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smootz
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Joined: 12 Nov 2011
Posts: 451
Location: Kitts Hill, Ohio
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 Posted: Sat Apr 13 13 9:38 am Post subject: |
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| Wreckless wrote: | | My O/A torch was on the fritz. I resorted to a 4.5" angle grinder with a cutoff blade. It is a bit time consuming but with about 4 hrs work and $10 worth of wheels, it made fairly short work of a 5' x 10' 1/4" plate with approx 12 panel cutout |
Wreckless, Have you tried a 6" grinder set up with a wafer disc? There is a world of difference in the performance of the 6"s as compared to the 4-1/2"s.
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Wreckless
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Joined: 15 May 2009
Posts: 2292
Location: New Braunfels, TX
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| Posted: Sat Apr 13 13 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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| smootz wrote: | | Wreckless wrote: | | My O/A torch was on the fritz. I resorted to a 4.5" angle grinder with a cutoff blade. It is a bit time consuming but with about 4 hrs work and $10 worth of wheels, it made fairly short work of a 5' x 10' 1/4" plate with approx 12 panel cutout |
Wreckless, Have you tried a 6" grinder set up with a wafer disc? There is a world of difference in the performance of the 6"s as compared to the 4-1/2"s. |
| smootz wrote: | | Wreckless wrote: | | My O/A torch was on the fritz. I resorted to a 4.5" angle grinder with a cutoff blade. It is a bit time consuming but with about 4 hrs work and $10 worth of wheels, it made fairly short work of a 5' x 10' 1/4" plate with approx 12 panel cutout |
Wreckless, Have you tried a 6" grinder set up with a wafer disc? There is a world of difference in the performance of the 6"s as compared to the 4-1/2"s. |
Appreciate the tip Scotty.  I don't have a 6" grinder, I do have a 7" grinder tho and tried a cutoff wheel on it. It required a bit more attention than i was willing to put forth. The 4 1/2" is easier to handle I.E safer in my world. No matter anyways, I have the O/A rig working fine these days alongside my plasma cutter. I was refering to my more humble beginnings when I was fabbing with not much more than a hammer and chisel so to speak. As far as Fireman Pete's query, a new 7" grinder goes for around $130 + tax, worth it but sort of costly if you are only fabbing occasionally. A 4 1/2" Bosch angle grinder goes for around $30, add a handful of thin cutoff wheels and you're in business. The thread being " Most economical...", i would go the 4 1/2" route over paying for shear cuts anyday unless it comes dirt cheap. And...if you miss your measurement by more than allowable, eng change, or need something other than a right angle cut, the vendor shear cut turns your plate into scrap.
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smootz
BBQ Super Fan
Joined: 12 Nov 2011
Posts: 451
Location: Kitts Hill, Ohio
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| Posted: Sat Apr 13 13 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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I like to shear when i can but sometimes you can save material by using a O/A, plasma, or grinder. You can cut just the part you need whereas a shear is going to cut all the way across potentially leaving waste (drops). But ya gotta love those sweet sheared edges.
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GF
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Joined: 30 Apr 2011
Posts: 2792
Location: Greenwich, CT.
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| Posted: Sun Apr 14 13 2:39 am Post subject: |
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Since you fella's are on the subject of cutting, I'll throw my 2 cents in. 
I had the firebox pieces sheared from the supplier I used, there was a serious mis-communication on shearing a 4'x8' sheet of 1/4" plate. The cuts cost almost as much as the plate.
The only plus side was the edges were great and I didn't have to figure out how to move a few hundred pounds of plate myself.
That being water under the bridge, I wouldn't do it again, for the price I coulda bought a new grinder and enough wheels.....I'm looking for a torch now.  |
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smootz
BBQ Super Fan
Joined: 12 Nov 2011
Posts: 451
Location: Kitts Hill, Ohio
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| Posted: Sun Apr 14 13 4:15 am Post subject: |
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| GF wrote: |
I had the firebox pieces sheared from the supplier I used, there was a serious mis-communication on shearing a 4'x8' sheet of 1/4" plate. The cuts cost almost as much as the plate. |
Shears capable of 1/4" and up plate are pricey and at some point you have to sharpen/replace blades, rebuild hold-downs, hydraulic oil, etc. Several years ago we were getting $10- every time we hit the pedal, not sure what it would be now.
But you are right. It does make for nice fit-up. 
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GlobalTJB
Joined: 27 Jun 2011
Posts: 7
Location: NoVa
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| Posted: Sun Feb 15 15 11:10 pm Post subject: |
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| smootz wrote: | | GF wrote: |
I had the firebox pieces sheared from the supplier I used, there was a serious mis-communication on shearing a 4'x8' sheet of 1/4" plate. The cuts cost almost as much as the plate. |
Shears capable of 1/4" and up plate are pricey and at some point you have to sharpen/replace blades, rebuild hold-downs, hydraulic oil, etc. Several years ago we were getting $10- every time we hit the pedal, not sure what it would be now.
But you are right. It does make for nice fit-up. |
For $10 I wouldnt even blink. The local steel shop wants $50 per cut, so I wound up buying a battery operated dewalt jigsaw to bring along with me to the metal supplier and I cut the steel in the parking lot so that it would fit in my car. |
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inkjunkie
Joined: 02 Mar 2015
Posts: 17
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17 15 3:00 am Post subject: |
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| One of the local places charged someone $35 to cut a sheet of expanded in half... |
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Beer Can BBQ
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Joined: 07 Oct 2010
Posts: 282
Location: Cimarron, KS
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09 16 12:41 am Post subject: |
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You may be able to get your steel dealer to shear it for you, I have had a local shop shear my plate that I have used for my firebox. The nice thing about having it done that way is you have really clean edges for welding.
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