How Do I Cut Aluminum Sheet Metal

Use a wood cutting saw with carbide tipped blades to cut most aluminum.

How do i cut aluminum sheet metal.

Select a fine toothed blade and don t cut aluminum with a wall thickness of more than 1 4 inch 0 64 cm. Sheet aluminium can be cut without the need for a guillotine or tin snips which tend to deform the metal. Cutting aluminum sheet metal with a hammer and chisel is relatively straight forward line up the edge of the chisel along the line you wish to cut and strike the chisel with a hammer. How to cut aluminum awnings with metal shears 1.

Place the fracture line over the edge of a table and bend the overhang slightly downwards. Measure the awning frame that eventually will support and attach to your corrugated aluminum sheet. Tired of getting fingers cut on sheet metal while using tin snips. Then bend the sheet back and forth a few times to snap it.

Clamp the aluminum down. Check out this video. This weakens the aluminium and creates a fracture line. Put on safety glasses and leather work gloves for protection from aluminum shards and sharp cut aluminum edges.

If possible choose a saw blade that creates narrow kerfs the notch or slot made by the saw. Using a softer piece of material such as wood as a backer will allow the chisel to push through the metal and prevent wear on the chisel s tip. Set the piece of aluminum on a table or over sawhorses and position it so the cutting area has open space underneath it. And you can use the same technique anytime you need a straight cut on aluminum or other light gauge sheet metal even steel.