Shoot Them Down

I still have not received my compressor.

I keep Googling and reading comments. What a puzzle metal-cutting is.

The dry-cut saw is a blessing from God. But I am limited to cuts about 8" long, on objects that will fit on the little platform. An oxy-acetylene torch is highly versatile and will cut huge things and doesn't cost all that much, but it's not good for non-ferrous metal, and it won't cut as pretty as a plasma. A plasma is great, but it's expensive. Air shears are very nice, but they only cut very thin metal. Bench shears are huge and can't make turns, and you can only cut so far into the work. One interesting item: metal-cutting circular saws. These are small versions of the dry-cut saw. They get raves from users, but you can only use them where you can fit a circular saw, and you can't make turns.

It's confusing, but I think it has given me the answer to one question. I wondered how big a plasma cutter I should get. And it looks like the smaller ones are more suitable. They run off 110 or 220 (same machine), they cut pretty thick stuff well (1/4"), and they're compact. I'm pretty sure I could use one with my portable compressor. The big ones have a considerably higher thickness rating, but they're very heavy and cost almost 50% more. And it looks like the vast majority of the stuff they would do for me can be done just as well by an oxy torch or the dry cut saw. So while oxy-acetylene probably isn't a good substitute for a plasma cutter, a small cutter plus an oxy-acetylene torch would probably make more sense--cost less and do more--than a big plasma cutter.

For the project I mentioned--slicing 14 gauge stainless into pieces for a grill skirt--I think the best options are a plasma cutter or a circular saw with a guide.

I found some really neat bending tools. One is a fairly inexpensive vise-type thing, and it will bend strips of metal several inches wide. I'm surprised there aren't more things I could use with my huge vise, but maybe it doesn't generate enough pressure to do the job.

Seems like there aren't many bending brakes available for objects under a foot in width. Too bad.

Ron Paul is actually a gene-spliced orangutan.