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Does anyone use a welder to cut metal?
Can a welder be used for that? Now that its getting cold I close up dads garage and use the torpedo heater for heat and I dont' want to use my side grinder IN the garage with the doors closed. Its a flux wire welder. I had started to teach myself to weld before I got freaky busy this summer so plan to get back to that now that things have slowed. Have to start from scratch as I forgot stuff after months of being away from it, lol. Was just wondering if anyone used a welder to cut things up.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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I've used stick rod soaked in water to cut aluminum sheet, in fact several electric trolley bus's. Gives a jagged cut but hey were scrappers not fabricators. Don't think that your flux core wire is going to do much cutting.
You can get carbon arc rods to cut and gouge with, but you need a real heavy duty welding machine to pull that off.
Doubt you want to use a welder in a closed area either. Fumes are toxic.
Don't know that you can cut with a wire feed. I have cut a truck frame using a stick welder though.
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Thanks for all the feedback! So, scrap that idea (pun intended)
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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If I am already repairing or fabbing with the arc welder, I'll crank it up to make one or two quick cuts just because it's convenient at the moment. Wouldn't want to do it all the time.
Experienced Scrapper
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Also keep in mind it takes a lot of power to throw an arc! If you used a arc welder a lot your electric bill would reflect it!
When the white man discovered this country Indians were running it
no taxes, no debt, women did all the work.
White man thought he could improve on a system like this. - Old Cherokee saying
I did not surrender, they took my horse and made him surrender. - Lone Watie
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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Agree with the above. You can theoretically cut with any welder. The better question is it cost or time effective.
Wire feed welders are capable of cutting 1/8 or less sheet metal (1/4 if its a good quality 220v) if you crank them all the way up. This still burns wire and electricity, and inert gas if so equiped. These require you have an outlet and are not portable unless you have a good generator. Probably the worst option for cutting.
Arc / Stick welders can handle plate steel inches thick but it takes time and a lot of rod and can leave a massive electricity bill. These also require you have an outlet and are not portable unless you have a good generator. Not the best cutting welder put a usable one.
Oxy / Acetaline (or LP / propane) torches are better and more cost effective but still have consumables that are not cheap. LP / Propane burns cheaper and a bit slower than acetaline. MAPP gas can work as well and provides higher heat / faster cutting than LP / propane. All of these require proper tips / torch setup to the gas used.
Plasma cutters. These I have not used but do know that as long as you keep in the range of thickness they are designed for they provide a nice cut and are most time and cost effective. I have been told by a few welders that use them you can exceed the rated thickness by up to 50%. So if it is rated for 1/2 inch you could be able to burn through a 3/4 in plate but will have a very poor quality cut. I believe these also use electricity and inert gas. Someone with more experience with them will have to chime in here and confirm or deny this aspect. I do believe that they have portable options available you can find with some quick searching.
Last edited by bcrepurposing; 01-16-2014 at 04:13 PM. Reason: Correcting grammar and info in post.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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There's gouging rods that work on welders. Probably DC is best.
Called 'GO' rods. But that's a weldwell/phillips brand name.
The carbon arc gouging rods needs compressed air & mega amps
400 min.......
I have spent months on the end of one. Big fun.
Stick welders are grerat for cutting metal in hard to reach areas. Just turn the AMPage all the way up and reach your stick into that hard to reach area and blast rite thrue your metal.
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Originally Posted by eesakiwi
also known as air arc.
amperage depends on diameter of carbon rod.
My old man uses them a metric crap ton from his bridge welding and equipment repair.
Metal Recycling Entrepreneur
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Now thats a job I'd love to do.
Experienced Scrapper
We have a Lincoln Ranger 225 Welder/Generator on our mobile rig and use rod to burn through heavy beams. BUT...... you have to have very thick leads and you will go through some rods. I'll buy crappy old rods off of Craigs List for this type of work. My last score was 125 lbs of 3/8'' rod for $25. It can be done but with the correct equipment. Your wire flux core weld would not work for this.
Jason
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