What to use for cutting sheetmetal

[RGAZ]

Discs can be hard to control. I prefer an air body saw. Easy to use and can cut curves if you take your time. Super-cheap at Harbor freight but you whip through blades fast.

 

[Hemi 354]

Here's an additional though if an air saw is not in the cards...a 120V metal body saw from HF. I used this on several objects, and it worked great. Inexpensive too.

http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/reciprocating-saws/electric-body-saw-65766.html

 

[Bladecutter]

Die grinder w/ cutting wheels...3 1./2 "....clean cut without fighting and warping metal to make turns.....pneumatic shears are clean, but kinda bulky. My 90 degree die grider gets a lot of use, cutter, grinder, polisher, inscriber etc multi purpose, pays for it kwikly. A tip for any who care....masking tape...DO NOT lay the rolls around arbitrarily on dirty surfaces, ESPECIALLY fine line plastik tapes....You want to jkeep tape edges clean...i don't lay tape rolls on their side antmore period....I use tape to make refernce lines for building and sanding, i want a clean, straight edge in the tape to block to. One more hiccup in the naked city. May as well go out & invest in a GOOD compressor and traps.....You need air in all phases of a job....best to not procrastinate it and take the plunge....best off to go 220, 3 phase, 2 stage or turbine oilless at least 5.5 hp and 60 gal (min) tank....You want an air supply that can run a hi speed die grinder full tilt and be able to cycle on & off, otherwise you may as well turn into the wind when you piss.

 

[chad]

I use everything from my plasma cutter to air saw to tin snips to electric shears,beverly shear, but I do use my die grinder with a 3 1/2 disc ALOT, just like Bladecutter, it really depends on what your cutting and just like him I tape all my marks or I will use a piece of 1/2x1/2 angle iron or a piece of flat bar as a fence like a tablesaw for long straight cuts on a flat panels with my electric shears plasma cutter or what have you. Its an easy way to make a nice straight line when you are butt welding panels. Buy good quality tin snips though that is one thing I learned years ago..

Also just a little tip if you are using a 5'' zip cut on an electric grinder never ever lock the trigger down, and never push a cutting disk, always pull them back towards you, reason is...if you push the disk and it jams or breaks the grinder will kick back at you and chances are it will fly out of your hands,But if you drag it back towards you and it snags the grinder goes away from you, hence the reason for not locking the trigger because when and if it does take off it will shut off and not keep going.Working in a fab shop you tend to learn really quick . I have seen a ton of electric grinders going skidding across the floor over the years. I have personally done it to been to the ER to get sticthes a few times too.. Learn from my mistakes lol

 

[D575]

This works great, Beverly shear.

 

[chad]

This works great, Beverly shear.

View attachment 246111

I have a beverly shear they work great!

 

[Bladecutter]

Right on Chad. Yeah, getting wheel control takes some time, and what You said about direction and never trigger lock something hi speed.....hi speed non variable i just don't use....i have to be able to dial my speed to area i'm working in and i think a medium speed will provide a better cut and materials last longer. I like Your emphasis on ALOT...my die is a little Mac 90 degree, been pounding on it since 93, NEVER oil it much, will grease the head occassionally....i don't want the thing spitting oil all over surface......amazing the thing just keeps going. L8R Chad