Stainless tube work how to??

[feen]

I have a job to do with stainless tube however no welding is involved.

I'm using Brundles Pro Railing http://www.fhbrundle.co.uk/groups/25PR

The measuring and cutting is no problem and I'm used to component system handrails (joiner to trade) but this will be a first with the stainless tube.

What I'm wondering is will my Rage cold cut tungsten chop saw be up to the job. I can set it up pretty acurately for mild steel but will it cut the stainless ok? It's 316 grade satin finish tubing. My only other option is 1mm slitting discs in the 41/2 inch grinder.

Once the cuts are made will they need tidying up or polishing and if so what's the best way to do this? Brundle sell polishing pads but will these scratch the surface at all??

Thanks in advance

James

 

[Shox Dr]

If you go down the cutting disc route make sure they will cut SS (called Inox ISTR without looking) Im not sure how you could replicate the stain finish, shotblasting with fine glass bead would be a good chioce, as the polishing pads will scratch the Stainless, so best to make your cuts neatly.

 

[Paul.]

Dont expect the standard rage tct blade to last too long on stainless, there is a special stainless blade available but not cheap, maybe you could cost one in with the job, a bandsaw with an M42 blade would be my choice for cutting though.
For cleaning up the cuts, a 1/2 round file to take of any burrs, and green scotchbrite used in line with the grain to remove any heat discolouration, I would avoid bead blasting on satin finishes, it changes the surface texture / colour too much.

 

[Barney1973]

Did a job last year using the same hand rail,I wouldn't advise using a cutting disc as you will want a nice clean square cut for the joins blanks etc.
Don't know how well a chop saw will work as I used a band saw.
Used a sanding wheel on a drill to lightly de-burr the ends of the tube.
Customer wanted the post brackets welded to the tube so had to cut the saddles off and weld the bars straight to the underside of the tube.
Was a bit of a nitemare to get it all lined up as it was part assembled before going on site !

 

[feen]

It's all to made/assembled on site three flights up. Band saw's not an option so it's either practice with the 41/2 inch grinder or the stainless blade for the cut off at £114??

Thanks so far

James

 

[hotrodder]

For a big stainless job bandsaw would be my choice too but if that's not an option... As said stainless will kill the standard blade very quickly. I've had good results/accetable blade life using a smaller, high tpi blade in my 355mm Dewalt- 305mm blade results in slightly lower surface speed, 80T = lots of small bites instead of less big ones. Chips remain colour free even after many cuts so it's running cooler than the 355/90T jancy stainless blade i wasted money on several years ago (total junk!). Very important to let the blade do ALL the work

 

[Welderpaul]

Looking at the handrail system your going to use, the cut ends of the tube will be visible and will need to be a perfect cut or the job will look crap. We use an RA Series GF saw for site work which leaves a perfectly square, burr free cut that needs a quick flash over with a fine file and its ready to receive the fitting. It also cuts cold so no heat marks on the tube.

 

[hotrodder]

Dammit Paul! More tools i really need (OK, want) but can't afford or justify

 

[Shox Dr]

Dammit Paul! More tools i really need (OK, want) but can't afford or justify

It's always better to have and not need; than to need and not have

 

[hareng]

As Paul has said it will be visible.
This is the G316 stuff resilient to cutting tools not the usual G303, G304 pretty much like MS. I can tell you SS G316S11 flooring is cut with a circular saw in around 5 secs, ms around 4 secs if that helps.

I could tell you who supplies most of their stuff

 

[""kb]

I have a job to do with stainless tube however no welding is involved.

I'm using Brundles Pro Railing http://www.fhbrundle.co.uk/groups/25PR

The measuring and cutting is no problem and I'm used to component system handrails (joiner to trade) but this will be a first with the stainless tube.

What I'm wondering is will my Rage cold cut tungsten chop saw be up to the job. I can set it up pretty acurately for mild steel but will it cut the stainless ok? It's 316 grade satin finish tubing. My only other option is 1mm slitting discs in the 41/2 inch grinder.

Once the cuts are made will they need tidying up or polishing and if so what's the best way to do this? Brundle sell polishing pads but will these scratch the surface at all??

Thanks in advance

James

Give your supplier a cutting list might cost you a few more quid but saves you doing it if you have not got the right gear to do it, job sorted and time saved ps might be abit late now tho lol

 

[feen]

Items arrived yesterday!

JF