Anyone have a way to cleanly cut 1/4" steel plate?

[Jim Oaks]

Anyone have a plasma cutter, plasma Table, Water Jet, etc?

I may need to build a bumper or a grill guard to hold a winch, and was wondering if anyone here had the equipment to cut out the side plates.

 

[Dirtman]

I have a 33 ton cnc turret punch that can do what you need but you would need to make the design in g code on something like mastercam, solidworks etc. My knowledge of cad design is limited at best.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Ya, I don't know how to do that. I can draw out the measurements, that's about it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Draftsight is a pretty good free drafting software. Very much like autocad.

My local fab shop just drag and drops my doodles from my thumbdrive into their cam program and burns them out. All they charge me for is material and machine time which is piddly. Basically a fullsize Ford t-case gasket but made out of 3/8" thick steel was $14. If you can find someone close who can do that you would have it made.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I've used a local shop back in Ohio to cut steel plate for me. My other issue is that I need to find someone in north Texas or southern Oklahoma that would be willing to weld something for me.

 

[Ranger850]

Our Metal Super market is right next to a fabrication shop. I was going to suggest having someone cut the pieces and you could weld them, but you already addressed that. I'm sure you can find somebody who would weld that suckered up for you. Most good welders like to brag how good thier beads are, tell them they're beads are going to be visible, and they'll be all over it. I know about 4 dudes and at least one lady that would do it, but good welders know they can charge good prices too.

 

[Dirtman]

Most good welders like to brag how good thier beads are

Real good welders charge you alot of money to get to see them though.

 

[Ranger850]

That's what I was saying with my last sentence
Hell, I would do it for free. And my welds would prove it. but it would hold together.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Since there isn't any grill guards or winch bumpers on the market for this 2019 Ford Ranger I have, I want to build a grill guard / winch mount for it.

 

[Ranger850]

Since there isn't any grill guards or winch bumpers on the market for this 2019 Ford Ranger I have, I want to build a grill guard / winch mount for it.

Have you checked the Australian Internet? Or would those not work?

 

[Jim Oaks]

Have you checked the Australian Internet? Or would those not work?

It's a bit of a gamble. Not sure if Ford changed anything in the front frame section since the North America Ranger has a different steel front bumper setup. Plus, the NA Ranger has a different engine setup.

There's a ton of nice bumper options though.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I would think the challenge would really be installing a grill guard and winch without drilling a hole.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I see some points that I can bolt to without drilling.

If I can get some help getting the pieces cut and pull it off, I may just post the drawings online for others that don't want to spend $1,000-$2,000 for a winch bumper.

 

[RangerFabWorks]

I have an oxygen acetylene Torch. I can cut whatever you need then just clean it up

 

[Ranger850]

Band saws make decent cuts, there are all kinds of different types