best tool for cutting steel

[Gregwalker1981]

Guys,

need your help on a new tool to help me cut up some steel on site BUT I cant use hot works so no grinder, I cant even use a recip saw or circular saw due to noise so i am limited to what i can use as you can read,the steel is about 6mm from angles to plate its a rip out in an airport so public will be close so that is why,

anything you can think of i can use to help would be great,

Cheers

 

[Parm]

Doesn’t leave you many options with 6mm plate

High pressure water jet cutting?

What sort of site are you working on?

Hot works can be allowed, even on petro chemical sites, if the correct precautions and procedures are adopted

Are you being dictated to by an Elf n Saaaaafety Specialist

 

[gordon stephenson]

If its a rip-out, what about some sort of hydraulic shears powered by a porta-pac?

 

[Gregwalker1981]

i'm in Glasgow airport with public next to me ive got the hilti circular saw which eats steel

i think i'll need to go back and say can do without hot works but the noise will have to be it

 

[Parm]

i'm in Glasgow airport with public next to me ive got the hilti circular saw which eats steel

i think i'll need to go back and say can do without hot works but the noise will have to be it

I’ve been involved with lots of work at Heathrow in the past. Hot works will be ok with precautions as it sounds like your in a terminal area. Noise will be the Achilles heel. They may dictate that the work is done at nights as it’s very difficult to control the propagation of noise in a large area

 

[Richard.]

The allowance of hot work is down to the customer. In this case the airport. I’ve been allowed to do hot work in a coal mill full of finely ground coal dust. Yet I’ve been refused it in far less risky places.
Hot work can be done safely in most places but ultimately if the client says no it’s a rethink job or a refuse job.

 

[gaz1]

what about plasma with a water container under neath to catch the hot plasma metal off cuts also much quieter?

 

[Ton-up]

Dont know what sizes you are talking, but It sounds like you need to go hydraulic . Hand held cutters or punch holes like chain drilling.

http://www.steelbeast.co.uk/punching/hp110-portable-hydraulic-puncher-machine/

 

[Richard.]

what about plasma with a water container under neath to catch the hot plasma metal off cuts also much quieter?

Still hot work.
It doesn’t matter how well you control or contain the sparks if the process Produces sparks it’s hot work

 

[Hood]

Plasma isn't exactly quiet, the noise of the air/compressor is pretty bad for a start.

I would say @gordon stephenson is on the right track although if a powered hydraulic pack it may still be too noisy.

 

[Hood]

I think the best course of action is to get the twa... oops Twit, that is stipulating these noise conditions, down there and give them a hacksaw and say to them to cut 50 bits up and see if they still think it is possible without noise.

 

[gaz1]

hand held bandsaw

 

[Richard.]

hand held bandsaw

That’s the way if it is suitable for the job.
A cordless portaband

 

[8ob]

Get a small version of this

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Get a small version of this

You've got to love big boys toys

 

[tom 748]

what a piece of kit

 

[gaz1]

That’s the way if it is suitable for the job.
A cordless portaband

straight cut, round and square section, max. 80 mm, rectangular section max. 100 x 80 mm, freehand use 150 x 80 mm

Flex SBG 4910

 

[CornishPete]

Is a reciprocating saw classed as hot works?
With a new blade mine cuts through rsjs as quick as a grinder without any sparks at all This would be the least hot that gets the job done I would have thought.

 

[Richard.]

Is a reciprocating saw classed as hot works?
With a new blade mine cuts through rsjs as quick as a grinder without any sparks at all This would be the least hot that gets the job done I would have thought.

No I would say rip saws are exempt from hot work but again its more down to the company’s policy and they can say differently.
It’s not actually creating any sparks or taking the metal to its point of temperature where it would be a fire risk.
It’s a ripping/cutting type device.

 

[R-D-R]

Try and find something like the "jaws of life" the Fire Brigade use? I've seen they have cordless ones now.