Best way to cut sheet metal?

caseyjaybenson · Mon Jul 25, 2016 2:12 am

I am looking at the canibble from canibbletools.com...Thoughts?

motox · Mon Jul 25, 2016 6:49 am

Makita JS1600
cuts like a dream up to 16 ga
craig
http://makitatools.com/en-us/Modules/To ... ame=JS1600

caseyjaybenson · Mon Jul 25, 2016 12:19 pm

Thanks, I have not looked at that one before.

Artie F. Emm · Mon Jul 25, 2016 12:52 pm

Another option, offered just as an idea: at Walmart you can get an abrasive disk that fits into a circular saw. This will be LOUD and put a ton of grit and sparks and whatever else in the air, but it may be cost effective if you don't have a lot of cutting to do.

Or, if you've got a 4.5" grinder, you can get 3/64" cut-off disks for it from the Harbor Freight.

Diesel · Mon Jul 25, 2016 9:04 pm

Gotta say a handheld shear would be the way to go for sheet metal.

motox · Tue Jul 26, 2016 4:59 pm

i have a nibbler as well but once i used the Makita
it never leaves the draw. it cuts way cleaner.
craig

ex framie · Tue Jul 26, 2016 5:22 pm

What width and thickness of sheet?
Aluminium or steel?

For thin sheet up to 40 thou steel, 60 thou aluminium one of the 3 in 1 press brake, shear, slip roller do a reasonable job.
They come in 12 and 30 inch widths.
Not a bad option for the prices you guys can get them for and surprisingly useful.
Electric and air powered shears are also an option.

Poland308 · Tue Jul 26, 2016 6:01 pm

Or a set of double cuts.

GreinTime · Wed Jul 27, 2016 2:28 am

Artie F. Emm wrote:Another option, offered just as an idea: at Walmart you can get an abrasive disk that fits into a circular saw. This will be LOUD and put a ton of grit and sparks and whatever else in the air, but it may be cost effective if you don't have a lot of cutting to do.

Or, if you've got a 4.5" grinder, you can get 3/64" cut-off disks for it from the Harbor Freight.

Artie,

You can buy circular saw blades for cutting sheet metal. I use one regularly to cut aluminum sheet. It makes a hellacious amount of HOT (read: Fucking Hot) chips but with sleeves and a face shield you'll be alright

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Artie F. Emm · Wed Jul 27, 2016 1:46 pm

GreinTime wrote:You can buy circular saw blades for cutting sheet metal.

Good to know- I was just offering up an alternative for the OP, in case buying a new shear or nibbler didn't make economic sense. I'm sure a blade would make a cleaner cut than an abrasive disk.

motox · Wed Jul 27, 2016 3:46 pm

saber saw works too but clamp the sh$t out of the piece you are cutting.
I've doen this with patterns and straight edges.
craig

hey_allen · Wed Jul 27, 2016 4:02 pm

Artie F. Emm wrote: Good to know- I was just offering up an alternative for the OP, in case buying a new shear or nibbler didn't make economic sense.

On the other end of the spectrum, the OP could use this as an excuse to buy that plasma cutter that he's been drooling over, if all he needs is a justification.

Plasma does wonders for fast cutting on sheet metal!

Oilman · Mon Aug 01, 2016 11:35 pm

I really like the metal cutting saw blades. Of course it depends on what you are cutting. I've used everything from jigsaws, saber saws, oxy/acetylene, plasma arc. And yes we did use some nibblers at work sometimes. I just didn't like them much. With the skil type saws made for cutting metal they run at a slower rpm than the wood versions. I have a cheap HF skil type saw and found it rather anemic. Tends to overheat rather quick. On the other hand I did burn up a Dewalt wood saw cutting 1/4" steel plate. Using a Milwaukee skil saw currently just fine. Got to learn to not push too hard and watch the saw for heat build-up.

Even if I had a plasma arc ( I don't/can't afford one yet) I would still use the skil type saw. Great for reducing 4x10 sheets of aluminum and steel .

Buddy of mine cut some 2-1/2 " thick plate with a HF metal cutting blade. Took a while but if you let the blade do it's stuff it does an amazing job. You can get these blades re-sharpened if the carbide teeth still exist.