The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Cutting Sheet metal

I dont have all the Fancy tools that I know I need for my project..can I cut 18..17..16 guage..ect,, sheet metal with a sheet metal shears?

If you're talking about avation snips...yes you can but you may get some distortion and fish hooks. They are not really ideal for cutting long straight lines and 18 to 16 gauge is a little on the heavy side if you're not used to it.

Do a search...there has been a lot of previous discussion on cutting options. Try keyword "sawzall"

I know harbor freight stuff is pretty crappy sometimes. I have gotten some decent stuff and some real junk. But for $10.99 you can get a 4 1/2" grinder, a 10 pk of cuttoff wheels for $3.99, and a 10 pk of grinding wheels for $4.99 and it works well on cutting the metal. I also have an air nibbler that leaves little chips of metal absolutely everywhere and get stuck in the bottom of your shoes and is extremely annoying. I also have an electric sheer that works well on 18 gauge but is harder on 16 gauge because it rolls up a strip of metal as you cut.

Best bet if you want to stay on the inexpensive side but have a tool in your garage after is to get the grinder.

I had picked up 2 of them so I could have a beater throw away and give my father one. I have a brotherinlaw that breaks just about everything so I told my dad to loan him this one instead of his makita if needs he one and I wanted less wear and tear on my makita for some jobs. Turns out they work pretty well for cheapos.

Just keep an eye out for when they are on sale at harborfreight.com or if I see them on sale in a catalog I will post up the item number for you. Very handy to have.

Check out this thread http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=4;t=004195#000000 These are the best way to go.

A cheapie die grinder (yes Harbor Frieght has them for about $20.00) and some "cut off discs" are the way to rough cut, to get stuff off BEFORE you can get to it with tin snips. The cut off discs come in all different widths, I use 1/32" for nearly everything I do. And if you can spring for a little better die grinder do it, the cheapies cost so little because you get what you pay for.

Brian

What about oxy-acetelyne with a 000 cutting tip?

Plasma cutter?

okay, those both work nicely but they're expensive.

A sawzall with a metal cutting blade or even a reciprocating handsaw aka electric jig with metal cutting blades?

I think no matter how you do your cuts you'll need a grinder for a lot of different things. I was surprised but it is one of the tools I've used the most when restoring my '51- sometimes with cut off wheels, some times with griding wheels, sometimes with wire brushes or cups, etc... it is just a very handy and versitile thing to have around.

Mike...

I agree with NM51. An angle grinder is the way to go. With cutting, grinding and wire wheels...it's the most used tool in my shop. I actually keep 2 going at the same time so as not to change different attachment wheels all the time.

mn51andmummdog, I have to agree with you guys. We all know that the jobs are a little different and sometimes different tools work best for certain applications but I discovered a few months ago how much I love my 4 1/2" grinder. Man, I had used die grinders, dremels and an assortment of other tools until my son in law donated me some cut-off wheels for my grinder. Man, it will make short work of most anything. I have to be careful and "pay attention" when using it. (I use a milwaukee brand)

Amen Alvin ....been there done it

Thanks Guys..I am starting to move along with my project. Have 2 pieces to weld in the Floor pan..ect..ect..Got to cover up the wires first,,spent to much on the wiring just to melt them up,painted my Grill and Bumper last night..Slowly but surely I am getting there..

That is sort of the "cutting torch" of die grinders. I have used mine with a "cut off disc" before, on a frame. Boy, if you can acuratly cut sheetmetal pieces off with it, you are a better man than I.

I do this stuff for a living and I have to tell you, using a small air powered die grinder, a small air powered "angle grinder", a couple of different spot weld drilling tools (drill with a special bit and a specific "Spot weld driller") along with the tin snips I mentioned is ALL I have used or seen used in the shop in years.

If you like that 4.5" grinder (and I do, they are GREAT tools) for using a cut off disc, and you have reservations about how aggresive it is (it sounds like you do) then you really need to get yourself a small air die grinder and try 1/32" thick cut off discs. You could cut a penny in half with it holding the penny with a small pair of pliers. It is a very easy to control, very delicate cutting tool that still can cut off a whole quarter panel in minutes. You can cut a straight line down a six foot piece of sheetmetal or cut a small 1/4" tab off a piece of fitting. It is THE tool of most bodymen.

Brian

I have one Brian..I do have to cut out my Radio Dash, and weld in new. Will that work? I have air tools,So I have to get the 1/32" cut off discs? It sounds more managable..Meaning not running on me for the more small delicate cuts i need to do. Thanks guys...M/G