how to notch tube

braxton357 · May 7, 2003

ok, i have read all about how you guys can notch tube with a grinder, but every time i try i screw it up... so how is it done? anyone got pics of what it should look like? thanks

tunaman · May 7, 2003

i've never tried myself. my friend uses a drill with a real notcher. i suppose if you're trying with a die grinder, the only 2 ways to do it would cut at a 45 degree on both sides to the center, or even better to learn how to carefully and accurately draw the notch around the tube and then follow the line and grind of any messed up edges.

sorry i can't speak from first hand experience. just thinkin

BlueCoyote3 · May 7, 2003

Takes practice and is a PITA.
Draw a half circle on the end of the tube, and grind away. For 1.5 x.120 go in about 1/2 inch. You may have to do a bunch to figure out exaclty how to get a good fit. Cutting it with a sawzall is a real PITA - just grind it.
Or get a tube notcher, plasma cutter, mill, etc.

AggieLR · May 7, 2003

when i did mine, i used a small end piece of tube that was left around and just traced it onto the piece i was grindin out, took lots of measurements on how deep and shallow the groove had to be on the ones that were angled and just drew as best i could, takes a long damn time, but other than that it wasn't bad

Erich In AZ · May 7, 2003

This should help if you are doing it manually. Otherwise spend the 40.00 and get a HF notcher for a hole saw. Hope this helps a little:

WINMITER

Robert · May 7, 2003

Have you ever tried the PipeMaster set up??

mattsmith · May 7, 2003

Hi tech ******* way.

If you've got a chop saw (which you should if you're cutting lots of tube) just cut 2 45's on the one end. Touch up the pointy ends with a grinder.

Should look like this.

foley · May 7, 2003

I use a hole saw (no notcher, just the hole saw) to do square cuts, and the grinder to do everything else. It is pretty easy. Get a 4" makita grider with the thickest grinding wheel you can get your hands on (the dewalt ones from lowes hold up well).

Clamp the tube in a vice so that you can grind on it in the fishmouth. I usually orient my workpiece so that the mating "fishmouth" tube will sit vertical. This is hard to explain, but picture the notch already completed, and a tube sitting in the notch waiting to be welded. You would want that tube to sit vertical.

Now turn the grinder so the disc is sitting vertically also. You want the disc to be worn out a little bit. A new one with a nice square edge on it is not very usefull, but it'll wear out quick anyway. You want to hold the grinder so the sparks shoot at your feet, that way you can look down at the work and see what you are doing.

Now just use the edge of the grinder wheel to profile out the inside of the notch on the tube. Use a piece of scrap tube to continually check where your "high spots" are.

It is really pretty easy, and in my opinion quicker for the off-angle stuff.

hip · May 8, 2003

go to harbor freight and buy a notcher, you will spend the same money on grinding wheels and it will take three times as long. i did my first cage with a grinder by hand and the next two in the same amount of time as the first using a notcher.

joefear7 · May 8, 2003

ive always found the drill with a hole saw or a drill press with a hole saw to work better than just grinding

Philabuster · May 8, 2003

Robert said:
Have you ever tried the PipeMaster set up??

That looks pretty slick!

foley · May 8, 2003

joefear7 said:
ive always found the drill with a hole saw or a drill press with a hole saw to work better than just grinding

agreed, for straight or nearly straight stuff. I still find myself using the grinder for compound or off angle notches.

ozarkjeep · May 9, 2003

I like the winmiter idea
I can see it in the program, but it wont print, I saved it as a bitmap and then printed it via irfan view, but its not the correct size now.

it might be this PC at work, or the network crap.

yotayard · May 9, 2003

hip said:
go to harbor freight and buy a notcher, you will spend the same money on grinding wheels and it will take three times as long. i did my first cage with a grinder by hand and the next two in the same amount of time as the first using a notcher.

works well i have the same notcher

psf4x4 · May 9, 2003

how are you cutting the tubing to length. i you have a chop saw then just cut the 45 on each side and then clean it up with a grinder. thats how i did my cage. i don't see spending the extra money for the tube notcher if you have a chopsaw.

RedBullJeep · May 10, 2003

mattsmith said:
Hi tech ******* way.

If you've got a chop saw (which you should if you're cutting lots of tube) just cut 2 45's on the one end. Touch up the pointy ends with a grinder.

Should look like this.

I know a guy that builds super clean cages and ONLY uses a chop saw and a bender. He's able to hit every joint perfectly and it almost doesn't matter the angle, he seems to nail it nicely with almost zero reveal before welding. Guess it's just cause he's an artist with that chop-saw cause I can't repeat it like he can.

misfitcj · May 10, 2003

that guys name wouldn't be ryan by chance would it ???? ............ ltr

RedBullJeep · May 10, 2003

Give that man a doughnut!
Ryan works out of GrandPa's Garage with Danny Grimes.

jasonmt · May 10, 2003

If you are a using a grinder, try picking up a few cone stones to use instead of a disc. Way simpler, even more so if you have not used a grinder very much.

how to notch tube

braxton357

tunaman

BlueCoyote3

AggieLR

Erich In AZ

Robert

mattsmith

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