Methods Of Cutting Sheet Metal

These tools are good for cutting soft sheet metals such as tin aluminum and brass.

Methods of cutting sheet metal.

For most diyers on the other hand this is the preferred choice when it comes to cutting sheet metal. Among others the most basic manual tool that you can use is a tin snip. Red for left green for right and yellow for straight. For a reference on gauge thickness see our gauge chart.

To cut straight lines use an electric saw. Commonly known as aviation snips or tinsnips these scissor like tools are great for cutting soft sheet metals such as tin aluminum brass and thin gauge 24 gauge or thinner steel. Aviation snips and tin snips are a common method of cutting thin sheet metal for hobbyists. Industrial sheet metal cutting operations such as this will usually incline the punch so as to reduce the maximum force needed by distributing the required force over the cutting stroke.

However many methods for cutting sheet metal such as roofing and siding panels involve the use of hand and simple power tools that are within the reach of the average diy sheet metal worker. The angle that the punch may be inclined varies from 4 to 15 degrees however the higher the angle the greater the magnitude of the horizontal force component acting to displace the work. Instead we recommend using a diamond blade that s rated to cut ferrous metal. It involves a bit of more work but the good thing is that most of the tools required are very basic.

Depending on the cut shape you ll use left cut right cut or straight snips typically indicated by the handle color. Start by taping both sides of the sheet metal directly over the line you want to cut and clamp the metal to a work station so it doesn t move. But the discs wear down quickly cut slowly and shrink in diameter as you use them. How to cut sheet metal manually.