This might seem a simple question - but what is the best way to cut steel and ali panels?
I've tried tin snips to cut 1.2mm steel and its almost useless. Kills my hands and the steel has to bend to get more than an inch in.
How should i be cutting sheet steel?
Got a jig saw but have a problem supporting the material along the length esp if the cut is 12" in from the side.
A guillotine is by far the best method - can you hang around a local sheet metal workshop at lunchtime with a tenner in your hand ?
quote:
Originally posted by RazMan
A guillotine is by far the best method - can you hang around a local sheet metal workshop at lunchtime with a tenner in your hand ?
can you get those pneumatic snips/ nibblers?
dnt know if there any good but just a thought
Couple of lengths of 2"x1" on the garage floor and jig saw.
If its straight lines then clamp a bit of wood or angle to run the saw againts.
Spraying a bit of WD40 along the cut line helps, especially with Ali.
If you want to use a jig-saw treat yourself to a Black & Decker work bench or indeed a cheaper copy and some clamps. It is effectivelly a vice, come bench top with 18" jaws. They open quite wide so you can open it to its full width, clamp your plate to it and of you go. Mine is over 20 years old, scruffy as h*ll and as the top is timber could do with the jaws planing flat, but it still works and in days past supported bike engines whilst I worked on them, so they are tough
quote:
Originally posted by 907
So THAT'S what you were doing on that street corner Raz.
You want a clarke/machinemart air-nibbler, a bit of oil and a vacuum cleaner - Goes through that like a hot knife through butter. Stay clear of the
drill operated one it will just snap. The air-powered one is pretty decent - I cut my floor (1.2mm steel) and side panels with it without any
problems.
Half-moons are a pitfa and hurt when you stand on them so best clean them up or do it away from where you spend time working.
You can get a pretty clean cut, use plenty of oil and clamp a strip of wood/metal as a guide and your good to go.
D
This little chap is like a knife through water!
Machine mart air shears/
By far the best way is a 1mm cutting disc in your grinder, makes lovely straight accurate cuts like butter 
James
We use THESE shears, not
too bad a price and a nibbler for the tight stuff.
ATB Dan.
Not the cheapest option but these work well with no swarf.
Lecky Shears
Used one where I used to work, excellent bit of kit.
i got a hand nibbler, works great! only cost about £6 front machine mart. loads easier on your hands than snips
got the hand nibbler, not much cop on 1.2mm steel.
Thinking about the air nibbler vs drill nibbler now. Drill nibbler will do thicker steel so tempted with that - but wondering why david (irvined) is
so anti them.
I use a jigsaw for sheet steel - with a bit of practice you can get a streaight edge.
to cut aluminium in straight line I use a rule and a steel knife - score the aluminiuim being careful not to slice fingers if blade slips and then
put in a vice nearthe score and bend util the aluminium fatigues and breaks. can do long lengths with this method,
an power drill nibble is good on aluminium too, not tried it on steel but I recon wit will struggle.