How To Cut Sheet Metal Without Bending

If you use metal shears to cut thin sheet metal such as duct metal it curls and can be difficult to flaten properly.

How to cut sheet metal without bending. Edge bending operations are commonly used in industrial sheet metal processing and involve bending a section of the metal that is small relative to the part. 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. For a cleaner cut put a strip of masking tape on the top and bottom of the sheet to keep chips from scratching the material. Instead we recommend using a diamond blade that s rated to cut ferrous metal.

With the aid of a straight edge and a sharp knife score both sides of the aluminium sheet. 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. This weakens the aluminium and creates a fracture line. These photo steps show that it can be done using a utility knife.

To prolong blade life rub wax along the length of the blade. These sections are located at the edges. A hacksaw can cut sheet metal but its shape limits its turning radius and depth of cut. The illustrations are for a small bracket but i have cut 3 foot.

The method you choose to cut sheet metal depends on the thickness of the metal and the type of cut you plan to make. But the discs wear down quickly cut slowly and shrink in diameter as you use them. Sheet aluminium can be cut without the need for a guillotine or tin snips which tend to deform the metal. How to cut thin sheet metal and keep it flat.

Most frequently expensive sheet metal bending tools called brakes are used to bend sheet metal but you can also complete this task without one. Bending sheet metal by hand is a manageable task if the piece of sheet metal is small and thin enough to handle. Edge bending is used to eliminate sharp edges to provide geometric surfaces for purposes such as joining to protect the part to increase stiffness and for cosmetic appearance.