Anybody cutting 1"?

[Jake98]

I gave it a try and didn't do so good. I usually keep it at about 60# air, upped it to 70 for this and gave it full 70a. power. Cuts on the right don't count, I forgot to lower my lens shade down and was pretty much blind. Cut on the left I could see, but it didn't like it. Sounded like it was switching on and off.. I'm going to try again on the cut offs when I get some time. Any suggestions?

[Rodsmachineshop]

cutting to fast max amps and 70 to 80 psi have to keep torch straight

[fdcmiami]

jake, for the money and the convenience it is a good idea to have an oxy/acetylene setup on hand. i have a plasma cutter, i rarely take it out except for stainless steel. and on occasion for steel plate 3/8ths thk and less. for the most part i use the OA setup, the steel in the photo is 1" thk, and on occasion i have had to cut up to 3 1/2 inch thick. cut quality is pretty good once you get used to it. in the field it's indispensable; it cheap, portable and doesn't require power. it is a good idea to have a backup just in case.

[Rodsmachineshop]

same here i cut all my thick stuff with oxygen acetylene . been doing it so long come out nice and clean cuts pluss have the rite size cutting head setup for thick stuff , sorta cool cnc oxygen and acetylene setup

[SeanMurphy265]

same here i cut all my thick stuff with oxygen acetylene . been doing it so long come out nice and clean cuts pluss have the rite size cutting head setup for thick stuff , sorta cool cnc oxygen and acetylene setup

I love those burn tables! I worked for a company who cut parts for Taylor Big Red Forklifts. We cut out 4" and larger plate for different fork lift parts. On the initial burn in it would shoot molten steel 10' high.

I tried cutting 1" plate with an older miller several years ago. That's when I first learned what severance met on the settings! To me plasma is the way to go on thinner material 1/2" and smaller. That's the way I was taught, but plasma cutters have come a long way since then. Watching the plasma cutting 1" video shows how much heat that cutter is putting out. I think it would take some time learning 1" to cut smooth with a plasma cutter. I'm sure it could be done.

When I worked in structural steel and used a torch every day; I could cut 3/4" and up very smooth. Coping out beams I became good enough that I could chip away the slag without grinding. I worked with an old timer that could cut anything and it would be smooth like butter! Smooth cutting with a torch can be done with a lot of practice.

Keep working at it, I'm sure you can get a 1" smooth cut with some practice.

[Rodsmachineshop]

you can do some nice clean cuts with a gas torch

[DaveO]

for the most part i use the OA setup, the steel in the photo is 1" thk

FDC, the cuts in the photos are OA? Dang. My welding cap is off to you.

Is that some kind of portable drill press in the photo? Never saw that kind of thing before, but it makes sense when the plate is so large.

[fdcmiami]

i use a 00 tip for cutting; the problem is it does not generate enought heat to blow throught the one inch plate, so i'll drill a 3/16 hole first. the smaller tip allows me to move a little slower and maintain some degree of accuracy. it is not all that hard but it is amazing how many guys using a cutting torch produce work that looks like they did an apprenticeship in a scrap yard.

the drill is a mag based drill. you plug it in, push a button and the magnet comes on. the head can be reversed to increase break away pressure point. i have it four inches out in the photo. it is variable speed, takes bits or annular cutters, and will drill through anything. i recently drilled a bunch of 1 1/2 in holes in some 1/2 in 316L SS plate. no problem.

i also use a champion rotobrute iin the field it is single speed and turns at 550 rpms, a little to fast for me. however because it weighs 28 pounds and is much easier to position than the milwaukee, which is app75 pounds i like to use it when it have out of position work. i have drilled over one thousand 13/16 holes in 3/4 plate with a single annular cutter. est time per hole, 45/50 seconds. they are great.

sorry to take thread in another direction. no doubt that plasma has its place but you'll never convince me to give up oxy/acetylene. not just for cutting steel either, it has all kinds of other uses. funny though how a lot of people feel they just have to have the plasma; must be a tech thing.

[Rodsmachineshop]

Mag drills are neat . they sure are pricy ,

[SeanMurphy265]

Mag drills are neat . they sure are pricy ,

Try this one
http://www.amazon.com/Magnetic-Drill...696404&sr=1-40

[geezer]

I gave it a try and didn't do so good. I usually keep it at about 60# air, upped it to 70 for this and gave it full 70a. power. Cuts on the right don't count, I forgot to lower my lens shade down and was pretty much blind. Cut on the left I could see, but it didn't like it. Sounded like it was switching on and off.. I'm going to try again on the cut offs when I get some time. Any suggestions?

Making a free hand cut in thick stuff is difficult without a rest /guide strip etc. The local welding shop has one of those little bugs that runs on a track holds either O/A or plasma,,,,,moves slow and steady and makes nice cuts....my free handing on thick stuff doesn't look much different than yours,,,to old and shakey I guess..

[Jake98]

to old and shakey I guess..

Well, that could be part of it, for sure..