Re: What did you do to/with your 996 today?
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 12:12 pm
Thanks for the detailed reply. Mild steel is what I've been working with, and it's brutal on blades and grinding wheels, not to mention the mess. Aluminum would be nice as well, but it's easy to cut, even with a hacksaw...
I'll probably borrow a bigger oxy/acetylene setup from someone for a week or two. Not having to dick with 220 would be nice, and really the only reason I haven't messed more with bigger bottles is the hassle I've associated with the small bottles, which makes no sense. I imagine a big oxygen tank will probably last ages unless I do something stupid like leave a valve on.
As far as safety - I'm actually getting decent about wearing gear. Welding learns you real quick-like.
I'll probably borrow a bigger oxy/acetylene setup from someone for a week or two. Not having to dick with 220 would be nice, and really the only reason I haven't messed more with bigger bottles is the hassle I've associated with the small bottles, which makes no sense. I imagine a big oxygen tank will probably last ages unless I do something stupid like leave a valve on.
As far as safety - I'm actually getting decent about wearing gear. Welding learns you real quick-like.
sweet victory wrote: ↑Thu Nov 15, 2018 9:20 amYou mentioned clean cuts in your last post. You don't want to use oxy acetylene to cut aluminum. With steel, the iron is rusting away - the oxygen creates iron oxide. With aluminum, the oxygen would create aluminum oxide, which creates a very hard outer shell. (Think of an anodized surface) You'd basically end up with a very long, messy cuts with just blobs at the ends of your cut. It's technically possible to do - just like getting circumcised when you're 24 is...but it's just something you don't do. You can cut aluminum with a plasma cutter, but I think you need a set up that uses an inert gas - not compressed air. Cut off wheel or band saw is going to be your best bet for cutting aluminum.5chn3ll wrote: ↑Thu Nov 15, 2018 7:39 am Probably a low-end scratch-start model - $250ish, 220V. I have a couple of projects on the wish list that I need to make clean cuts. My oxyMAP rig will cut steel, but it's sloppy.
I've been looking at some oxyacetylene rigs on Craigslist - people blow out their old rigs for almost nothing; you can get a half full bottle with a current stamp for the cost of the gas...
If I find a good enough o/a torch setup, is the plasma cutter unnecessary? Again, I'm looking at a low-duty-cycle cutter - 1/2" probably pushing it for anything harder than aluminum or mild steel...I just want to be able to make marginally straight cuts.
Oxyacetylene can do everything a plasma can and more - throw a rose bud on there to for installing/removing bearings, heat up stuck fasteners, brazing, cut thicker material, etc. If I could only have one, it would definitely be oxyacetylene. It's something you can pull out once or twice a year and it will work every time. That being said, it definitely takes more skill to get a nice cut with oxyacetylene than it does with a plasma cutter and will produce more slag.
Be sure to get the proper PPE too - no flip flops and safety squints.
Too many are too afraid of getting their cars a little dirty 