View Single Post
  #18   Report Post  
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
Mark Dunning Mark Dunning is offline
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 55
Default Garden Tractor Demolition / Cutting up steel - How and how fast can I do it?



"djenyc" wrote in message
ups.com...
Thanks for reply. As a brief background, I've used to make stuff out
of scrap lumber, like shelving, boat cradle/ boat lift / trailer bed /
carts / work tables etc. I want to build some more implements for
boat, trailering, welding etc, but I've run out of lumber and also for
some stuff metal would work a bit better. I've looked at local home
builder box stores/ hardware stores and the cost of metal stock is
insane. I can by readily made tools for less cost per pound. I go to
Homier/Harbor freight and get stuff like parts washers/ hand tracks /
trailers etc for under a dollar a pound and that's with the cost of
design and fabrication, I don't know where to get new metal stock
locally cheap. At Home depot I think they wanted like 5 bucks a foot
for angle iron, I might be off, but I think it's close to that. But
where is a lot of scrap that people don't want, so I though if there
is a quick/efficient way to dismantle stuff - that's a win-win - I get
free metal and people dispose of their junk. Hm, plasma cutter is $400
bucks from Homier, is it worth it? How quick can it cut compared to
abrasive? I can get port-a-torch for $260 from Harbor freight, but I'm
afraid cost of oxygen is gonna kill me, if not acetylene exploding.
Any thoughts? Thanks. Cheers. Ross

On Sep 6, 4:42 pm, Ignoramus7495
wrote:
I do not think that you would get a good bang for the buck. The
equation might be a little different if you had a plasma cutter.

Take these garden tractor remnants and entrails, put in a open box,
and hope that scrap hunters pick them up. (usually works at my
house).

That will save you a great deal of money that you would spend on worn
out cutting blades, etc.

Use the savings to buy new 12 gauge steel.

i




I live 20 miles from a gas dealer's store, so I went with a Oxy/Propane rig.
I also have lotsa propane untis here( BBQ, turkey cooker, space heater, etc)
so that helped steer the fuel choice.

Cuts fine.

Not enough heat for good welding on thick material, but I can do sheet metal
welding and brazing OK with it.

I had to listen to a lot of " you can't weld with propane" talk before I
found a set of torch tips that work.

Rotsa Ruck

Mark



----== Posted via Newsfeeds.Com - Unlimited-Unrestricted-Secure Usenet News==----
http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----