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Garden Tractor Demolition / Cutting up steel - How and how fast?
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Posted by djenyc (My Page) on Thu, Sep 6, 07 at 16:42
I have on old garden tractor that I took apart a couple months ago. I wonder if there is a way to cut up the deck/frame etc in to 4" strips for metal fabrication projects. I think it's 12 gauge steel. I have a jig saw, air body saw, air cut-off saw, HF sawzall / portable bandsaw/ 4x6 bandsaw / carbon arc torch / a few metal grinders from 4" to 9" and a 7 1/4" circular saw with abrasive discs. I've used grinders before and I think they are awkward, slow and would take forever,
I tried using carbon rod in a welder to melt steel and I though it was too slow - I have a 140Amp AC/DC welder from Harbor Freight
Would I be ok with a band saw or is it too slow for cutting up thin steel? I haven't used band saw before.
Would circular saw with abrasive disc work ok?
Basically I'm wondering how fast 12 gauge metal can be cut (like feet per minuter or hour) and if it's worthwhile given the cost of consumables. Any info much appreciated
Thanks
Ross |
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RE: Garden Tractor Demolition / Cutting up steel - How and how fa
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| I've cut steel using just about all of those techniques at one time or another. A saw works best, but you need to use a good blade designed for the right thickness steel, and keep the blade speed down, or you'll eat up blades. Wear goggles and gloves, since there will be quite a shower of little hot chips. If you saw through any welds, you'll destroy the blade. I wouldn't think it would be worth the time/cost/effort- it probably wouldn't cost much more to just buy strips of steel (not at a big box store, though). I either go to a local steel supplier, or order small quantities through Mcmaster-Carr ( a tinkerer's delight). |
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