Cutting thick steel Cut-40

[ajlelectronics]

I have been given a job to do by a very high ranking member of the judiciary, so anxious to get it right...

On his narrowboat, somebody has welded strips of steel which are about 10mm thick, onto the roof rails and he wants them gone. He has asked me to cut them off using my plasma cutter, which I think is a CUT-40, it is certainly not an expensive one. I have a 3HP direct drive compressor to use with it.

This job clearly has to be done outdoors and I am wondering if the cutter is actually going to be man enough? I appreciate that the cut will not be clean, but if it will sever it, then the edges can be ground back.

If it isn't going to work, what device should I be looking at and can they be hired?

 

[pondy]

I have cut 10mm with mine, it's rough but done the job much easier than expected.

Would a grinder not be easier?

 

[ajlelectronics]

I thought that until I saw the job. The Plasma is the tool of choice for this job. The steel has been painted, will I need to clean the paint off to cut that thick?

 

[langy]

Yes it will do the job but I would of thought a thin cutting disc would do a better and easier job ???

 

[wyn]

The paint is likely to burn off in front of the cut as you go along.
You might need a clean bit just to start the arc off though.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Thanks all. For some reason, he is keen on seeing the plasma in action, so that's how it is. ;-) I will report back after the weekend, job booked for Saturday morning.

 

[Kent]

watch out you have foam applied to the metal on the inside of the boat shell. Get it too hot and it will smoke like crazy and could very well ignite. I should use a 9" grinder and go easy and watch the hot sparks don't damage other paintwork of glass.

If you do ignite the foam you will likely need to rip out his interior panelling real fast and get the extinguisher on the job. Oh most insurance for welding and fab work specifically excludes marine (which is any boat not just those on the salt)

Good luck if you do it

 

[mike 109444]

That will give him something to do "fire watcher" and gets him out of you hair once he has seen an inch of cutting send him in to "keep an eye out for signs/smells of smoke"

 

[ajlelectronics]

Well the first run has been done. The cutter turns out to be a CUT-50 D from Ltek.

It proved to be something of a trial though, we went through a number of 13A fuses before going and buying some 16A plugs to wire direct. Then all we had to worry about was the post tripping out every minute or so, even with the compressor connected to another post.

The cut shows promise, it did start cutting nicely and the first 2 metres came off quickly. Then the compressor power tripped out and so I destroyed a nozzle due to low pressure. It all went a bit downhill after that as I only had one spare consumables set and burnt that one too.

So, after cutting about 6m, the intention is to regroup with some more tips etc and some decent power cables.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Well the first run has been done. The cutter turns out to be a CUT-50 D from Ltek.

It proved to be something of a trial though, we went through a number of 13A fuses before going and buying some 16A plugs to wire direct. Then all we had to worry about was the post tripping out every minute or so, even with the compressor connected to another post.

The cut shows promise, it did start cutting nicely and the first 2 metres came off quickly. Then the compressor power tripped out and so I destroyed a nozzle due to low pressure. It all went a bit downhill after that as I only had one spare consumables set and burnt that one too.

So, after cutting about 6m, the intention is to regroup with some more tips etc and some decent power cables.

I have the LTS CUT50 and after fettling it will cut 12mm cleanly and sever 16mm but its on the limit. As you say it needs a good 16 or 20amp supply.

 

[ajlelectronics]

All done now, but halfway through I dropped my straight edge in the drink! So looking for a new one. I need 2m of aluminium of thickness 3mm+, width around 19mm, or if affordable 1 5/8". I have looked at the online suppliers but scared by the prices. I suppose I could use steel, but concerned about it rusting as I use it for marking out too.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

All done now, but halfway through I dropped my straight edge in the drink! So looking for a new one. I need 2m of aluminium of thickness 3mm+, width around 19mm, or if affordable 1 5/8". I have looked at the online suppliers but scared by the prices. I suppose I could use steel, but concerned about it rusting as I use it for marking out too.

Canals are only about 4ft deep, can't you strip off and feel about for it with your toes, I had to do this to recover a lock key.
Unless it was in a lock, cause they are deep.
Maker posted recently with a quote from Parker Steel which seemed reasonable.