plasma vs. wheel of death

[Da TOW'D]

I've read many tales of grinding the rusty section out with the "death wheels "
grinders is there any negative points on using a plasma cutter to do the same job?
thanks
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'57 type 1 Blackberry
'58 SC Ruf
'62 type 3 Notch
'92 Eurovan Willy
'99 Eurovan Winnie
and NUTS

[halfassleatherworks]

unnecessary heat put into a panel that will warp it and a ruff edge.

[67ctbug]

Don’t fear the grinding wheel. Wear safety gear and use it as instructed. Don’t exceed the listed RPM, don’t use the side of it, don’t get creative with it, don’t use it if you drop the tool on the floor. I’ve never had a wheel explode, it could happen anytime though, so stay safe. A plasma cutter will make more work for what you’re trying to do.
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'67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016

[RLFD213]

Both tools are useful. If you have some intricate spots a plasma may be the way to go. If it’s just cutting panels the cut off wheel is fine too.

[Slow-N-Rusty]

Pneumatic body saw. Not as fast as a cut-off wheel or plasma but you can get a very precise cut and nowhere near the heat of the other two. The worse thing that can happen is you snap a blade.

[esde]

All of these tools are useful, and for different reasons. Used incorrectly, you can warp or distort a cut with any of them.
I like plasma for long rough cuts where I don't want to waste a bunch of .045 cut off wheels. I use the cutoff wheels for final fit where I'm just taking a sliver to make stuff fit perfect. Body saws are great for boxed sections, but use them incorrectly and the teeth will pull the metal edge up. Again, great for rough fitting, but not for final cuts unless you have a lot of time using them...
Don't forget the die grinder with a pointed Christmas tree burr for getting into the tight inside corners where nothing else fits..
Key points with grinders when using a cutoff wheel:
-Gloves and the biggest safety glasses you can
-try to keep yourself out of the line of the cut. If the wheel grenades you don't want to catch any of it.
-learn about how to anticipate what the grinder wants to do when it gets bound up. Always cut so the wheel wants to drag the grinder behind it, not bucking it the other way.
-Don't ever have a hand in front of the grinder.
-Watch where your sparks go.
SD
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modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that.

[lil-jinx]

buy a good cut off disc,the ones with the cupped center work very well and don't tend to shatter.I have good luck with Walter disc.
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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620186
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=668799
1974 Bay Westfalia. she likes to be called Ethel.
1968 Dune Buggy sold dec 2024

1974 parts bus
A smart man learns from his mistakes,a very smart man learns from other's mistakes.

[Da TOW'D]

Thanks for the input guys
cheers
Hank
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'57 type 1 Blackberry
'58 SC Ruf
'62 type 3 Notch
'92 Eurovan Willy
'99 Eurovan Winnie
and NUTS

[finster]

whatever you use, don't get carried away...

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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[jeffrey8164]

[Willin]

That image looks like the artist from the Muir books.
It would make a great t-shirt!
BusDepot sells a shirt with the image that was on the cover of one of the books.
It has a Bay window being pushed and pulled down, or up, the road.
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73 bus. Org. 1700 with dual Weber 40 idfs, bus header with Empi qp muffler, CB magnaspark 2 " ready to run kit".