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11-27-2006, 10:17 PM
| #1 |
| I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Centennial, CO
Posts: 2,144
|  cutting sheet metal I'm just curious what you all use for cutting sheet metal. I am making some panels/mounts for a tuber and am using some 16 or 18 gauge weld steel sheets. I used a hack saw, but it's very long process with the saw and I also run into problems cutting of a section of metal to use, the top of the saw hits the metal and I can't saw any further. So, I'm asking for suggestions and what you use. I don't have access to a vertical band saw, but would tin snips do what I'm looking for? Or is there another tool maybe under $50, like a handheld saw of some kind? |
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11-27-2006, 10:23 PM
| #2 |
| RCC Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: VARCOR
Posts: 1,831
| Have an air compressor? |
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11-27-2006, 11:08 PM
| #3 |
| Throwing Grenades   Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sending illegals home one Hayabusa at a time.
Posts: 16,250
| You can actually get a bit for a jigsaw that will do the job for you. Just have to go slow, and you don't need any special jigsaw. Should make your life a lot easier. |
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11-28-2006, 01:42 AM
| #4 |
| OG Green Meat Star Man   Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: *
Posts: 2,855
| damn dude how come you need 16 gauge for panels?wow thats gonna be one heavy rig..........anyways i would use one of two things for that, both are pretty expensive though PLASMA CUTTER or BAND SAW, but for under 50 buy a wiss nibbler, i think it's about 35-40 bucks. and i'm pretty sure it's good for maybe 18 gauge. Last edited by young_version; 11-28-2006 at 01:45 AM. |
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11-28-2006, 02:07 AM
| #5 |
| I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Centennial, CO
Posts: 2,144
| I thought it was 16, its not that thick really. Its about as thick as the plastic servo plate on a TLT is thick. Didn't realize nibblers were that cheap. Might have to pick one up then. No air compressor unfortunately, I should be getting an electric impact wrench and a drill press christmas (with xmas money and gifts), and depending on your ideas a cutting tool of some kind. I just have to keep it on the smaller side since we don't have much garage space. |
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11-28-2006, 03:57 AM
| #6 |
| OG Green Meat Star Man Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: *
Posts: 2,855
| a bulldog(large) snip might work also, if you want to get something good and fairly inexpensive that you can use for all kinds of different things home depot has a ryobi bandsaw for 100. it comes with a wood blade but a metal one is only like 11.00.FYI |
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11-28-2006, 06:05 AM
| #7 |
| Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: st. louis
Posts: 113
| for 16ga good ol tin snips work good to. Its only .05" (less than a 1/16th) thick. a jig saw will make a mess of it. once you get up to 14ga you may want to think about bandsaw or a jig saw you can still do shears if you have strong hands, 11ga you will need it. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=91841 here is a link to a sheet metal gauge list just in case the stuff you have is thicker you can pin point what it is. http://www.engineersedge.com/gauge.htm Last edited by BUBBA069; 11-28-2006 at 06:12 AM. |
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11-28-2006, 09:38 AM
| #8 | |
| 1*  Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ozarks
Posts: 335
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11-28-2006, 09:42 AM
| #9 |
| OG Green Meat Star Man Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: *
Posts: 2,855
| you guys are crazy i work for an a/c sheet metal company..........and i wouldnt even consider cutting anything out of 16 gauge with a tin snip, especially if i wanted it to look nice.the tinsnip warps the crap out of anything that is thicker than 20 gauge. believe me i know, what i used to cut old the rough shape of some stainless steel panels that were 24ga. was something called a unishear,bosch.a good ol tin snip would give you a fricken forearm cramp with all the radius cuts and detailed lines that panels require.if you must, use eith the yellow snip or an off set for radius cuts, but i dont know...........but yeah i'm sure you could cut down a tree with a sledgehammer if you tried hard enough. whatever Last edited by young_version; 11-28-2006 at 09:47 AM. |
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11-28-2006, 10:54 AM
| #10 |
| Rock Crawler  Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Rock-throwing country
Posts: 843
| I agree with young here tin snips would be the last tool I would use(might as well pound it out with a rock). Plays head up to my place some night. I have air tools, dremels,what every we need to cut sheet metal. Not to mention I have access to cnc milling machines if you want it perfect. I would recomend using sheet plastic and painting it (lighter,easier to shape) it's what I use for panels. You can even get a sheet of it that looks like diamond plate. |
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11-28-2006, 11:39 AM
| #11 |
| Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Longmont, CO
Posts: 905
| Harbor Freight Bandsaw... Most used tool in my shop. I bought one of these: http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...&PMPXNO=949134 works pretty nice, you can do detailed cuts with it or drill a hole and cut out a window. 16ga wouldn't work but I agree that 16 guage is awful thick. Sez it cuts up to .047" steel. |
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11-28-2006, 03:55 PM
| #12 |
| 1* Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ozarks
Posts: 335
| I asked my question because of problems using snips. I agree they suck-- hard to cut, warps the sheet metal, etc. I do have an air compressor though, that's why I was wondering what you use. |
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11-28-2006, 04:41 PM
| #13 |
| Rock Crawler Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Easthampton
Posts: 754
| a die grinder^^  |
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11-28-2006, 08:23 PM
| #14 |
| I wanna be Dave  Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kennewick
Posts: 2,382
| http://cgi.ebay.com/NEIKO-USA-3-AIR-...QQcmdZViewItem I use something close to that, only difference is its blue and doesnt have a clear cover!!! |
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11-28-2006, 09:08 PM
| #15 | |
| RCC Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: VARCOR
Posts: 1,831
| Quote:
While in college, I worked fulltime at a vehicle handicapped accessibility shop, and used this tool for hours everyday. From cutting body sheetmetal, to building 1/4" aluminum switch brackets, this thing is great. | |
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11-28-2006, 09:09 PM
| #16 |
| Rock Crawler Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 562
| Get some 26 ga. and a pair of snips. No need be that thick on panels. heck no need to be that thick on a skid plate. Make you life even easier and get some aluminum. Attach your panels with some screws or tip ties. .024 or .032 aluminum is pretty easy to cut with snips. |
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11-28-2006, 11:17 PM
| #17 |
| I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Centennial, CO
Posts: 2,144
| I must be quoting the wrong thickness (and its not up here with me at school), because it didn't seem all that thick. You've given me quite a few ideas, and glassman, I might just have to swing up there and finish off my tuber. Though plastic is a no go since I am using the metal for link mounts and a tranny mount, and want it solid as a rock like the rest of the frame. |
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11-29-2006, 02:59 AM
| #18 |
| Newbie Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Cupertino, CA
Posts: 44
| A cut-off wheel or a sabre saw with a fine bi-metal blade works nice. |
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11-29-2006, 07:10 AM
| #19 | ||
| I wanna be Dave Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Cedar Rapids
Posts: 2,031
| Quote:
Quote:
 Just use thinner metal or lexan. | ||
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11-29-2006, 09:09 AM
| #20 |
| I wanna be Dave Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: FLAGSTAFF
Posts: 3,729
| Why the weight of metal panels? why not styrene or lexan? |
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