How To Cut 18 Gauge Copper Sheet

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How to cut 18 gauge copper sheet. I would skip this one. I commonly use 24 and 26 gauge for making jewelry and enameling. It is approximately twice as thick as 22 mil copper and weighs approximately 2 pounds per square foot. Aluminum 38 gauge this also cuts great with the metal copper setting.

24 gauge makes a nice medium weight cuff bracelet for example. Clamp or hold a straightedge or square along the cutting marks and score a line with the tip of a sharp utility knife blade. In using the term mil however the larger the number the thicker the copper sheet will be and so 16 mil copper sheets are thicker than 8 mil copper sheets. 0 5mm copper sheet would be 0 019685 inches thick around 24 gauge and snips would be recommended for cutting.

If you need to cut fine details in thin material here s some recipes and tips to get you started. It s often used for various construction art and craft projects diy projects electrical applications research and development and much more. 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. And you can use the same technique anytime you need a straight cut on aluminum or other light gauge sheet metal even steel.

18 gauge copper can be cut with heavy duty snips or sheet metal shears. Mark the required dimensions on the surface of the sheet using marking tool and straightedge. Begin cut with metal cutting sheer. Then bend the sheet back and forth a few times to snap it.

Measure the dimensions needed with tape measure. Brass 36 gauge this did not cut well with any of the settings i used on my machine. Thus the 36 gauge copper sheets are thinner than the 30 gauge copper sheets. The thicknesses that basic copper carries are 1 mil.