Hot metal chips will fly.
Easy way to cut 16 gauge sheet metal.
To cut straight lines use an electric saw.
Most sheet metal cutting tools are limited to 16 gauge and thinner 14 gauge is still sheet metal but in common forms 11 gauge while technically sheet metal is 1 8 thick and not really sheet metal for the purposes of this article so we will focus on 16 gauge and thinner.
Since there are going to be a lot of curves to the finished piece i dont know if nippers would be a good bet for steel this thick.
Thick using a ferrous metal cutting blade.
Saws and torches can also be used on thin steel but are impractical choices unless you re cutting high volume or need to cut steel often.
How to cut 16 gauge sheet metal by metalman21 sun feb 18 2018 6 33 pm clavius wrote.
I need a way to cut thick steel sheet meal 16 gauge that is quick and easy.
Aviation snips and tin snips are a common method of cutting thin sheet metal for hobbyists.
There are nippers out there that could do it but i want to know if there are cheap easier ways out there than killing my hands trying to cut it.
Tired of getting fingers cut on sheet metal while using tin snips.
Start by taping both sides of the sheet metal directly over the line you want to cut and clamp the metal to a work station so it doesn t move.
You can cut mild steel up to about 3 8 in.
Also referred to as aviator snips these scissor like hand tools cut sheet metal materials up to 18 gauge in thickness accurately without leaving a ragged bent edge as the finished product.
You ll also be limited to the gauges you can work with i don t believe you ll be cutting anything thicker than 16 gauge cold rolled steel with this method.
Thin gauge steel like sheet metal can be cut with a large variety of tools.
Check out this video.
Thicker steel like pipes tubes and plates may require the use of power saws and torches.
Red for left green for right and yellow for straight.
The lower the number the thicker the metal is.
If you only have one or a few to do a decent variable speed jig saw with a fine metal cutting blade will make reasonably quick work of it.
In our test it cut through rebar like a hot knife through butter.
Cut metal with your circular saw.
It may not be an obvious choice but fitted with the right blade a circular saw is a great metal cutting tool.
Depending on the cut shape you ll use left cut right cut or straight snips typically indicated by the handle color.
