Metabo vs Cutting Torch

First things First... This is not a commercial for Metabo. Just an an eye opener on what can be done with a good 6" grinder and good cutting wheels

In this Video...

• 6" Metabo grinder vs cutting torch on 3/8" and 3/4"(9mm and 19mm) thick steel
  
• flange wizard marking tool for I beams
  
• curve o mark burning guide for easy straight torch cutting
  
• dual shield flux core welding with .045” (1.1mm)71m lincoln wire
• stick welding with an engine drive welder
• heavy duty dollies for moving metal

This video was shot at JD Brewers shop ( Apex Welding) while he was building a trolley system to unload a load of metal off the delivery truck.

When you have a metal delivery scheduled for several full lengths of 6" square tubing, I beam, etc. and you dont have a forklift, you get resourceful.

Is a Cutting torch faster than a Metabo 6" grinder?

JDs business is Apex welding and he does work for local industries like piping, water tanks, mezzanines, work platforms, ladders, etc…whatever it takes to keep a factory running.

His shop has a loading dock and rollup door but he does not have a forklift.

Besides that, a forklift would not be the easiest way to handle long lengths of 6” square tubing and I beam.

So JD set out to make a Trolley crane that would allow him to unload metal off the delivery truck and move it around once it was inside the shop.

There were already 3 existing gantry cranes inside the shop on casters that were used to move heavy pieces.

So JD cut the casters off one of the gantry cranes and used the upright pieces for the outside portion.

You will notice in the video that extensions were added to achieve the right height.

The base was made out of 6” square tubing that was leftover from a previous job.

One of JD’s existing gantry cranes was modified with a trolley beam that connected to the outside member by use of a bolted connection.

That lets the roll up door close when he does not need the gantry.
Also, at the bolted connection, there are threaded rods that run up thru the building structure for added strength.

I missed some of the build due to being called away to film some dual shield flux core videos with my friend Andrew Cardin.

(We filmed both 3g and 4g plate welding tests Using Dual Shield Flux Core at the Lincoln Facility in Atlanta)

You can watch those videos here

One of the biggest surprises that came out of my visit with JD was how well a six inch Metabo grinder would compare to a cutting torch on 3/8” thick steel tubing and I beam.

...Partly due the the Metabo Cutting Discs and partly due to the power of the Metabo grinder.

All I know is that we timed each cut with  a stopwatch and when you figured in the cleanup time, the Grinder won.

This all changed once you got to 3/4” thick steel.  The cutting torch won out then.

I think the thickness where it makes sense to use a cutting torch vs a Metabo Grinder is around 1/2”    (12mm)…anything thinner and the Grinder seems a bit quicker due to very little cleanup needed.

For the Dual Shield Flux Core welding, 25.4 volts and around 310ipm did the trick using .045” (1.1mm) Lincoln Electric 71m wire.

JD uses Dual Shield Flux Core whenever he can because its hot, fast, and efficient.

When you are in business for yourself, you look for ways to do things better, faster, cheaper without compromising quality…thats how you make a profit and stay competitive.

Things like the Flange Wizard marking tool, the Curve o Mark burning guide, knowing when to use a 6 inch Grinder vs a Cutting torch, and Dual Shield Flux core all make a difference in being productive and profitable.

Watch the mezzanine build video here