Alan B]
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cloudy
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| posted on 11/1/07 at 03:35 PM |
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OK will do so when ready
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wilkingj
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| posted on 11/1/07 at 09:27 PM |
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Angle Grinder and 1mm Discs, they wear fairly quickly, but are brill for neat cutting.
1. The point of a journey is not to arrive.
2. Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.
Best Regards
Geoff
http://www.v8viento.co.uk
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