Cut Saw

Cut Saw

Steel Cutting Made Simple: A DIY Guide

Steel cutting: it's one of those things that you never figure you'll need to do, but that circumstances too often force you into. Major plumbing projects or swimming pool installations can easily require you to cut your own steel pipes for drainage systems or other, similar repair jobs. This can help you save money, as well as give you the personal satisfaction that only comes with a job well done.

Even though it's technically possible to cut steel pipes with a hacksaw or another non-powered, non-industrial quality tool, we don't recommend it. A steel cutting saw should ideally be powered, and using spring-loaded tools (a chop saw, for example) can make your life much simpler and can also help make your project much safer. Any portable steel cutting saw will work, of course, preferable with a 9" metal cutting saw blade that's capable of making accurate miter cuts. If you need to make bevel cuts for some reason--or if you just suspect you will in the future--go ahead and make the investment in a good bevel cutter now to save you the agony later.

The key with any professional cutting, of course, is to measure. Measure twice, cut once is the classic adage for this: go ahead and double that if you've got the patience. If not, just make sure your measurements are accurate, and that you double-check them before making any cuts. You can mark your measurements using any permanent marker, but it's probably a better idea to just use a scribing tool to put a notch in the actual steel.This is far more noticeable when you're making your cuts, and it gives the saw a "groove" to work with in order to make sure that your cut is as close to the mark as possible.

Use a vice grip to secure your steel before you make any cuts. Even the best chop saw or other portable steel cutting saw isn't perfectly accurate if you can't hold your basic materials steady. A good vice grip will also help prevent any accidents in the unlikely event that the saw slips or you face other technical problems during the cut.

As long as you have those problems solved, it's just a matter of applying the right pressure and making sure your motor skills are up to snuff. It's also a good idea to wear protective material over your eyes, since cutting steel is naturally going to throw off plenty of sparks. Goggles are sufficient for this, but if you plan to cut a large amount of steel you might also want to use an iron protective mask.

Once you have your steel pipes cut, you'll probably need to add some screw holes or other join holes to complete your project. We suggest using a good magnetic base drill for this, such as those sold by Rotabroach and other industrial tool suppliers.High-speed steel cutters or other powered drilling equipment can give you perfectly accurate pilot holes and save you a lot of grief and headache down the line.

About the Author

SteelMax.com offers metal cutting
saws, steel cutting blades, magnetic
drills, and annular hole cutters that have earned the company a
reputation of exceeding expectations. SteelMax’s quality, safety and
customer service make it the best choice when deciding between top
brands Hougen, Jancy, and Nitto
Kohki.

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