1958 Ford Fairlane Budget Build, Ep 16 - Plasma Cutting the Mounts to fit the Spring Perches

Slipped up to the main shop to use the plasma cutter on the mounts and get them ready for the final fitment. I had to use it instead of the cut-off-wheel because it's a swooping curve around they spring pockets.
Of all the "big tools" a Hot Rod or Custom Shop can have, I consider this number 3 on the list of must haves. You can do SooooOOOooo much with a plasma cutter it is unreal, and unlike a Torch it doesn't need Gas to work. You still need a Torch Set, but once you have one of these babies the Torch will do a lot of sitting (saving you tons of money).
It cuts clean, and "cold" (still hot, but nothing like a torch is) as you see in here, I was able to leave the bushing in there and not risk ruining them doing those cuts. Also, the Kerf (cut) is only about an 8th of an inch, saving you on material, and with practice you can get it to look almost like a laser cut. Since its a "cold" cut, it doesn't fatigue the metal at the cut as well, making your welds stronger.
This machine is an older Hypertherm (one of the higher end ones) but the cheaper versions all do pretty good as well. The advantage of this one is it has a pilot arch, so you can start your cut away from the material and pull into it giving you more control in the cuts and plunges easier to do without "blow back".
For me, and the things I do, this machine gets used just as much as my welder, and I don't know what I would do without it.
So that's my Quick little #toolreview on the #PlasmaCutter and 1 step closer to getting this big old Ford Fairlane to the #NoNameNationals this coming Spt 30th & Oct 1st.
Stay tuned for the final fitment, and I'll show you how I burn them in with my Titanium Unlimited 200 multi welder.
Thanks for watching, and we'll see you all on the next one!