Chapter 26 Oxyfuel Gas Cutting 399 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Hand Position A cutting torch is held with two hands. One hand holds the torch body and operates the cutting lever. The second hand supports the torch and acts as a guide. As the cut progresses, the torch is slid through the support hand, as shown in Figure 26-12. A 4″–8″ (100 mm–200 mm) cut may be made before moving the support hand. A piece of steel angle (angle iron) may be used as a guide to make straight or beveled cuts, Figure 26-13. The angle may be clamped to the part for use as a straight edge. The torch tip is slid along the straight edge to greatly enhance the quality of the cut. Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 26-12. For right-handed welders, note that the direction of travel is from right to left. The welder is guiding the cutting torch through the left hand. A—The left hand is held near the torch head. B—The torch is slid through the left hand as the cut progresses. 6″ (150 mm) 1″ (25 mm) 1″ (25 mm) 1″ (25 mm) 1″ (25 mm) 1″ (25 mm) 1″ (25 mm) 6″ (150 mm) Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 26-13. A steel angle (angle iron) used as a guide to make a beveled cut. Exercise 26-1 Manually Cutting Straight Edges— Freehand 1. Obtain a piece of mild steel to cut that measures at least 1/4″ × 6″ × 6″ (6 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm). 2. Using soapstone or chalk, mark out five lines on the surface 1″ (25 mm) apart. Refer to the following figure. A B