How Do You Cut Aluminum Sheet Metal

Sheet aluminium can be cut without the need for a guillotine or tin snips which tend to deform the metal.

How do you cut aluminum sheet metal.

Add 1 drop of 30 weight machine oil to the chisel s edge for lubrication. This makes it easier for your chisel to get into your aluminum s hardened grains of metal. Cutting aluminum sheet metal with a hammer and chisel is relatively straight forward line up the edge of the chisel along the line you wish to cut and strike the chisel with a hammer. Cutting straight lines with an electric saw.

They don t cut curves well. 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. First if you want to cut a duct near the middle and use both ends mark and cut the duct before snapping it together. And you can use the same technique anytime you need a straight cut on aluminum or other light gauge sheet metal even steel.

Then create a pilot hole within the penciled circle. For cutting 1 16 thru 1 8 material use 10 teeth per diameter inch 10 x 100 tooth or a 12 x 120 teeth. Anything longer and you re probably using the wrong sized chisel or you need to use a saw. Using a softer piece of material such as wood as a backer will allow the chisel to push through the metal and prevent wear on the chisel s tip.

Place the fracture line over the edge of a table and bend the overhang slightly downwards. Making detailed cuts with. Then bend the sheet back and forth a few times to snap it. Choose between red blue or yellow snips based on the cut direction.

Using tin snips for thin sheets. With the aid of a straight edge and a sharp knife score both sides of the aluminium sheet. Wax your saw blade before cutting sheet metal. There are two ways to cut round ducts.

How to cut sheet metal method 1 of 4. This weakens the aluminium and creates a fracture line. Blade manufacturingmakes a hss blade with 200 teethfor cutting really thin aluminum say window screen track but for most material being cut a carbide blade with 8 teeth per diameter inch will do well 10 x 80 tooth is a good example. Straight cutting compound snips work best for cutting thick or doubled up sheet metal.