Cut Sheet Metal Without Curling

You can cut the sheet metal without too much distortion and noise when you use a nibbler.

Cut sheet metal without curling.

To cut straight lines use an electric saw. It works best only if there is a small project since it will require more effort on your end which is why it may not be the best for beginners. 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. Another tool that will be an effective choice for cutting sheet metal is a hacksaw.

Such as straight cut snips left cut the right cut etc. The fastest way to cut sheet metal in complex shapes or straight lines without a shear is a plasma torch. You will sacrifice about a quarter inch strip of metal with each cut but that s less waste than i got with hand tools. Plus a plasma torch can be used for thick metal too so they are really handy.

The illustrations are for a small bracket but i have cut 3 foot long pieces using this method. Tin snips or aviation snips are one of the most widely used tools to cut sheet metals. When set to a low amperage a plasma torch won t warp the metal and can yield quick clean cuts that help you get the job done quickly. There are some cuts that you can do with decent tin snips.

They look like scissors and work fine with sheet metals like brass aluminum tin steel etc. These photo steps show that it can be done using a utility knife.