This fall/winter I’m going to be repairing the rust damage and fabbing motor mounts on my Z and need a metal saw. I’m looking for something that will be good for cutting both sheet metal and tubing. I would rather not pay more than a couple hundred bucks because this is my hobby, not profession. I did some searching any only found reasonably priced pipe cutters and mega expensive band saws.
Any one have any suggestions?
Dewalt angle grinder and assortment of blades available at any lowes or home depot
x10000 1/4" angle grinder is perfect for thin sheet metal. for heavier shit use a 4" angle grinder at the minimum.
I have an angle grinder. Great for cutting stuff up when you don’t care about precision all to much, but I’d like something a little more accurate.
Unless there is such thing as a bench/table mounted angle grinder.
I need something that I can use to make replacement body panels. Say up to 1’x1’.
Unless of course an angle grinder is the best way of cutting panels of that size.
need more specifics into what type and gauge/thickness metal you plan to cut.
Steel, and most likely no thicker than 1/4".
What type of steel, because cutting 1/4" mild is a breeze compared to cutting 1/4" stainless.
You’re going to most likely be looking at a table bandsaw, however a bandsaw with a 12" throat that’s going to have the power and proper speed(low FPM) to cut that thick of metal is going to cost a bit more than $200. My cheapo 12" is about $500, my bigger 18" metal Jet is sub $2500.
Nothing bigger than 12x12…invest in a sturdy vise and a good sawzall with blades. You can cut presise with that in .065(16gauge) and up. Thinner stuff, like 18-20 gauge body sheet metal, buy an air nibbler and go nutz. Or spend a few hundred on a used 110 volt plasma cutter and you could do it all with precision(1/4" might be pushign it on that but would still cut with multiple pass or REALLY slow single pass)
and why is this in the Projects section? :haha
The body work and mounts will be in mild, any exhaust work will be in stainless (sure as hell won’t be 1/4" stainless tho).
How terrible to use is the cheapo 12" you have?
And I didn’t know where else to put it. There’s not “tools” section and since it pertained to my project I figured why not in here. Mods can move it to where ever if they wish.
The 12" I own is pretty much useless on anything ferrous. Blade speed is too fast and non adjustable, it burns the teeth up very quickly. If you don’t own a blade welder that can get expensive real quick.
For what you’re looking to do: Makita, Dewalt, or Milwauke saws all for ~$150, large clamp for $25, and $25 in decent blades. C-lamp for securing the work to a bench or similar. Or by decent vise.
I like my air scroll saw, shit works great for cutting metal on cars. And a Dewalt metal chop saw for coarse cuts. Dewalt angle grinder with cutoff wheel.
East or west, home is best.ドレス