Any suggestions for a novice idiot's guide please? I've 115mm and 230mm
but only ever used them to wreck metal. I want now to cut some mild
steel and am failing miserably to get straight lines and clean edges.

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 14/12/2022 14:13, Robin wrote:
> Any suggestions for a novice idiot's guide please?  I've 115mm and 230mm
> but only ever used them  to wreck metal.  I want now to cut some mild
> steel and am failing miserably to get straight lines and clean edges.
>
>
>
more speed, less pressure. Let it walk through under its own weight
--
"And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch".

Gospel of St. Mathew 15:14

On 14/12/2022 14:13, Robin wrote:
> Any suggestions for a novice idiot's guide please?  I've 115mm and 230mm
> but only ever used them  to wreck metal.  I want now to cut some mild
> steel and am failing miserably to get straight lines and clean edges.
>
>
>
Are you using thin cutting blades?
Are you using a piece of wood as a guide?
For very thin steel it might be useful to sandwich the steel in ply, or
to have a sacrificial sheet underneath

On 14/12/2022 20:43, nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
> On 14/12/2022 14:13, Robin wrote:
>> Any suggestions for a novice idiot's guide please?  I've 115mm and
>> 230mm but only ever used them  to wreck metal.  I want now to cut some
>> mild steel and am failing miserably to get straight lines and clean
>> edges.
>>
>>
>>
> Are you using thin cutting blades?

no. Wd that likely make a big difference?

> Are you using a piece of wood as a guide?

I tried a guide against the guard but on my cheap tool that tends to
flex/move.

I saw some videos where people remove the guard and use a guide against
the blade but didn't fancy that.

> For very thin steel it might be useful to sandwich the steel in ply, or
> to have a sacrificial sheet underneath
>

not very thin: 3mm

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 15/12/2022 08:51, Robin wrote:
> On 14/12/2022 20:43, nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
>> On 14/12/2022 14:13, Robin wrote:
>>> Any suggestions for a novice idiot's guide please?  I've 115mm and
>>> 230mm but only ever used them  to wreck metal.  I want now to cut
>>> some mild steel and am failing miserably to get straight lines and
>>> clean edges.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> Are you using thin cutting blades?
>
> no.  Wd that likely make a big difference?
Using a 0.8mm or 1mm blade will make life easier (but don't load it
sideways)
>
>> Are you using a piece of wood as a guide?
>
> I tried a guide against the guard but on my cheap tool that tends to
> flex/move.
>
> I saw some videos where people remove the guard and use a guide against
> the blade but didn't fancy that.
TBH that's what I suggest if you need a straight edge. Most of the
sparks will go downwards but wear safety specs and ear defenders, of
course. Do this somewhere that won't lead to a repeat of Notre-Dame!
>
>> For very thin steel it might be useful to sandwich the steel in ply,
>> or to have a sacrificial sheet underneath
>>
>
> not very thin: 3mm
That should be easy with the cutting blades.
>

On 14/12/2022 14:13, Robin wrote:
> Any suggestions for a novice idiot's guide please?  I've 115mm and 230mm
> but only ever used them  to wreck metal.  I want now to cut some mild
> steel and am failing miserably to get straight lines and clean edges.
>
>
>
What thickness disk are you using?
Mike

On 15/12/2022 11:23, nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:

> TBH that's what I suggest if you need a straight edge. Most of the
> sparks will go downwards but wear safety specs and ear defenders, of
> course. Do this somewhere that won't lead to a repeat of Notre-Dame!

At far enough away from where sparks can hit UPVC windows/doors and far
enough away from your car :)

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On 15/12/2022 12:31, alan_m wrote:
> On 15/12/2022 11:23, nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
>
>> TBH that's what I suggest if you need a straight edge. Most of the
>> sparks will go downwards but wear safety specs and ear defenders, of
>> course. Do this somewhere that won't lead to a repeat of Notre-Dame!

Thanks, I'll try that (trusting the Wiki has a section on "Screwing:
courage to sticking place).

> At far enough away from where sparks can hit UPVC windows/doors and far
> enough away from your car :)
>

I'd like to /increase/ the range of the sparks to hit the foxes - one of
whom was making off with my gloves when I came out with the Nth coffee
yesterday.

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On 15/12/2022 15:19, Robin wrote:

> I'd like to /increase/ the range of the sparks to hit the foxes - one of
> whom was making off with my gloves when I came out with the Nth coffee
> yesterday.
>

During the summer I went into my garden with my slippers on. It had been
raining and and they became rather wet. I left them in my kitchen to dry
off. Being hot that day the kitchen door was left open.

When I went back a few hours later one slipper was missing. I found it
down the bottom of the garden chewed to bits.

For a while the main problem was used nappies being brought into my and
the neighbouring gardens.

--
mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

On Thu, 15 Dec 2022 19:51:11 +1100, Robin <rbw@outlook.com> wrote:

> On 14/12/2022 20:43, nothanks@aolbin.com wrote:
>> On 14/12/2022 14:13, Robin wrote:
>>> Any suggestions for a novice idiot's guide please? I've 115mm and
>>> 230mm but only ever used them to wreck metal. I want now to cut some
>>> mild steel and am failing miserably to get straight lines and clean
>>> edges.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> Are you using thin cutting blades?

> no. Wd that likely make a big difference?

I do use a thin blade in a circular saw and that works fine.

>> Are you using a piece of wood as a guide?
>
> I tried a guide against the guard but on my cheap tool that tends to
> flex/move.
>
> I saw some videos where people remove the guard and use a guide against
> the blade but didn't fancy that.

Yeah, very dangerous if the blade comes apart.

>> For very thin steel it might be useful to sandwich the steel in ply, or
>> to have a sacrificial sheet underneath

> not very thin: 3mm

Circular saw with a thin blade would work fine and is much easier to guide.

On Wed, 14 Dec 2022 14:13:07 +0000
Robin <rbw@outlook.com> wrote:

> Any suggestions for a novice idiot's guide please? I've 115mm and
> 230mm but only ever used them to wreck metal. I want now to cut
> some mild steel and am failing miserably to get straight lines and
> clean edges.
>
You'll do better pressing lightly and moving fairly fast - once you've
made a slight groove it's easier to follow a straight line. Thinner
discs cut easier but are more likely to break. I tend to leave the
guards off my grinders because they often seem to get in the way, but I
wouldn't recommend that to anyone because they can kick back and send
shrapnel flying at you (so don't put your face in line with the disc) or
just give you a nasty graze on your knuckles.