Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Cutting a steel I beam?

I need some recommendations on cutting up a log splitter that was fabricated from a steel I beam. The top and bottom plates are one half inch thick by eight inches wide the center piece is about ten inches high. I currently have at my disposal a four and a half inch angle grinder, a saws all and a circular saw.Will abrasive blades for the circular saw work for this? I do not have a torch or welder.
Thanks

Find a torch.

You will have a tough time cutting the center piece with the circ saw. Think of the max depth of the circ saw (probably @ 3" per side) and you're going to have a large 4-5" section of the center part of the beam that won't get cut. The sawzall could finish the job there.

I would strongly recommend renting a torch for a job like this.

Is this cut needing to be pretty, or just cut? Sawzall would do it all with enough blades and time. It may or may not be pretty either way.

Take a bunch of grinding. You would probably get way tired of this project before you finally got it cut.

If it was mine, I'd cart it down to a local welding shop and get them to cut it with a torch per my directions. I'd then take it home and smooth it up, using my grinders.

IMHO,

DF

As long as time and lung cancer are of little concern, just buy about 100 thin discs and proceed with caution.

You need a torch or a demo saw.

The Sawzall will take forever and a 4.5" grinder with cutoff discs will be only marginally faster. Your circular saw will work with abrasive blades but they're rather thick and they will take some time as well. You'll also go through several of then making one cut.
I'd look into one of the dedicated metal cutting carbide tooth blades for your circular saw. Barring a torch that will be your quickest option but it will put a lot of wear and tear on your saw.

I'd borrow or rent a torch.

hack saw
and you'll have an arm like Popeye!
My cobra torch will make short work of any beam!
And leave a cut as smooth as any saw.

This ^^^^^ is how it needs to be done.

I'd sell the log splitter complete and get a new beam cut to your specs.

This unit is getting cut up for scrap.It is in a tough location or I would just drag it out whole.
The circular saw is an elcheapo that I bought many moons ago so if it dies oh well.I never thought of renting torches. That may be FUN!!

Thanks for the suggestions!

Find Chuck Norris. He'll do it with his bare hands.

A few more years in the weather and I might be able to do that my self!

Torch, but I've had good luck with a sawzall blade called "The Torch". Cut some 2'' angle iron really well.

If you need any tips, let me know. I did the job professionally before (hence my handle) and can provide advice if necessary.

Yes, those "torch" blades are good...I forget what brand they are, Milwaukee perhaps?

I believe Milwaukee is the brand.

a cheap ( diposable ) circular saw and an abrasive blade will worry through it.


It beats a hack saw....

A.) Torch (best option)

B.) Stihl "Demolition saw" with a 20" Abrasive cut off wheel.

WEAR a dust mask !

GTC

That's not "Torch Cutting" in that vid,....it's metal butchery.

Over 50 years into metal trades, I'm just not real big on grinders.

Few Louisiana pipe fitters are, actually.

GTC