Cut off tool stalls under load

[msg]

I know that you get what you pay for but I was not aware of how it stalls under load. Its a Harbor Freight cheapie http://www.harborfreight.com/3-inch-...ter-47077.html.

I'm running it on a 5HP 80 gallon air compressor at 90psi.

Am I not operating the tool right or is there a better tool someone could recommend that wont cost a bunch that will not stall?

Took me 20 minutes to cut a 3ft long cut on a 18 GA door panel.

[donut]

Oil the tool? Running cutting wheel to deep? Thickness of the wheel/cut?

Longer cuts, I usually go electric grinder with a cut-off wheel.

[cdowns]

a light touch and tryin to cut a little at a time

[midniteblues]

the hf cut off tool is just not a powerhouse. i have one its only good for making small cuts.

i love it though for grinding small welds.

[Special-Ed]

combination operator error cheap product

[msg]

I did get an angle grinder the same day at HF.
http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-d...der-91223.html
I'll look for cutting wheels that will fit and try that instead on the longer cuts.

I was letting the wheel run deep vs skimming the top.
On the oil I used some 3-1 oil at the time but have seen that Marvel has Air Tool Oil and I'll pick up one of those.

[cdowns]

Originally Posted by midniteblues

the hf cut off tool is just not a powerhouse. i have one its only good for making small cuts.

i love it though for grinding small welds.

i have only been able to make 8foot long cuts thru 16gauge steel and 4feet long thru 1/4" mild steel anything more wood b pressing your luck

[68C15]

my snap-on guy sells wheels that make a ton of difference. My reversible Matco cut-off tool works so much faster now and with less effort. The wheels are thinner but stronger.

[midniteblues]

Originally Posted by cdowns

i have only been able to make 8foot long cuts thru 16gauge steel and 4feet long thru 1/4" mild steel anything more wood b pressing your luck

nice,you did good

[cableguy0]

Up your regulated pressure. Any shop I have every been in has the compressor shutoff at somewhere around 150psi without a regulator. If your cutting it back to 90psi most of your tools aren't going to like it much. Im sure Im about to catch hell but uncork the compressor and all your tools will run better. I have the exact same cutoff wheel and it likely has been run for over 40 hours total. I have had it a couple years and one full year was in a hot rod/fab shop. The most important thing I can tell you is DONT use cheap cutoff wheels. They will birdsmouth or fly apart and its hurts like hell.

[turp mcspray]

I bought the same cut off tool years ago. It didn't take long to buy a better one. These just don't have any power.

[_Ogre]

Originally Posted by msg

I did get an angle grinder the same day at HF.
http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-d...der-91223.html
I'll look for cutting wheels that will fit and try that instead on the longer cuts.

that's all i ever use for cutting sheet metal, most metal for that matter.
hf grinders are cheap enough that i have 3 for flap wheel, grinding wheel and cut off wheels.
pull them out of the box, throw away the guard and put a 6 inch cut off wheel on that bad boy.

[truckdude239]

shoot i have one of those i bought form hf 6 years ago never had an issuse nbut i bought some new cut off disc from my matco dealer that last alot longer . i oil mine everytime i use it but then again i run my off a 5hp 80gallon compressor thats also as an0other 80- gallon storage tank on it at 175 psi and i use it at work all the time

[ETsC10]

Yup. Like the guys suggest; jack up the air pressure
and go with a quality wheel.