Ways To Cut Metal Sheets

Use tin snips or shears to cut lengths by hand.

Ways to cut metal sheets.

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. Then grip the saw with both hands and push the blade through the metal to cut it. In our test it cut through rebar like a hot knife through butter. Don t try to cut your stainless steel without clamping it down or it could shift when you re cutting it.

The easiest methods for cutting sheet metal panels are not necessarily the simplest. Hot metal chips will fly. The cuts may also be a bit rough you won t be able to maneuver the saw much and its blade can t cut very deep. Clamp your sheet metal down to a work table.

You can cut mild steel up to about 3 8 in. Step 5 optional if your project requires cutting a hole in the center of sheet metal draw it on the metal as you would any other cut line. However a hacksaw is great tool to have on hand to take care of simple steel cutting tasks. A hacksaw can cut through sheet metal but its shape limits the types of cuts it can make.

Then create a pilot hole within the penciled circle. While these methods result in controlled accurate cuts with limited. To cut straight lines use an electric saw. For thin sheets of metal you can use tin snips to cut through it.

You could also use a circular saw to cut lots of sheets more quickly and a nibbler to create rounded cuts. Use a circular saw to make long straight cuts in thicker sheets of metal. The clamps should be tight enough that the sheet metal doesn t shift at all. Thick using a ferrous metal cutting blade.

It may not be an obvious choice but fitted with the right blade a circular saw is a great metal cutting tool. Cut metal with your circular saw. Use clamps you can tighten like f clamps to secure the sheet metal to the table. Use a pair of snips if you want to avoid power tools altogether and are working with thinner more flexible metal or need to make curved cuts.