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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    9

    Default Angle Grinder recommendation

    Hi all,

    I have got a bar of steel 50mm x 25mm x 350mm.

    I'm trying to cut/ slice the bar lengthwise so it becomes around (2 peices of ) 50 X 8-ish X 350mm.

    I can not get the right size of thickness from the metal company and tehy can not slice it it for me to the thickness I want.

    My question is going to do the job for this purpose? I have ask to have waterjet cutting but they ask for $350 to get it done. it's just way out of my budget.

    I'm thinking of getting an angle grinder 9 inch and built a little frame so the cutting balde is verstical and run it along lengthwise. slowly lower the balde to cut length wise.

    Would this do the job or is this too dangerous? Hand saw is not an option as the steel is a tool steel type ( is is not hardend but still quite hard to saw).

    Any suggestion is greatly appreaciated.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    42

    Default

    Sounds like a pain. If you could set up something to keep the grinder straight and steady you should be ok. Can you put a grinder disc on a circ saw then onto a triton sort of table?

    Surely you should be able to get flat bar in the section you want. Or ring around some fab shops and see if they can cut it out of plate. If it needs to be hardened steel speak to companies that work on earth moving or mining machines.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Heidelberg, Victoria
    Age
    79
    Posts
    2,074

    Default Why reinvent the wheel?

    Arda,

    What thickness do you actually require, and what are the strips going to be used for?
    I presume the material is mild steel, and not gold bullion.

    Surely something metric or imperial would come close, if not, can your design be modified to accommodate a standard cross section.

    Sorry to sound negative, but purchasing an angle grinder seems to be an unnecessary expense, and a last resort, not to mention the rough finish you will get from the blade.

    If slice it you must, take it to engineering shop, and have them run it through a vertical band saw.

    For final thickness, have them set the strips up in a mill, and run a fly cutter over them.
    Each could be done in several passes.

    I'm sure the labour would be far less than $350, say 2 hours work at $60 per hour.

    Ken

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Hi Arda
    I am reasonably sure that 50 x 8 flat mild steel bar is stock item item for metal merchants.For certain 50 x 6 and 50 x 10 are available.

    700 mm of that should be available from a business that specialises in cut metal sizes for around $20 to $30.

    This will be far cheaper than the angle grinder ,blade and the possible medical treatment necessary, should you still choose the difficult option.All jokes aside its simply not done in that way. Save the 50 x 25 for a door stop.

    A quick look in the yellow pages under metals should help you quickly find a vendor close to where you live.


    Cheers
    Grahame

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    9

    Default

    Hi guys,

    Thanks for the replies.

    The steel is for making knives and it is tool steel D2 (K110) material. I rang few companies and they can not cut it under 10mm.

    Just wondering if metal cutter from Bunnings will do it.?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Bondoola
    Age
    81
    Posts
    182

    Default

    Hi Arda
    I noticed your avatar said you are located in Brisbane. There are lots of steel retailers in Brissie and a browse thru the yellow pages as suggested would provide the info you need. It would be cheaper to have the material cut from the size you require (50 x 8) rather than have to machine a split bar to size. If the size is flexible, you could find some steel in Bunnings or Home Hardware that might do the job for you, however, it only comes in 1.8m lengths from these stores. Can you tell us what the steel is for?

    Kody

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    sydney ( st marys )
    Age
    64
    Posts
    4,887

    Default

    You would probably find that the 9" your thinking of would do it ,but your jig would have to be very ridgid.
    I would be tempted to feed the material rather than feed the grinder,I would only be moving the grinder in the Vertical .
    Would imagine for trying to cut something like this you would try to get about 2mm max depth of cut although deeper may work.
    Would try and have some type of cooling set up as well,this will get very hot, maybe a water based coolant or compressed air.
    You would also be better off in my opinion of trying to use the thinest cutting wheel you can get,would think you would go through 3 or 4 blades.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    9

    Default

    Thanks guys,

    It's abit frustrating situation at the moment. I will get the 9 inch grinder and make a mounting so it can slide solidly. i was thinking of the water cooling as well.

    My next question: Is the cutting disk going to be okay when they get wet? Will they break or crumble when wet?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Bondoola
    Age
    81
    Posts
    182

    Default

    Hi Arda
    D2 tool steel is readily available in short lengths. I bought some when I was in the USA for making a good solid knife. You can buy it from any specialty steel company in Brisbane but I cant remember their name/s. The steel is called "Gauge Plate" and is available in a variety of tool steels. Ask for D2 and you can buy it over the counter. The most popular size for knife making is 50 x 6 x 400mm. I'm not exactly sure of the length, it might be 450 or even 500. I cant find the piece I have to check its length. I wouldn't even concider splitting a bar of D2 tool steel. It's far more economical to buy the steel at the size you want. Gauge Plate, as D2 and other tool steels come in a large variety of sizes. You can also buy it as a "knife making kit" from specialty knife stores here in Australia. You will find these stores on the web and the steel can be posted to you if needed.
    A tip for you, when you are shaping the last form of the blade using a file to shape it, make sure you dont touch the steel with your fingers, not ever. If you must clear any fillings, use a small clean brush. The best files to use are 250mm Double Cut square files. These are about 9.5mm square and only use a brand new file. Again, dont rub your fingers over the file either. If you must touch the steel and the file/s, wash them all with acetone before starting to file the steel again.

    Kody

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Adelaide
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,373

    Default

    Bear in mind the steel is almost certainly going to warp, either from the hat or as you release the stresses inherent in the original bar creation process.

    You'll also need to keep in mind that the heat from the process will afffect the original metal hardness and temper,

    If you cannot get the exact size, can you get something just a bit thicker (say 10 mm or 3/8") and have a friendly machin shop use a face mill to bring it back to the thickness you want.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    near Rockhampton
    Posts
    6,216

    Default

    If you have already bought the bar and have a milling machine, cut it with a slitting saw..

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Perth WA
    Posts
    72

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by arda View Post

    I have got a bar of steel 50mm x 350mm.
    You lucky lucky bugger

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    9

    Default

    Kody, this sounds like a silly question but why can't we touch the file?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Heidelberg, Victoria
    Age
    79
    Posts
    2,074

    Default Use an old file

    Arda,

    So it's knife blades eh, have you considered using an old engineer's file? I realise you already have the material, but I reckon an old flat file would cost you 2 & 6 at the market.

    Just a thought.

    Ken

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Katherine ,Northern Territory
    Age
    69
    Posts
    736

    Default

    Bohler steel should have the exact size of D2 steel you require .
    Pretty sure they are in Brisbane ,they have an online catalogue .
    Look under the heading K110 here
    http://www.buau.com.au/english/b_2536.htm

    Has the range of sizes available

    Kev
    "Outside of a dog a book is man's best friend ,inside a dog it's too dark to read"
    Groucho Marx

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