Three Home Improvement Experts Are Now Online
Angle Iron is a strong, versatile and inexpensive building material. You can use it to make everything from shelving and structural supports to furniture and frames for anything, from a bed to go-karts.
Angle iron can be intimidating to work with, but this helpful guide will help you to quickly and safely cut it.
What You’ll Need
All roads lead to Rome when it comes to cutting angle iron. There are many ways to cut angle iron. Depending on the project you have and the tools available, some methods might be more suitable than others.
- No matter what tool you use to actually cut, these are the essential items:
- Gloves for heavy duty
- Protective eyewear
- Facemask
- If you don’t have a paint pen, use a pencil or a marker.
- Workbench
- Vice (depending on which tool you are using, may not be necessary)
There are many ways to cut angle iron. If you don’t have the time or desire to buy new tools, I would recommend sticking with what you already have.
These tools allow you to quickly work with angle iron.
- Chop saw
- Angle grinder
- Reciprocating saw
- Hacksaw
Step 1: Measurement
No matter what tool you use, the first step is to measure your workpiece. Once you have taken your measurements, mark the metal with a paint marker. Wite-Out and a Sharpie are good options.
Step II: Preparing Your Work Area
Sparks are a part of metal. Sparks can set off fires. You need to be careful when setting up your workstation so that sparks from the angle-iron don’t ignite a pile of sawdust left over from your previous project.
Before you start, make sure your floor and workbench are clean and free of any debris. Move the entire job outside, and you can make your cuts in your yard or driveway.
Safety goes beyond the work place to what you wear. Wear eye protection and a mask whenever you can. Cover exposed areas such as your arms and legs.
Step 3: Cut Your Angle Iron
The fun part is now: cutting your angle-iron. The principle is the same no matter what tool you use, but there are slight differences between them. You can skip to the section about the tool you are using.
Use A Chop Saw
A chop saw is one of the most efficient and simple ways to cut angle steel.
Your choice of metal cutting blade can be fitted to your chop saw. Make sure the angle iron is secured in the jig.
Next, turn on your saw and begin to cut the angle iron.
Use An Angle Grinder
Angle grinders are quick and easy to use for most types of cutting tasks.
Secure your angle iron piece in your vice. As you are cutting, clamp the metal as close as possible to the vice.
Next, begin to cut the metal in a slow fashion as shown in this video.
Use A Reciprocating Saw
A reciprocating saw is a tool that can be used to cut angle iron. It’s a must-have if you are a homeowner who works on projects all around the house.
First, place your angle iron in a vice. For using an angle grinder, follow the same procedure as I have described.
You won’t make your cut with the chop saw. Instead, clamp the angle iron in the vice and attach it to one side of your iron.
Make sure that you have the right saw blade for the job. A metal cutting blade with 14-18 TPI is the best choice.
Once you have the correct blade, it’s time to get to work. Begin with the horizontal end of the angle iron and work your way down. After you have cut through the horizontal side of the angle iron, move on to the vertical side and continue to use the saw to make your cuts.
Hacksaws:
Are you more old-fashioned? You can use your trusty hacksaw to complete this project if you are. Although it may take longer, you can make the same cuts by hand as with a power drill.
Secure your angle iron in the vice just like you would with an angle grinder.
Now you are ready to start cutting. To get started, you can start by making a few backstrokes with your saw. Then, you can begin to cut as you would with a hacksaw.
Remember that the quality of your hacksaw will determine how successful you are. If you haven’t replaced your blade in a while, it is worth investing in a high-quality blade. This will allow you to achieve better results in a shorter time.
Conclusion
You can quickly and easily achieve professional results when cutting angle iron. Do not be intimidated by metal. This guide contains all the information you need to get beautiful results.
