$1.99 Track Cutter

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Russ Hanscom
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Location: Farmington, NM

$1.99 Track Cutter

Post by Russ Hanscom »

Well, not exactly $1.99, possibly less, if everything from the scrap box is considered free.

I needed to taper some 1 3/4" square bar for some forks I am making for a friend's tractor. For a right angle cut, there are multiple options, but not for a 16" long bevel, and I did not want to do it on a milling machine.

So, two pieces of conduit, some scraps of unitstrut and clamps for the track, some allthread and a cordless drill for motive power, and a simple carriage running on old ball bearings with a few simple adjustments with a holder for a regular torch. I set the tip size and gas pressure per the Victor book and it worked great. Not the last time it gets used, I am sure.

Some of the large lumps are weights to improve stability.
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Harold_V
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Re: $1.99 Track Cutter

Post by Harold_V »

Way cool, Russ! The poor man's track cutter.

Harold
Wise people talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say something.
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refinery mike
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Re: $1.99 Track Cutter

Post by refinery mike »

I love it, the only thing I can not see is what did you use on the bottom of the carriage to ride on the conduit.
Russ Hanscom
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Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:10 pm
Location: Farmington, NM

Re: $1.99 Track Cutter

Post by Russ Hanscom »

Mike,

One side of the carriage has several small ball bearings mounted in a V pattern so that they track on the tube, the other side has some bearings that ride on the top of the tube. I have a box of surplus bearings, 3/16 id x 7/8 od. Good for projects like this. The tube in the center is the guide for the allthread.

The picture is a bottom view of the carriage if you haven't already guessed.
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Russ Hanscom
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Location: Farmington, NM

Re: $1.99 Track Cutter

Post by Russ Hanscom »

Back to back;

The next step is to weld some verticals on the forks. The forks are clamped back to back and the vertical piece is aligned then fixed with a temporary strut. A bit of preheat is applied before welding then a whole bunch of passes are made with 7018 rod. After it has cooled for a few hours, the clamps are released and the forks are straight. Much easier this way than trying to straighten a couple of bananas.

While it was cooling, the track cutter was cutting out some sides from 1/4" plate.
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ken572
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Re: $1.99 Track Cutter

Post by ken572 »

Thanks Russ,

Very cool setup :wink:

Ken. :)
One must remember.
The best learning experiences come
from working with the older Masters.
Ken.
Chuck K
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Location: Northern Illinois

Re: $1.99 Track Cutter

Post by Chuck K »

Russ, This is one of the best ideas I've seen for a while. I suck with a cutting torch, but sometimes there's not alternative. (Sitting here running my scrap inventory through my mind right now.) I see a new track cutter in my future. Thanks.
Chuck
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neanderman
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Re: $1.99 Track Cutter

Post by neanderman »

Russ Hanscom wrote:One side of the carriage has several small ball bearings mounted in a V pattern so that they track on the tube...
What are the standoffs that hold the bolts that act as axles for the bearings? Are they off-the-shelf items or did you make them? I don't recall ever seeing anything similar.
Ed

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Russ Hanscom
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Joined: Wed Mar 15, 2006 11:10 pm
Location: Farmington, NM

Re: $1.99 Track Cutter

Post by Russ Hanscom »

Those eyebolts happen to be surplus from long ago. You can accomplish the same intent by using short sections of small angle or turning the standoffs from 5/8" or similar stock. Depends on what is in your scrap box!
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warmstrong1955
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Re: $1.99 Track Cutter

Post by warmstrong1955 »

So.....every now and then, I have use a track torch. I have bid on a few on fleaBay, but they always end up going for a whole lot more money than I care to spend.

So....this thread got me thinkin'....and I made this:
Track Torch.jpg
Mostly made from leftovers, other than the acme rod & nuts, so it cost more than a buck-99. $45.99 is more like it. I still have to make a lock for the oxygen lever.

Bill
Today's solutions are tomorrow's problems.
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steamin10
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Re: $1.99 Track Cutter

Post by steamin10 »

Lever lock = bent coat hanger....Done this a hunnerd times. :lol:
Big Dave, former Millwright, Electrician, Environmental conditioning, and back yard Fixxit guy. Now retired, persuing boats, trains, and broken relics.
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warmstrong1955
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Re: $1.99 Track Cutter

Post by warmstrong1955 »

steamin10 wrote:Lever lock = bent coat hanger....Done this a hunnerd times. :lol:
Well....if you look at my pic....right now I push the lever & stuff a 1/4" bolt thru that shiny galvanized piece of flatbar and away I go.....

I was thinkin' a little lever, with a roller, that cams over center, might be handy.

:)
Bill
Today's solutions are tomorrow's problems.
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