Are you sure it is stainless? Photo will help. Where did you get it? How about a band saw?

I picked up a small plate in the scrap yard awhile back and after working on it for some time discovered it was nickel.

Hi Janet,
can't cut stainless with a a/o torch.
only plasma, laser, water jet, abrasive wheel, ect.
Look at your plasma's user manual, this should have amp settings for materials and thickness guides, as well as the correct tip to use. also with the plasma if 1/4 inch is at the machines peak power you may need to move veeerrry slow. I would suggest making a guide to use to keep on course with a good clean kurf.
hope this helps,
Matt

Janet,

Due to the high nickel and chromium content, stainless steel can't gbe cut with an O/A torch. The torch relies on the iron and carbon oxidizing rapidly (burning up) with the oxygen cutting jet, and stainless just can't do that. Your plasma, which burns most anything due to the high temp and then blows it out of the kerf with the compressed air jet, shoud do it fine if you have a sufficiently powerful plasma unit. 1/4" stainless will probably take about 40 amps to cut cleanly, and it may take a second or two extra preheat time at the beginning of the cut since stainless has a lower thermal conductivity than many other metals.

Rich

Hi, i am a professional welder and cut stainless steel regularly with a plasma cutter. The manual with your plasma cutter should give you the amp. settings needed. Please note the settings are based on the material thickness. Also, there are different grades of stainless for example 304 grade for metal fabrication and 316 grade for FDA and Chemical applications. This shouldn't matter with regard to the cutting. Also, your oxy acetalene torch will only cut carbon steel/black iron/steel. Hope this helps. Remeber Safety First!!!

Jan-
I used a metal cutting circular saw with a T5 carbide blade for my last sculpture. The saw is available from Harbor Freight or Northern Tools, and I keep extra 7 1/4" blades handy. After much use on mild steel, I used it to cut my stainless. It killed the blade (1/3 of the teeth broke off in the process!) but it made the cuts I needed. If the sculpture sells, I'm buying a good size plasma cutter!
Bob Turan

You need a plasma cutter that is adjustable so you can add more power and air pressure.