Need some steel cut

HannibalMontana

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Anyone around Mooresville that can cut some steel? I have a couple pieces that I believe are ar400 or ar500. One is 5/8 thick and the other is 3/4.

Dunno if a regular torch will do it or if a plasma cutter will be necessary.

Only need about 7 or 8 cuts made, about 6” per cut.


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If you plan to use them for targets, I would avoid the cutting torch. It will take the temper out of the cut area (edge).
That area will quickly pit.
A pitted plate is dangerous.

I think Plasma or waterjet are the preferred method. Local machine shop may have plasma cutter.
 
3/4" is mighty thick for most home / hobbyist plasma torches, the cut would be slow at best and have the same softening affect as a gas torch.
 
3/4" is mighty thick for most home / hobbyist plasma torches, the cut would be slow at best and have the same softening affect as a gas torch.
What would you know about it? :p

(That was a fun day...and it was only 1/2”)
 
Thanks for the input everyone.

Found a water jet place close by but they want about $100 bucks to cut it. Might go that route, dunno yet.

Buddy of mine knows a dude who knows a guy who’s cousins brothers uncle has a plasma table and might just do it for free. Apparently, plasma cutting doesn’t heat a large enough area to cause significant weakening.

Even so, I’ll be shooting it with lead 45 going kinda slow, so I don’t see it being a problem.
I have other stuff for rifles.


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If you were close to me I have a 14" Evolution circular saw that would cut it nice and straight with no burrs and a nice finish on the cut side. You can pick the steel up with your bare hands right after the cut. That is, of course, it is sized in a manner that will allow it to be cut with a 14" saw blade.

Oops. Nevermind. I didn't read your post until just now. My EVO saw won't cut AR500. It does a great job on mild steel however.
 
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Yeah I’m going to have to quit being cheap and just have it cut. Even at 100 bucks you couldn’t get 5, 6x11 ar500 targets from a target place. Especially not 3/4” thick.


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A tunneling neutrino beam would do the job nicely but has not been invented yet.;)
 
I've cut 5/8" carbon steel with my cutmaster 42...the arc tends to wander at that depth so I imagine you'd need a pretty high amperage plasma cutter to cleanly cut 3/4" .A friend of mine works at a fab shop with a waterjet though and I may be able to help you out ( Rock Hill )
 
I’d you use plasma you want a submerged plasma to help with cooling. Plasma does in deed create a sizable HAZ.

You say you’re only going to be shooting these with 45, then why not just get some 3/8 plates? Get these cut correctly and you’ll have lifetime rifle targets!
 
I’d you use plasma you want a submerged plasma to help with cooling. Plasma does in deed create a sizable HAZ.

You say you’re only going to be shooting these with 45, then why not just get some 3/8 plates? Get these cut correctly and you’ll have lifetime rifle targets!

Not going to spend lots of money on this. They are cutting edges that broke off of a snow plow a couple years ago. Found them on the side of the road.

The targets will be odd shaped, and I can’t confirm what the material is either. Could be ar400, 500, Hardox, or just high carbon steel that will get torn up anyway.




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Got a local fab shop to look at this stuff. Did a little cleanup on it and found that it isn’t abrasion resistant steel, just regular carbon steel. Also, the thicker piece is laminated from three pieces.

Into the trash it goes. Tanks for the input everyone.


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I've got an oxy/acetylene torch with a cutting tip but to cut through something that thick you would lay a ton of heat into it.
 
Is there any data anywhere saying how much plasma cutters degrade AR500?
I am asking because my range is wanting to do maintenance on the steel targets in house.
A water cutter isn't feasible but a plasma cutter may be. I have heard this before, but what is the actual degradation? Is it AR400 equivalent? Is it mild steel?]
I'm sure it depends on the exact cutter and technique but if anyone can say whether it is roughly 5% or 50% softer, that would help a lot.

For example, if 3/8" AR500 is needed for a particular application, is 1/2" cut with plasma sufficient? Or any other data - actual researched data.
 
Is there any data anywhere saying how much plasma cutters degrade AR500?
I am asking because my range is wanting to do maintenance on the steel targets in house.
A water cutter isn't feasible but a plasma cutter may be. I have heard this before, but what is the actual degradation? Is it AR400 equivalent? Is it mild steel?]
I'm sure it depends on the exact cutter and technique but if anyone can say whether it is roughly 5% or 50% softer, that would help a lot.

For example, if 3/8" AR500 is needed for a particular application, is 1/2" cut with plasma sufficient? Or any other data - actual researched data.

I talked to a guy here in Mooresville that makes and sells ar500 targets. He informed me that plasma cutting should be “submerged”, I guess under water or some sort of coolant to keep from annealing the steel. They use laser cutting.

What I gather is that ar500 really needs to be handled properly to maintain its qualities. I’d rather just buy the right stuff and not worry about it, especially when I’m bouncing 600+ mph projectiles off of it, faster if rifle.


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