How to Cut Difficult Stainless Steel or Carbon Steel

Thinner sheets of stainless steel and carbon steel can be cut with circular saws by attaching a special blade made for going through metal. Thicker sheets of steel and harder grades require more extensive tools. In the absence of advanced laser cutters and machining tools, an acetylene/oxygen torch can be used to cut difficult steel. It is important to feel comfortable operating an acetylene/oxygen torch before using one.

Metal work bench
Clamp (optional)
Acetylene/oxygen torch
Welding face mask
Long-sleeved cloths
Torch striker

Instructions

- 1
  Put on your face mask and proper clothing. Do not have any bare skin showing.
- 2
  Place the steel to be cut on a metal work bench. Stabilize it with a clamp, if necessary. Remove anything flammable from the workplace.
- 3
  Draw the line to be cut with chalk or soapstone. Use a square edge to make the line straight, if necessary.
- 4
  Open the acetylene valve just enough so you can hear the gas escaping from the nozzle. The acetylene lines are always red and the oxygen lines are green. Make sure the oxygen valve is closed.
- 5
  Face the nozzle toward the striker, holding it 1 inch away. Squeeze the striker's handle. This will ignite the flame. Slowly adjust the acetylene valve to increase the gas flow until the flame is about 10 inches long.
- 6
  Open the oxygen valve slowly until the flame turns blue. Adjust the valve until the flame is about the same length as the steel being cut.
- 7
  Run the flame over the line to be cut several times to help mark it. Hold the nozzle at a perpendicular angle to the steel and slowly move it along the line. Hold the flame about three-eighths of an inch from the surface of the steel until the cut is complete.

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