Cutting thick steels

[God mode restorations]

Evening guys.
Quick question. Do you guys use angle grinders to cut thick steels.20mm thick.
I don't have a plasma cutter but have a nine inch grinder.I have cut 8mm 10mm steels but never 20mm. Just wondering if there is any snatching of the cutting discs.

 

[HMB]

Take it steady

 

[brightspark]

it wont snatch if u lightly run it back and forth over the full distance. just listen to the motor when cutting if your slowing it down your pressing 2 hard and it wont cut efficiently

 

[Ton-up]

I take it you have a 9" grinder? Get a 3m Cubitron 2 disc cutting disc. Like a knife through butter.

 

[God mode restorations]

Yes I got a nine inch grinder. Don't particularly like them that much. I have never cut steels over 10mm so wondered about the pros and cons..

 

[Arclikeharrypotter]

Pros:
It will cut 20mm steel

Cons:
Time
Effort
Mess
Harder to get a really nice square cut through thick material.

But in saying all that how long is the cut you need to make?

 

[God mode restorations]

I am not 100 percent sure yet to be honest. Just scratching the surface on a possible build later that might require some thick brackets to be made.if it's something I can do in the confines of my workshop it would be better than me taking them to my local engineering shop.

 

[HMB]

Is it plate?

 

[God mode restorations]

Is it plate?

Yes mate...am not sure on thickness yet..might be not as thick as 20mm. I said 20mm as the thickest.

 

[123hotchef]

get the apprentice to use a hack saw

 

[brightspark]

get the apprentice to use a hack saw

a bit of rocol cutting compound on saw and it will soon go through by hand

 

[Bill Edwards]

I've cut lots of plate of that sort of thickness with a 9".
It's not fun and it's not fast but nor is it difficult or dangerous.

Get slitting disks, being thinner makes a huge difference. Take it steady, be especially mindful of where the sparks are going unless you like to be on fire. As with any cutting think about which way the metal will move as it cuts to be sure it won't jam the blade. Slitting disks hate being jammed and break very easily, but I won't use anything else because they're so much faster.

 

[njc110381]

I've cut 20mm with a 9" cutter before. It's easily possible but just takes a bit of time. My personal preference for technique is to run a score all the way along the cut line first then go back to the start and slowly take on the full depth, pushing the grinder away from myself as I cut. The main thing is to keep a steady hand, and if you have to do so long a cut as to have to take a step withdraw from the cut to do it as that's when it's likely to kick. You can easily pull it off line when you try to move. Pay attention to the line you want to aim at and if it does wander, pull out and score your way back in to realign it. The sooner you admit defeat and make the correction the better.

The thin slitting discs are great when using small tools for big jobs. They reduce pressure on the machine and make the job much faster. I use the term "fast" loosely - it won't be quick!

Usually when I get to that stage I have a Partner K1250 rail saw that comes out. But even that doesn't make it quick! A plasma cutter is the way forward but it sounds like you, just like me, haven't managed to spend the money on one of those yet!

Good luck. I'm sure you'll get it done.

 

[Kent]

Gas axe job. Grinder cutting only if you must on 20mm

 

[Mr shiney]

Plasma cutter or gas axe for me!!

Even my little Eastwood 40amp goes through 20mm like butter.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Plasma is the way to go without a doubt, followed by oxy. But when they're not available it's a petrol (stihl type) saw followed by the 9".

 

[God mode restorations]

I here ya guys...am a master with the 4 inch grinder but not so with the nine inch...have been looking at plasma cutters but still only a 13 amp supply at the moment..

 

[mpats]

I would be tempted to run your first score with the 4 1/2 inch to get you a nice groove to guide the 9 inch one.
Might make it a bit easier for you.

 

[Tigman]

The only dont do with a nine inch grinder is take the gaurd off ! its Fatal , ive seen it done and knuckles get in the way and the wrist of the hand on the grip ! its a no no

 

[God mode restorations]

The only dont do with a nine inch grinder is take the gaurd off ! its Fatal , ive seen it done and knuckles get in the way and the wrist of the hand on the grip ! its a no no

No worries there...would never take a guard off.