Plasma cutting brackets off diff, trick to get closer?

[folkenheath]

This may sound like a stupid question, but is there a trick to plasma cutting brackets off of differentials or other parts to get almost flush without cutting through the axle tubing itself or any base material? I have a 625 Xtreme and I was afriad to cut any closer than about 1/4" at best for fear of cutting right into the housing tube. The torch head is thick enough you can't lay it sideways, so you have to cut at an angle. It cuts so quick and deep that I felt like it was easier to get closer with a standard torch cutting head.

I really like the machine and it cuts everyting like butter. Just looking for a way to cut stuff of closer without damaging the base material. Because if you want to transfer brackets from one thing to the other and you cut off 1/4" - 3/8", that's too much.

Am I missing something hear? Thanks in advance.

[JSFAB]

Try using a .045" cutoff wheel on a 4 1/2" grinder.

[abprt]

Plasma cutting

This may sound like a stupid question, but is there a trick to plasma cutting brackets off of differentials or other parts to get almost flush without cutting through the axle tubing itself or any base material? I have a 625 Xtreme and I was afriad to cut any closer than about 1/4" at best for fear of cutting right into the housing tube. The torch head is thick enough you can't lay it sideways, so you have to cut at an angle. It cuts so quick and deep that I felt like it was easier to get closer with a standard torch cutting head.

I really like the machine and it cuts everyting like butter. Just looking for a way to cut stuff of closer without damaging the base material. Because if you want to transfer brackets from one thing to the other and you cut off 1/4" - 3/8", that's too much.

Am I missing something hear? Thanks in advance.

Use a miller 2050 myself and understand your situation. Personally I would use an air arc system to cut the weld. You can control the depth of the cut with the air arc.

[monte55]

If you're cutting the brackets off the tube to be used elsewhere, I assume the donor part is bad. Why do you care if you cut into the tube?

[aametalmaster]

O/A torch like us oldtimers used to do...Bob

[bodydropcris]

i second the o/a torch.. just wash off the weld and beat the part off with a hammer!

when i first got a plasma at the house i would try to use it on everything, until i got tired of welding oily holes up in rear ends..

[superchip73]

I use O/A to to cut of welds and bearing races, the o/a torch will not cut the base metal unless you get it to hot.

I am starting to use the plasma to cut welds lose more and more, I just cut about 12 feet of weld lose today, have to use a tip with a bigger hole in it (gouge or drag tip) so its not so aggressive and spoon out the weld.

[ligito]

Turn the differential 90 degrees and see if that helps.

[Shep]

Most plasma cutters have the ability to gouge in addition to cutting. You just need the appropriate parts for gouging. It works very well, but it has its limits when trying to work in tight spots.

[Sberry]

I never really figured out how to gouge with it, the manual says the thing has the parts but was as clear as mud.

[davedarragh]

Arc Gouging

I never really figured out how to gouge with it, the manual says the thing has the parts but was as clear as mud.

All you need is the gouge shield and tip. Follow the instructions in the owner's manual regarding torch angle.

[turbo38t]

O/A torch like us oldtimers used to do...Bob

Yes, and a washing tip.....

[folkenheath]

Thanks for the advice guys. I was guessing there is no easy answer to cut it close like the torch would.

A cutoff wheel wouldn't work real well for this because it is cutting around a ~3 inch diameter tube. I have used those many times.

And that's a valid point, often you don't care about the old part, for instance, this particular time I was not using the brackets, but needed the housing, so I just sacrificed the brackets and ground the housing flush. But there may be an instance where I need to using the brackets over again and also use the part, so I was just looking for ideas.

I don't have a gas ax right now, not enough room in the garage, but in the future I will get one. I already had a compressor and the 625 is so small I can plop it on the shelf between uses. I suppose I could get one of those small torch setups to get me by if I really need it, although I am not sure if you can cut with those.

I will also get the gouge tip, haven't tried that yet.

[davedarragh]

ICE 40C/T Parts

Here's some part numbers:

Gouge Shield-192203.....................................$14.14 ea.

Gouge Tips-204332........................................$38. 55 (pkg of 5)

You can buy these from Cyberweld.

Dave