How Do You Cut Aluminum Sheet Metal

They don t cut curves well.

How do you cut aluminum sheet metal.

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. You should be able to cut your aluminum metal piece within 30 seconds. 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. This makes it easier for your chisel to get into your aluminum s hardened grains of metal.

Sheet aluminium can be cut without the need for a guillotine or tin snips which tend to deform the metal. Straight cutting compound snips work best for cutting thick or doubled up sheet metal. With the aid of a straight edge and a sharp knife score both sides of the aluminium sheet. To cut the sheets of metal rathe.

Clamp or hold a straightedge or square along the cutting marks and score a line with the tip of a sharp utility knife blade. There are two ways to cut round ducts. How to cut sheet metal method 1 of 4. Anything longer and you re probably using the wrong sized chisel or you need to use a saw.

Choose between red blue or yellow snips based on the cut direction. 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. Wax your saw blade before cutting sheet metal. And you can use the same technique anytime you need a straight cut on aluminum or other light gauge sheet metal even steel.

For cutting 1 16 thru 1 8 material use 10 teeth per diameter inch 10 x 100 tooth or a 12 x 120 teeth. Add 1 drop of 30 weight machine oil to the chisel s edge for lubrication. 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. This weakens the aluminium and creates a fracture 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. Then create a pilot hole within the penciled circle. Place the fracture line over the edge of a table and bend the overhang slightly downwards. Then bend the sheet back and forth a few times to snap it.