Any advice on cutting square tube?

[MigPlazArc]

I would use a chop saw or a mitre saw with a metal cutting blade. If you use a plasma cutter, mark your cut with a square and then use a straight edge to guide you... Also, just use enough amps to get through one side of the metal. I would do a test cut first.

Remember to consider the distance between the plasma flame and the edge of your tip.

[Trip59]

Someone mentioned a base to convert a port-a-band style saw to a horizontal bandsaw type setup. I've been googling and not really found much useful info. Anyone have a resource they've seen? I tacked it on this thread since it pulled from and was related to the posts and topic, but mods, feel free to split it or I can repost it elsewhere.

[everlastsupport]

Search our forums. Here is the first one I found.

http://www.everlastgenerators.com/fo...hlight=bandsaw

[Trip59]

I must be searching wrong... Thanks Mike!

[everlastsupport]

Nah, not you, for some reason most web forums have a weak search. Always "Go advanced" and select all and try two words, the search box is almost useless for searching

[trickbiker]

Nah, not you, for some reason most web forums have a weak search. Always "Go advanced" and select all and try two words, the search box is almost useless for searching

As for me in cutting square tubing I use a chop saw for a good square cut. Mickey

[trickbiker]

As for me in cutting square tubing I use a chop saw for a good square cut. Mickey

Of coarse this depends on the thickness of the tubing. If it is thick you will need the porta saw but if not the chop saw works fine for my thinner metals. Mickey

[Trip59]

I gave up, I surrendered to my perfectionism and sacrificed my frugalness this time. Bought a nice shiny new Milwaukee 14" saw. 6180-20, damn it's a sweet machine. I think I'm happier dropping the $200 on it than I would have been on a harbor freight horizontal bandsaw. I'll save my pennies and get a good horizontal down the road.

I debated a base for the porta-band, but decided if I did it I needed to buy a real porta-band and not a HF knockoff... the price drove above the $200 budget I had.

[EmptyNester]

As I said earlier in this thread - based on everybody's advice, I got an Evolution saw. It worked great for the welding cart I made.

I still wanted to try my plasma, but started on angle for my motor mount project. Here's a picture of the wood template I made and the results of a cut.



The initial cuts were really messy, but that's due to my inexperience with the torch. However, got better with every cut until it got reasonably clean. Still not as good as the saw, but I'm guessing I could get it even better with more practice.

[everlastsupport]

As I said earlier in this thread - based on everybody's advice, I got an Evolution saw. It worked great for the welding cart I made.

I still wanted to try my plasma, but started on angle for my motor mount project. Here's a picture of the wood template I made and the results of a cut.



The initial cuts were really messy, but that's due to my inexperience with the torch. However, got better with every cut until it got reasonably clean. Still not as good as the saw, but I'm guessing I could get it even better with more practice.

Make sure you have dry air and plenty of amp to move fast, should come out nice and clean. Not like the Evolution saw, but fast. Save that blade for important projects.

Which Evolution did you get? Looking at (think it was Rage 3) 10" mitre. Wish Amazon would take paypal.

[EmptyNester]

Make sure you have dry air and plenty of amp to move fast, should come out nice and clean. Not like the Evolution saw, but fast. Save that blade for important projects.

Which Evolution did you get? Looking at (think it was Rage 3) 10" mitre. Wish Amazon would take paypal.

I ended up going for the Fury3 with a smaller blade (8 1/4") because it was a sliding compound mitre saw. I liked the added versatility and it was only $150. I figured I could replace my non-sliding compound mitre saw I use for wood with it. Haven't tried it on wood though.

When cutting the channel, I realized that I didn't have the power high enough initially (it was around 20 amps). That made a big difference as I could cut much faster and clean at 30 amps. (That was the last one I cut.) It did make me realize I need a lot of practice, but don't yet have scrap to practice with. But, at least I'm past the "scared of it" stage and at the "healthy respect" stage

I use the air dryer that came with the PP50. I had been on the fence about adding another one. Would you recommend that? If so, any particular style/type/model?