Cutting

**metalluv** · 08-16-2011, 07:09 PM

Hi I'm new to welding and need to cut some metal for a project. I was wondering what are my options to put under the metal I'm cutting to catch the molten dripping? Does it have to be firebrick or are there other options?

**Gadget** · 08-16-2011, 07:25 PM

Hi and welcome to the forum. We like pictures here so be sure to include some showing your work. Also, keep an eye out for the next contest here. The odds of winning a great new Longevity machine are very good. When you get a chance please post a bit about your self so we can get to know you.
As for the drippings I just let mine fall to the cement floor. If you are cutting outside you can let them drop on the grass as long as it isn't brown and flamable. You could spread some sand to catch the drippings if you are working on a wooden floor but make sure you have at least an inch of sand, more than that is probably better.
Dan

**Nick** · 08-16-2011, 10:18 PM

Not 100% on this one, but I've heard of people using cement board. Would make for an easy insurance policy depending on where you're cutting. (Have to wait for the more experienced to chime in)

One thing for sure, get ahold of a decent sized ABC fire extinguisher, and make sure the area's clear of rags / aerosols / gas / etc.

Sounds silly, but I've seen people burn things to the ground without ever needing things like open flame, plasma cutters, or slag sparks.

**WookieWelding** · 08-16-2011, 11:03 PM

+1 to what gadget said

**Bluesman** · 08-17-2011, 04:29 AM

Cement floor, cement board, sand... Those are about the three best ideas there are. If you are having to cut in the yard and have grass you could wet the grass down some. I've had to do that before. It will still smolder and stuff asnd eventually will die leaving a bare spot but then the bare dirt makes for a better catch than dead grass OR hay any day! I've had to use a grinder before in a barn and dang near burned a good pair of jeans slapp off my arse as well as a barn full of hay! Always good to have a helper on firewatch for you if you are in some serious spots like that.

**KHK** · 08-17-2011, 09:06 AM

Just a little info...
I worked in a foundry for a short time. They made railroad car wheels and placed them on axles. About every hour a 30 ton pot of steel was pored from the melting pot to an over head Crane pot. This was the poring station.
All of the floors at the poring station were WOOD! The floor was 6x6 oak, with the grain vertical. The reason for this was clean up. If they dumped some molten steel on the floor the burnt wood would would form a vapor barrier between the floor and the steel, it was pealed up before it became solid. Usually a fork truck was used. If the spill was a large one (<1 ton) People used jack hammers to cut the soft steel while the truck pealed up the metal. The poring station floor was about 5,000 sq/ft and rest of the building had a cement floor.

I have plastic conveyor top as mats in my garage. They work very well and keep metal off the shoe sols and out of the hose. I roll then up to clean the cement floor.

**metalluv** · 08-18-2011, 05:31 AM

thanks for getting back to me, everyone, just one more thing about letting the drippings fall on cement, i read the cement can explode from the drippings, very scary lol! I was wondering then about maybe using a large pan of water to catch the drippings. Does that sound like an ok idea or is there a risk im not seeing?

**Gadget** · 08-18-2011, 06:04 AM

While it's true cement can explode, I've never had a problem with it just from cutting. I do put a bed of sand on the cement when pouring aluminum in my foundry though. There will be some steam from letting the drippings fall into water but I don't think there would be enough to be a safety threat.

**KHK** · 08-18-2011, 09:19 AM

I have had cement explode. This was with an O/A set up and the cut was done about 4" off the floor, which was stupid on my part!!! I think that we are over thinking this. If you are plasma cutting 2' above the cement, don't worry about it!!!

**metalluv** · 08-20-2011, 12:36 AM

Originally Posted by KHK

I have had cement explode. This was with an O/A set up and the cut was done about 4" off the floor, which was stupid on my part!!! I think that we are over thinking this. If you are plasma cutting 2' above the cement, don't worry about it!!!

I find cement exploding to be a bad idea lol, as i've said and I guess you experienced welders don't think of, is that, I have never done welding before! I have a use for welding that will most likely not be used too often and it will always be cutting. I don't wanna pay some corporation to train me when I learn quickly in less than a few hours, I just wanna cut some metal and I have the equipment. I have all the safety equipment, but my instructions just leave out the drippings as they splatter when they hit a surface. Again I think a water pan solves this problem, but I don't know everything and maybe there is a danger i'm not aware of. Again thank you for your time.