Cutting up a bus

PostModern Slammed & Awesome Dubber

89 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 18 Jun 2003, 1:55 pm

#58060

I just bought a cheapy bay bus that came with a shell full of spares. I have room to stack the spares, but no room for the shell. I need the floor for the <<< green thing over there and the roof to replace the pop-top on the bay. What I plan to do is cut the roof and floor out of the bus, maybe keep the front clip, the rest is a POS. I'd then want to cut the rest of the bus up and toss it in the scrap metal yard.

My question: what is the best tool to chop it up? I have a small 6" angle grinder, but reckon that'd take ages. I also have a circular saw. Should I just buy a metal cutting disk for the saw and work with it and the grinder or is there something I could hire that'd make the job easier?

type3kid Custom Title Time!

1,183 posts · joined May 2003 · 18 Jun 2003, 1:59 pm

#58061

if this helps i have no idea.sorry. do you know where i can get a kombi shell though??

www.myspace.com/emotionalspidermonkeys
www.myspace.com/berettajustice
www.myspace.com/evolvar
www.evolvar.com

wrecker67 Fahrvergnugen

997 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 18 Jun 2003, 2:15 pm

#58064

i would use a air hacksaw,or
a oxy then when finish cutting just trim the parts you are using,just watch the fuel lines tank etc..
cheers

HotRodMatt If it\'s old or rare - cut it!

3,616 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 18 Jun 2003, 2:51 pm

#58069

what model is it? a low light early bay?

PostModern Slammed & Awesome Dubber

89 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 18 Jun 2003, 3:10 pm

#58071

type3kid wrote:if this helps i have no idea.sorry. do you know where i can get a kombi shell though??

There'll be one at my place with no roof or cargo floor if you're interested?
😀

Thx, wrecker67. No fuel tank, engine, tranny or anything in this old thing. I'll soon just be chunks-o-metal in a trailer 🙁

Someone attempted a pretty bad conversion from panel to windowed bus and seemed to want to make it into a trailer at one stage.... anyway, it has the roof and the floor I need, and was free, so I'm not complainin'.

Not sure of the model, early 70's. Will post pics in case anyone wants body bits. It won't be around for long tho. Actually, to save me the trouble of cutting it up, if anyone wants to come and drag it away, it's free! (Once I get the roof and floor).

Robo Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,491 posts · joined Feb 2003 · 18 Jun 2003, 4:21 pm

#58084

Hire a plasma cutter, nice neat cuts, and quick too.

Boxer Power
Member of DMLRK.....Die Mittler Lebuns Resto Komeradschaft

HotRodMatt If it\'s old or rare - cut it!

3,616 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 18 Jun 2003, 4:25 pm

#58086

I'd love to get my hands on the area below the headlights - the right hand side would do.... (if it is an early 70s model with the blinkers down low....

Matt

matara Custom Title Time!

1,342 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 18 Jun 2003, 6:56 pm

#58108

Oxy cutter I guess if the cuts dont need to be neat.

It would be good if you could take some pics as you dissect it!!

Steve

kombi_kid Moderator Good Kid too many projects

124 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 18 Jun 2003, 9:03 pm

#58152

plasma cutters are great but they will run ur electricity dry as it is electricty penetrating the metal!
but use an oxy if cuts dont need to be neat!
cheers
rhys

it aint just cool its aircool'd

duncombemu Seriously Crusin Dubber

199 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 19 Jun 2003, 12:25 am

#58270

I wouldn't use a metal cutting disc designed for a grinder, because these blades are designed to spin fast RPM's. A circular saw doesn't have high RPM's. The grinding cutting disc would not cut to it's best potential. You would end up probably doing damage to the circular saw motor, because the disc would always be stalling/stopping the motor. It would probably overheat and throw the trip switch out all the time.
The safest and neatest way is use the 6" grinder with a metal cutting disc. An oxy, especially if your not exactly familiar with their use, will make a very unsafe working area inside a vehicle. Fires can result, with the hot molten metal been sprayed around. With a cutting disc, it's only small sparks, which don't hold their heat for long. Safest/neatest, is metal cutting disc on an angle grinder.
Regards,
Mark:thumb

Don't ever let anyone tell you, "It can't be done."

5PL1TDCS10N Insano Dub Head

845 posts · joined Jan 2003 · 20 Jun 2003, 12:40 pm

#58647

There is a special power tool a mate had. Its like metal shears. No distortion and the size of a small angle grinder. No heat-no distortion and has'nt got the danger element of Oxy-acetalene(plus oxy is messy+distorts the hell out of thin sheet)
Plasma is excellent too.

My suggestion is talk to a hire place and get hold of a blueprint of a Kombi and cut sections close to factory spot welds etc.

5PL1T

😀

type82e Wolfsburg Wizard

591 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 16 Jul 2003, 9:49 pm

#66165

a friend has one of those petrol powered cut off saws ( basically a chainsaw with cutting disc on it) which he uses to cut up old cars with very noisy but very effective.
you should be able to hire one
marcel

fish Wolfsburg Wizard

584 posts · joined Apr 2003 · 16 Jul 2003, 10:04 pm

#66180

Mate a gas axe is the go. cuts through anything and quick too

Drink and drive your a bloody idiot!!! make it home you'r a legend !!!!

Herbie 53 Bugs are not nearly enough

764 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 17 Jul 2003, 2:18 am

#66280

I have used the grider blades that you can get that are only about 1 mm thick,
They are neat and cut like a hot knife through butter as you are not removing much metal good for some cutting for neatness etc but they dont last real long and depending on where you make your cuts it may not be the answer.

Gas axe is good if you have the right environment. Dont burn the car to the ground while your'e concerntrating on the cut at hand. and it can distort like mentioned above.
I think the plasma cutter would prove quite expensive to hire, we hired one for ghostship and I think it was $170/day, but it may have been a grand daddy cutter cos we were cutting a lot of quite thick steel.

I have an air hack saw and they are cool but chew the hacksaw blades pretty quick, and the cheaper the blades the quicker they die too. I did a choptop with that and an air chisel till the local council rep came and kicked me up the ass for the noise.
I also have a pair of those air snips, they are good on flat single thickness metal with no obstructions and plenty of room, but find them a hassle mostly,
so choose your weapon!!!!!
:bounce:bounce:bounce:bounce:bounce:bounce:bounce:bounce

62 Ragtop Herbie with a little extra oomph.