Cut Sheet Metal With Hacksaw

Hacksaws or jeweler s saws are another basic hand tool which can be used to cut sheet metal.

Cut sheet metal with hacksaw. Start with a good blade well tensioned. If you are cutting thinner materials then look for a blade with more teeth. Your cuts will also be cleaner if you use a strip of masking tape and tape it on the top and bottom of the sheet. Align the snips with the line you want to cut with the upper blade of the tin snips touching the sheet metal.

But the discs wear down quickly cut slowly and shrink in diameter as you use them. Cutting thick materials like metal requires a blade with small teeth. Another tool is a plate shear for cutting slightly. First of all the shape and type of the blade in a hacksaw limits the turning radius and depth of the sheet metal.

There are three tools that kevin caron uses a lot to get a precise cut from a thin piece of metal. Select the correct blade for the project being undertaken and ensure it is securely inserted in the frame handle with the teeth facing either forwards or backwards depending on preference. If you plan to use a hacksaw for cutting sheet metal often make sure to rub some wax along its blade to prolong the blade s life. One tool is a foot shear or a jump shear.

When using a hacksaw choose a blade that matches the material you are cutting. Hacksaws are another non conventional tool to cut sheet metals but there are some limitations along with it. Instead we recommend using a diamond blade that s rated to cut ferrous metal. You are limited in turning radius and depth because of the geometry of a hack saw.

So professionally prepared sheet metals can t be taken through hacksaw cutting. Tips for cutting metal using a hacksaw. I find scribing two lines either side of the desired cut easier to follow than a single line that is obscured by the blade and chips. But you don t have to be a tinsmith to cut sheet metal successfully.

Relax and do not force it let the saw do the work. Check the blade is rigid correctly aligned and taut. How to cut sheet metal with a hacksaw 1. Also you should know that the blades of a hacksaw only cut in one direction.

A hand hacksaw is no different than a power saw a worn blade will not cut straight or be easily controlled. An angle grinder fitted with an abrasive metal cutting disc works well to cut all kinds of metal including bolts angle iron rebar and even sheet metal. Clamp the sheet metal in place on your work table to hold it in place while you work. The edges are sharp the cutoffs are stiff and get in the way the snips bind or you just can t seem to negotiate the curve.

These problems are common for those of us who don t work with sheet metal every day.