Cutting 5mm wrought iron

[glogan]

Hi

I am hanging a garden gate at a victorian house. The original hinges are still in place but I need to cut them off to make way for the new gate posts. They are hook and band (the hook part) What is the best way to cut these off. They are about 5mm thick. Would a hacksaw do it?

Many thanks

[big-all]

hacksaw will do it but you will be stuck with around 10mm sticking out by the time you cover the post with harboard/ cardboard to stop scratching the pillar

[glogan]

thanks for that. is it worth buying an angle grinder? I can always drill a hole in the wooden post to cover the iron sticking out. Cheers

[big-all]

i was going to suggest an angle grinder but with the gaurd on your talking about an inch and maybe about 12mm because off the securing ring

how wide is the pillar on the face your metal is??

[Stoday]

If you have a proper hacksaw rather than a cheapo, you can set the saw blade at right angles to the normal. I would then feel competent at hacksawing within 2mm of the post without marking it.

Just don't drink so much that you get the DTs before working!

[big-all]

thats why i asked how wide the pillar is because providing its perhaps 4 inches narrower than the frame for a bit off swing you can get close otherwise you have the end off the frame to clear the pillar

[glogan]

ok what sort of hackasw would you suggest? How much shouldI be spending? Thanks.

-- Fri Sep 03, 2010 11:30 am --

I must apologise for silly questions but I know less than nothing about metal. There is a grinder in Argos for sale here is the link http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... 418766.htm
Not sure if it will be up to much but I only need one for this job. Will this cut through 5mm of wrought iron?

Thanks again all

[big-all]

yes that will work you will have to approach from the top at an angle about 3mm away because the shaft sticks out about 12mm
after you have finished you can grind away the excess

because your not used to using an angle grinder i would practice and cover the pillar when you come to do it as you will surley jump off the metal and hit the surrounding area several times

[glogan]

Thanks very much. Ill give it a go

[glogan]

If you can get a 1mm thick metal cutting disk, they are brilliant for cutting metal.

Example here- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJPqUMi7WSg

And also get a flap disk, as they are better than a grinding disk for removing excess metal. IMHO

[Hitch]

Flap discs have there place, as long as you can get the disc to sit at the right angle, theye work well, otherwise the edge wears out 10x quicker than the rest.
Cutting discs, the 1mm thick ones work much more efficiently, and easier to use.

As for hacksaws, even £1 shop ones seem to be able to turn 90degs to the frame.
If you can get a grinder, itll take longer to get an extension lead out than it would to cut them off.

With regards to the guard, depending on how you attack it, from both sides, at a slight angle to cut, then grind of flap disc off the tiny bit left.

About 60 seconds work to cut and fettle back, including changing the disc!