Cutting 18 Gauge Sheet Metal

You can go up a couple thickness with aluminum 20 gauge steel vs.

Cutting 18 gauge sheet metal.

Hot metal chips will fly everywhere. Accurate and easy to operate this 120 volt powered metal shear features hardened blades for durability and long life. Steel thickness is referred to as gauge the smaller the number of gauge the thicker the steel. It may not be an obvious choice but fitted with the right blade a circular saw is a great metal cutting tool.

Guide the top blade of your snips along the line to complete the cutout. Thin gauge steel like sheet metal can be cut with a large variety of tools. You probably wont find snips which are capable of cutting above 18 gauge mild steel. You can cut mild steel up to about 3 8 in.

These metal shears are deal for any shop garage or hobbyist requiring precision metal cutting. They have short powerful jaws that can cut through 18 gauge sheet metal as well as the seams on sheet metal ducts. Aviation snips and tin snips are a common method of cutting thin sheet metal for hobbyists. In our test it cut through rebar like a hot knife through butter.

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. Pay attention to the gauge rating for your tools. Thicker steel like pipes tubes and plates may require the use of power saws and torches. Cut metal with your circular saw.

18 gauge aluminum but the opposite is true for stainless. Start the curved cut by nibbling at the gash left by the screwdriver with the tip of offset compound snips until you can slip the lower blade under the metal. For a reference on gauge thickness see our gauge chart. Additionally the type of metal you are cutting make a big difference.

You can damage the tool using it with heavier gauge material. Then cut a gradual curve until you reach the curved line. They are also handy to have around for cutting all sorts of other sheet materials plastic leather rubber etc so they re well worth the 10 or 12 for a decent pair. These tools are good for cutting soft sheet metals such as tin aluminum and brass.

Thick using a ferrous metal cutting blade.