How To Cut 16 Gauge Stainless Steel Sheet

Gauge to thickness chart click here for a printable pdf chart gauge.

How to cut 16 gauge stainless steel sheet. Steel comes in many different forms and thicknesses. Thin gauge steel like sheet metal can be cut with a large variety of tools. How to cut stainless steel sheet metal. A soft wood backer will allow for the chisel to pass through more easily by providing support for the metal.

Thicker steel like pipes tubes and plates may require the use of power saws and torches. 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. Wear eye protection like certified goggles to protect your eyes from flying sparks and particles. Some materials such as galvanized steel simply have a corrosion resistant surface coating of zinc.

Steel thickness is referred to as gauge the smaller the number of gauge the thicker the steel. Line up the section you want to cut with the wheel on the cutter. Keep kids out of your working area. First you can mechanically cut stainless steel and retain the corrosion resistance on the cut edges.

Insert your stainless steel tube into the tube cutter. Once your tube is in position tighten it into place by rotating the knob at the end of the device. Mark on your stainless steel sheet with a permanent marker or metal scribe where you want to make the. Also it is recommended that you wear safety shoes that have.

If you are new to working with stainless steel you should be aware of its fundamental material characteristics. Cut thin stainless steel metal between 25 and 15 gauge with a pair of compound action snips or shears also called aviator s snips or. Simply line up your chisel along the line you are going to cut and strike the back of it with a hammer. The lower the number the thicker the metal is.