Cutting Sheet Metal Straight Line

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.

Cutting sheet metal straight line.

An well known trick when cutting with your plasma cutter is to clamp a metal straight edge to the metal so the arc is directly over your cut line. This same idea i decided to take to sheet metal when using the scissor shears. As you cut one side of the sheet metal will ride up and over the. If you need a straight cut clamp a straight edge to the sheet to act as a guide for the jigsaw footplate.

Clamp or hold a straightedge or square along the cutting marks and score a line with the tip of a sharp utility knife blade. This way you can simply press the edge of the torch cup against the straight edge and slowly make a straight cut. Edge surfaces of cut sheet metal are not typically smooth and straight. Even in properly cut metal the fracture zone will be angled and rough.

To cut straight lines use an electric saw. If you ve got a lot of straight cutting to do buy tin snips like the one shown in photo 4. For thin sheets of metal you can use tin snips to cut through it. 1 16 of over 2 000 results for straight cut sheet metal tools finder 12 aviation snips long straight cut tin snips cutting shears power cutter with cr v blade comfortable grip 300mm scissors for cutting metal sheet hard material industrial quality.

Step 5 optional if your project requires cutting a hole in the center of sheet metal draw it on the metal as you would any other cut line. A quality jigsaw and the correct metal cutting blade will make short work of sheet metal cuts. And you can use the same technique anytime you need a straight cut on aluminum or other light gauge sheet metal even steel. In sheet metal cutting the lower the clearance value the higher the edge s quality.

Shaving is a secondary process that can be used to improve edges of cuts that have already been made. Even so your cut will probably be a little ragged. Then create a pilot hole within the penciled circle.