During the investigation several pieces of WTC steel were cut up, for example:
![Metabunk 2018-01-31 12-03-18.jpg Metabunk 2018-01-31 12-03-18.jpg](https://www.metabunk.org/attachments/metabunk-2018-01-31-12-03-18-jpg.31476/)
Redf: /11datasets.org/International_Center_for_911_Studies_NIST_FOIA/Release_09/Release 9/WTC-FOIA/Banovic/ALL PICTURES/Outside Pictures/CUTTING OF SAMPLES/WTC 02-10-04 (CUTTING OF SAMPLES)
This was done with an Oxy-Acetylene torch, seen here:
![Metabunk 2018-01-31 12-04-50.jpg Metabunk 2018-01-31 12-04-50.jpg](https://www.metabunk.org/attachments/metabunk-2018-01-31-12-04-50-jpg.31477/)
Note the distinctive slag and rippled surface.
![Metabunk 2018-01-31 12-07-40.jpg Metabunk 2018-01-31 12-07-40.jpg](https://www.metabunk.org/attachments/metabunk-2018-01-31-12-07-40-jpg.31478/)
Cutting with an oxy torch makes slag, as it works by oxidizing the steel (burning it away).
![Metabunk 2018-01-31 12-11-13.jpg Metabunk 2018-01-31 12-11-13.jpg](https://www.metabunk.org/attachments/metabunk-2018-01-31-12-11-13-jpg.31479/)
This can be cleaned up, it just chips off.
For demolition and quick cuts the line is not always the straightest, and slag production (and cleanup) is not a concern.![Metabunk 2018-01-31 12-19-08.jpg Metabunk 2018-01-31 12-19-08.jpg](https://www.metabunk.org/attachments/metabunk-2018-01-31-12-19-08-jpg.31483/)
So when you see a beam cut like this, it's not evidence of "thermite" cutting. It's evidence of oxy cutting.
![Metabunk 2018-01-31 12-22-03.jpg Metabunk 2018-01-31 12-22-03.jpg](https://www.metabunk.org/attachments/metabunk-2018-01-31-12-22-03-jpg.31486/)
Redf: /11datasets.org/International_Center_for_911_Studies_NIST_FOIA/Release_09/Release 9/WTC-FOIA/Banovic/ALL PICTURES/Outside Pictures/CUTTING OF SAMPLES/WTC 02-10-04 (CUTTING OF SAMPLES)
This was done with an Oxy-Acetylene torch, seen here:
Note the distinctive slag and rippled surface.
Cutting with an oxy torch makes slag, as it works by oxidizing the steel (burning it away).
This can be cleaned up, it just chips off.
For demolition and quick cuts the line is not always the straightest, and slag production (and cleanup) is not a concern.
So when you see a beam cut like this, it's not evidence of "thermite" cutting. It's evidence of oxy cutting.
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