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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 24 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 24 | Good day all,
I'm a new member and this is my first post, I'm doing some custom work on my truck and have to cut some polished 18 gauge diamond plate. My question is does anybody have any experience using a electric metal shear or air shear or even a air/electric nibbler?? I need to buy one of the above but I want to make sure it will do the job, these cuts are some what curved. Is one easier to use than the other?
Thanks in advance,
Steve from Eastern Ontario | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,185 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,185 | Howdy neighbour, first things first, welcome to this site. I have several electric sheet metal shears, Milwaukee brand. I use them in my barn building business. They are supposed to be good for up to 16 or 18 gauge steel. I use thinner steel in my work, 26 - 29 ga. They would be hard pressed to do a good job on 18 gauge and depending on the hardness of the steel, they won't last long. I have tried nibblers as well, but I always stuck to the shears. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | Topkick,
Welcome to the Stovebolt. Your polished diamond plate must be aluminum...right! My thought would be a jig saw or saber saw for this material as opposed to a shear or nibbler.
18 gauge is fairly thick for a hobby sized shear and I don't think that includes the thickness of the raised diamonds. I'll bet a Bosch jig saw with the proper blade, cutting from the smooth side would do just what you wanted.
Stuart
Last edited by atomarc; 01/22/2009 2:08 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 24 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 24 | Hello Stuart,
Yes it is aluminum, and I think it is 18 gauge .060. I thought of using a jig saw but was worried about the burr on the cut edge?? But if you have had good luck, I'll maybe give it a try with a scrap piece.
Thanks
Steve
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 841 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 841 | the burr on the edge won't be too hard to get rid of on aluminum. you could prob even use a hand file. i cut a lot of aluminum with a jig saw and it works great, good control and smooth curves. hr | | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,168 | Yup! Aluminum loves plugging up the nibblers. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 388 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 388 | Hey topkick,
Welcome to the forum, I bought Electric Shear from Harbor Freight rated at 14 guage for 45 bucks. I had cut long sheets og 16g to patch up bed walls and it works just fine.
It is cheap and works great
Ganesh | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 24 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 24 | Thanks guys for all the responces, this is a excellent site and will be a continuing source of knowledge for me during my restoration. I've got 2 good variable speed jigsaws and this is what I'll try. Up here in Canada we don't have inexpensive tool sources like HF, the cheapest electric metal shears here is a Clarke @$89.99 @ Boss tools and the same model is $34.95 in the US of A with several listed on e-bay daily.
Again Thank you everybody that responed.
Steve | | |
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