How Do You Cut Aluminum Sheet Metal

Place the fracture line over the edge of a table and bend the overhang slightly downwards.

How do you cut aluminum sheet metal. How to cut sheet metal method 1 of 4. This makes it easier for your chisel to get into your aluminum s hardened grains of metal. First if you want to cut a duct near the middle and use both ends mark and cut the duct before snapping it together. Add 1 drop of 30 weight machine oil to the chisel s edge for lubrication.

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. Then create a pilot hole within the penciled circle. Cutting straight lines with an electric saw. Choose between red blue or yellow snips based on the cut direction.

Sheet aluminium can be cut without the need for a guillotine or tin snips which tend to deform the metal. Then bend the sheet back and forth a few times to snap it. For cutting 1 16 thru 1 8 material use 10 teeth per diameter inch 10 x 100 tooth or a 12 x 120 teeth. 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.

You should be able to cut your aluminum metal piece within 30 seconds. Anything longer and you re probably using the wrong sized chisel or you need to use a saw. And you can use the same technique anytime you need a straight cut on aluminum or other light gauge sheet metal even steel. They don t cut curves well.

There are two ways to cut round ducts. Making detailed cuts with. Clamp or hold a straightedge or square along the cutting marks and score a line with the tip of a sharp utility knife blade. Wax your saw blade before cutting sheet metal.

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. To cut the sheets of metal rathe. 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. Using tin snips for thin sheets.