[Towertalk] Cutting Plate?

[dan hearn]

Mike: I have an old power hack saw which does an excellent job on 1/4 al
plate. It is the type which is on a floor stand and operates either
vertical or horizontal. I use a fine tooth blade, 24 or 32 tpi for the
job. The secret is to find a saw with a slow speed blade. The only
problem is the throat clearance. If you want to cut large pieces it
would not do the job. By cutting from each end you can handle pieces
suitable for beam mounting plates. The saws are quite cheap, around $200
or so. Mine uses blades 54 inches long, available from Lowes and such
places. I have cut 1/4 steel but the going is slow. 
  I have a sawzall and the blade speed is way too fast, it burns up the
blades.

GL, Dan, N5AR

Mike Wetzel wrote:
> 
> Thanks for all the past help, one last question.
> 
> My sawzall type saw quit working on me a few months ago (burned up the
> rotor, not replaceable) and I want to invest in a saw that can cut 3/8" x 8"
> aluminum plate.   In the past the sawzall evidentially got me through it,
> albeit not the best (kind of wore through it).  I have a small 3" x 6"
> cutoff saw but this cannot (no matter how you rig it) cut the 3/8" x 8"
> plate.  Kind of hard to justify spending $500 or more on something but does
> anyone know any other saw that might do the job?  I've looked at cheap band
> saws at Menard's, Lowe's and Homedepot and I doubt if they will do it even
> with a fine pitched blade.  Any suggestions?
> 
> Mike W9RE
> 
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