Recommend a cutting disk for S275 6mm steel?

[skotl]

Bought some S275 flat bar 6mm thick at 120mm wide. I started with the cut50 but it was just gouging it (so much for 10mm sever!) so reverted to generic "stainless steel" cutting disks and I'm going through a disk every 30cm!

Any recommendations for 115mm or 125mm disks that would make a dent (or, even better, a cut)?

 

[WorkshopChris]

When you say,

generic "stainless steel" cutting disks

is that 3mm traditional or the 1mm plasma style.

 

[gordon stephenson]

From memory isn't that just mild steel? I find that any of the good quality 0.8mm or 1mm cutting discs work fine when left to cut at their own speed, I have a good stock of Flexovit and Kennedy 125mm discs, Both equally good, and would do quite a few cuts on you steel plate.

 

[Arclikeharrypotter]

1mm slitting discs, I've found anything from 3m is normally pretty good, kingspor kronoflex are very good, but the best ive found so far are from a company called Reca. Life span of the discs is obviously dependant on how you are using it.

Depending on how often you'll be doing these cuts, a tct saw could be a good investment.

 

[I'm getting on a bit]

Can I ask how much clearance you have under the steel when you are cutting with the plasma.

Ideally you should be using a bandsaw or a coldsaw

 

[Hitch]

I'd not be too concerned about getting 300mm of cut from a disc...sounds about right tbh, might get a bit more from a quality disc, but probably not a lot..
s275 is just common old steel really, nothing fancy at all in the grand scheme of things.

Have you tried just whizzing a bit of acale off where your earth clamp goes and where you are cutting...? Might make a bit of difference to a small machine.

9" would be better than a 5"... if you have one...

Otherwise, Klingspor or Reca are both very good discs.

 

[Ton-up]

3M Curbitron 11 - expensive but fantastic and will outlast several 'normal' discs.

 

[the black box]

9" on that would be best also make sure it's well clamped and not vibrating a lot when cutting as you'll use more discs.

Use to use 3m cutting discs (4.5") but just got a batch of Hilti discs at a good price and found them fantastic.

Failing that know anyone with an ironworker near you by far the easiest way!

 

[Tom Orrow L]

I've got some 9" discs and a 9" grinder I'd be happy to send up to you mate. Just cover carriage if you can, it's not getting any use down my end so you may as well use it

 

[no idea]

I'm surprised you can't cut that with the plasma cutter - I have recently cut 6mm thick 130mm flat bar (also S275) without any issues with my Plasmapart Cut 40. I had it turned all the way up to max and did increase the airflow (didn't check the pressure gauge though) and reasonable results from it. One thing that might have helped inadvertently is that I had the larger high power/gouging electrodes and nozzles in the torch (Trafimet) which I only realised after cutting so maybe that's something for you to try?

 

[skotl]

Can I ask how much clearance you have under the steel when you are cutting with the plasma.

Ideally you should be using a bandsaw or a coldsaw

It was in free air, over the edge of the workhorse

I'm surprised you can't cut that with the plasma cutter - I have recently cut 6mm thick 130mm flat bar (also S275) without any issues with my Plasmapart Cut 40. I had it turned all the way up to max and did increase the airflow (didn't check the pressure gauge though) and reasonable results from it. One thing that might have helped inadvertently is that I had the larger high power/gouging electrodes and nozzles in the torch (Trafimet) which I only realised after cutting so maybe that's something for you to try?

That may well be part of it - I was just using the standard cheapie consumables with the standard crappy torch.

 

[skotl]

I've got some 9" discs and a 9" grinder I'd be happy to send up to you mate. Just cover carriage if you can, it's not getting any use down my end so you may as well use it

Thanks Tom - I really do appreciate the offer but wouldn't want to put you out for a single small job. Plus, I'm scared of using 9" grinders

 

[skotl]

Thanks folks. I've ordered some klingspor and will see how that goes!

 

[skotl]

Used the klingspor disks today - much better than the unbranded ones. Still doing 60-100cm a disk on the 6mm but that's twice what the others did and it's cutting much more easily.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Arclikeharrypotter]

Yes kingspor are good, if you ever see reca grab a few of them you will not be disappointed. I think they are the best I have used.

 

[Arclikeharrypotter]

Has anyone used most discs before? Made in Poland and cheap.

 

[WorkshopChris]

I have been doing a lot of cutting over the last few days modifying some heavy shelving units.
40mm rsa at 4mm and 4mm plate.
I was using Rhodius disk but i ran out and Toolstation only had the Norton Multipose disks in stock, both 1mm.
Doing a direct side by side comparison i was getting 1 1/2 units to a disk, changed over to the norton and got 3/4 of a unit per disk.
Did not cut as nice either, i have had good results with norton products in the past, but for 1mm disks the Rhodius are far superior.

 

[gaz1]

ive been using parkside 1mm discs of late 5" ones and a hand grinder for 3/4" thick steel, i have also found out that some of the disks arnt true to size to other 1mm discs as well while cutting that thickness

for 10" long cuts i let the disc do its work i just hold it on the metal moving along the line that i want to cut i have to use 2 discs or 3 just to get through that steel but i need the length of blade to do that thickness cutting one side only the other blades get taken off and put to side to do another cut before thrown away

this is what ive been cutting with them

 

[WorkshopChris]

As a quick update to this i have just stopped using the norton universal and am going out to get something better.
Out of a pack of 10
1 - has a obvious chip out of side form rattling around in the tin.
5 - have abrasives fragments around the steel centre disk stopping the disk fitting the boss of the grinder.
2 - disintegrated mid cut.

2 - Survived to cut as required.

Having had a closer look the remaining disk vary in thickness and have surface porosity.
Another has what look like remnants of a fabric surface worn away
Was going to return to Toolstation buy will see if i get any joy with Norton.
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