FAB Tools

[drygulch]

My favorite tool is my evolution 15 inch cold cut saw. Perfect cuts in soft steel shapes with no sparks or heat. https://store.evolutionpowertools.com/products/evosaw380
Also love my chip pick up tool https://store.evolutionpowertools.com/products/mcc390

I've had an Evolution on my list for a long time. Would (er, will) be a nice addition for sure.

Hard to say what is favorite or most indispensable, but my belt grinder is way up the list.

 

[drygulch]

My hobby is being self sufficient.

Good practice for when it's necessary.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Mine cuts 4 x 4 x 1/4 wall steel tubing like butter with perfect cuts unlike my bandsaw that would take 15 minutes for the same cut. Have an aluminum cutting blade for it also. If you deal with scrap shapes it's a great tool. I use an abrasive saw for hardened steels but that makes sparks and a big mess.
The magnet is nice because I just hold it over a garbage can and pull the handle that allows the chips to fall right off.

I have the Evolution S380CPS – Heavy Duty 15 Inch Metal Cutting Chop Saw and the
Evolution S210CCS 8-1/4" Heavy Duty Metal Cutting Circular Saw and a Lotos LTP7000 70Amp Plasma cutter.

All of them work incredibly well!

 

[drygulch]

I have the Evolution S380CPS – Heavy Duty 15 Inch Metal Cutting Chop Saw and the
Evolution S210CCS 8-1/4" Heavy Duty Metal Cutting Circular Saw and a Lotos LTP7000 70Amp Plasma cutter.

All of them work incredibly well!

Ever need to sharpen or replace the Evolution blades?

 

[Sidekick]

Ever need to sharpen or replace the Evolution blades?

I destroyed one in less then 30 seconds cutting a piece of scrap angle that I didn't know was hardened. Since then I only cut material that I know is soft (some shipping crates are made of hardened angle). Luckily it had a couple years of use before I removed the teeth. For Chinese blades they cut nice and last.

 

[Trimley]

Mine uses a similar concept. Was recommended by some old timer on Len's Auto Body Forum. (decades gone now I believe). Until now, I had never seen it used again.

Pictures aren't great, but basically copper was plumbed into switchbacks, behind the fan/pulley, that drain back into the tank.

I also have a Sharpe F88 filter after the copper (bought from Len's store). Filter never appears to need draining. Never had issues with blasting, plasma, whatever.

Love the repurposed baseboard heaters.

I've seen this switchback method used in a personal autobody shop. Theirs come from the pump and started at the top- blowing down the switchback. On the bottom leg it dropped to a long straight with a drain. Above the drain about 18" was a "Y" which continued the loop to the tank, which also had a water separator just before going into the tank.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Ever need to sharpen or replace the Evolution blades?

I haven't trashed one yet, replacements are in the $80 range.
We have cut $1000 worth of square tubing with it without any issues.

I'm looking to get a blade sharper as I have 100's (not an exaggeration) of wood blades that could use sharpening too.

 

[mcmxi]

I destroyed one in less then 30 seconds cutting a piece of scrap angle that I didn't know was hardened. Since then I only cut material that I know is soft (some shipping crates are made of hardened angle). Luckily it had a couple years of use before I removed the teeth. For Chinese blades they cut nice and last.

I've had a DeWalt metal chop saw for over a decade, and the first blade lasted all that time and I cut a LOT of steel over those 10 years. A few months ago when I was upgrading the receiver on the Scafer disk harrow to a pintle style the blade got destroyed much to my surprise. I needed to cut off the old interface so that I could weld on a plate for the new lunette ring. I was cutting through the box section shown below as well as through the side plates and the welds between the plates and box section. For whatever reason there was some very hard steel in there.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

You guys bragging about your fancy-ass tools, and ole PoTreeBoy's gonna have to cut out the curve to fit my cross tube with grinder and cut-off wheels. Yes, that's a frown. Congrats!
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Broke out MY plasma rig this afternoon.

 

[Trimley]

Broke out MY plasma rig this afternoon.
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Been there..done that. Rinse/Repeat....MANY TIMES!!!!

We do what we do.

 

[PHPaul]

I've seen this switchback method used in a personal autobody shop. Theirs come from the pump and started at the top- blowing down the switchback. On the bottom leg it dropped to a long straight with a drain. Above the drain about 18" was a "Y" which continued the loop to the tank, which also had a water separator just before going into the tank.

