[TheForge] RE: Cutting steel- was Re:

[Grover Richardson]

IMHO<G>

My boss says to always buy the best tool that you can afford, or better.
That way you don't have two laying around.  Then again, work can afford to
do that.

Me, I'm cheap.  Well, I do this on the side, and I always try to make my
side hobbies/fun/side work pay for itself, or better.  I, like you I think,
only get a tool after I've done it a while the hard way, and can see that I
am going to continue doing it.  Therefore, I try to think of easier ways<G>.

If you are going to do a bunch of hammering like a professional, even in
short spurts, then efficiency would appear to demand the tools of a
professional shop.  If you are going to be hammering in a leisurely manner,
doing demos, teaching, etc., then most any tool would appear to be
reasonable.

A band saw is good for doing arcs, holes, the letter Es.  A chop saw is good
for hacking stuff into small bits.

In addition, I am somewhat leary of pushing my hands toward a blade, like a
band saw.  I might slip.  With a chop saw, if my hand slips, I have a guard
between me and the cutting edge<G>.  Yes I do this regularly, yes I do use a
pushing stick.  Still, fear is a good thing<G>.  Well, proper respect for a
tool is much better<G>.

Me, I would prefer changing the grinding type blade on my skill saw
periodically, than changing out band saw blades.  

We have both here at work.  I use the band saw for aluminum (it's a beast to
change out blades, in relative terms, and ALWAYS has the aluminum blade on
it).  I use the chop saw (honker table mounted one) to cut through 3-9
sticks of 1/2" at a time.

When out doing demos, I use the hot cut or the hack saw.  I'm not after
speed at the event.  I'm after something that I can take with me, and not
have to unload 100 pounds of stuff, and a generator to run it<G>.  At home,
the skill saw with a $5 metal cutting blade is my non-professional
choice<G>.

Like most any hobby or job.  Take ham radio for instance.  They have hf
radios out there over $5,000.  They have every tool imagionable.  Most
either make short work of tedious jobs.  Others merely cover up for bad
operating practices<G>.

Whatever you decide.  I am interested in the result, and more importantly,
why you made that decision.  Unlike the voting poles which tell me only who
will win (they asked only the people, on their list of people who buy their
magazine, that are at home on a Wednesday afternoon, that are available to
answer the phone, and actually picked up the phone); I like the how and why.
This way I have enough information for my decisions<G>.  I like your
descriptions<G>.

All the Best

Woof


-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phlip
Sent: Wednesday, June 15, 2005 12:21 PM
To: Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Cutting steel- was Re: [TheForge] Re: A recipe for Emperor
Wilson...


I'm going to respond to this one, because it addresses what most of the
others say.

Ene bichizh ogsen baina shuu...

> Phlip,
>
> I have a bunch of different ways to cut up steel, but my chop saw gets 
> the lions share.  It makes clean, quick cuts.
>
> A couple years back,  I bit the bullet and just got a medium priced 
> Riobi Chop saw at Home Depot. Now I can't imagine doing without it.
>
> I even used mine when I was shortening my fiberglass sledge handle.
>
> When you are making up batches of lodge stakes, it sure speeds up the 
> process to have a bunch of steel cut to length.
>
> Dann

OK, the problem here is cash. I very badly want a chop saw, and it will be
the next item of equipment on my agenda, but for the time being, since I'm
not working, I just can't afford one. I'm seriously considering buying the
used band saw from Art because it will do the job, and I CAN afford it, but
I'm just now making the transition from puttering for my own amusement, to
needing the equipment to turn out several pieces at a time. Until now, my
priority has been to do thinks using period/primitive techniques. Now that I
have that under control, I can move on.

Trust me, none of you want me to get a chop saw anywhere near as badly as I
want one ;-) It just wasn't necessary until now ;-)

Saint Phlip,
CoD

"When in doubt, heat it up and hit it with a hammer."  Blacksmith's credo.

 If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is probably not a cat.

Never a horse that cain't be rode,
And never a rider who cain't be throwed....

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