I plumbed up this system when I built the new shop. Made a HUGE difference in air quality for sandblasting and plasma cutting.

 

[chim]

View attachment 136207

I plumbed up this system when I built the new shop. Made a HUGE difference in air quality for sandblasting and plasma cutting.

You guys have me thinking about building a dryer. I have an unused condenser coil that GE sent for our ill-fated heat pump water heater. Maybe it could serve as the cooler.

And as far as fab tools go, I'm 75 and still don't have everything I'd like to have. I am blessed to have more than I need to get by. That wasn't always the case. There have been many projects similar to what PoTreeBoy is doing. Drilled small holes first, then larger, then break it out and hand file. Can't say I miss those days but it was a chance to learn to always be thinking about alternatives.

 

[Sidekick]

Broke out MY plasma rig this afternoon.
View attachment 136201

I burnt up a Bosch jigsaw cutting many feet of steel plate when I first started out. Much of that was circles and radiuses.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

I burnt up a Bosch jigsaw cutting many feet of steel plate when I first started out. Much of that was circles and radiuses.

Actually, my nephew has a plasma rig, but scheduling him and his equipment would have taken longer than doing it my way. Besides, my new-to-me drill press was feeling unloved.

 

[Trimley]

You guys have me thinking about building a dryer. I have an unused condenser coil that GE sent for our ill-fated heat pump water heater. Maybe it could serve as the cooler.

And as far as fab tools go, I'm 75 and still don't have everything I'd like to have. I am blessed to have more than I need to get by. That wasn't always the case. There have been many projects similar to what PoTreeBoy is doing. Drilled small holes first, then larger, then break it out and hand file. Can't say I miss those days but it was a chance to learn to always be thinking about alternatives.

I'm thinking the cooler coil will not work on it's own. Added into the larger system (as shown early on within the thread), it definitely would help.

I've done things the hard way. Within reason, I'm replacing the weld shop so I can save. I also don't have much patience anymore. I want it NOW.

 

[drygulch]

And as far as fab tools go, I'm 75 and still don't have everything I'd like to have. I am blessed to have more than I need to get by. That wasn't always the case.
... Can't say I miss those days but it was a chance to learn to always be thinking about alternatives.

Amen.

 

[chim]

I was thinking about the coil as one component. Without a tank, drip leg or something it wouldn't help at all. I have a few tanks to pick from. All are better for a few times the pressure my compressor will produce.

 

[Trimley]

Actually, my nephew has a plasma rig, but scheduling him and his equipment would have taken longer than doing it my way. Besides, my new-to-me drill press was feeling unloved.

I was in a similar situation regarding "help" in general, prior to getting my little Kubota. My getting a Plasma Cutter is going to help me get several tractor related projects done. I also have some modifications I want to do to my box trailer.

On the fun side, I plan to use it for freehand metal artwork.

 

[Trimley]

What a chore. It started easy, move the middle shelf down 2.5".

Then I went OCD...LOL.

Man, almost a full day farking around to get my welding cart set-up for the Plasma Cutter to be on board. The cart is completely self contained. The Motor Guard Air Dryer, Plasma Cutter and air feed are all Quick Disconnect. I also made aluminum hangers for both sides, for the "ground" cords.

I got a splitter so both machines can be plugged in (not in use) at the same time. Annnd...I forgot to order a mated plug for the Plasma Cutter, so I can't play with it yet...sigh.

 

[Runs With Scissors]

What a chore. It started easy, move the middle shelf down 2.5".

Then I went OCD...LOL.

Man, almost a full day farking around to get my welding cart set-up for the Plasma Cutter to be on board. The cart is completely self contained. The Motor Guard Air Dryer, Plasma Cutter and air feed are all Quick Disconnect. I also made aluminum hangers for both sides, for the "ground" cords.

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I got a splitter so both machines can be plugged in (not in use) at the same time. Annnd...I forgot to order a mated plug for the Plasma Cutter, so I can't play with it yet...sigh.
View attachment 136373

Looks great man!

That set up is nearly identical to mine.


Having that plasma cutter is going to be a real game changer.

It makes metal working even more enjoyable.