How To Cut 18 Gauge Copper Sheet

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.

How to cut 18 gauge copper sheet.

I commonly use 24 and 26 gauge for making jewelry and enameling. Then bend the sheet back and forth a few times to snap it. And you can use the same technique anytime you need a straight cut on aluminum or other light gauge sheet metal even steel. Begin cut with metal cutting sheer.

18 gauge copper can be cut with heavy duty snips or sheet metal shears. The thicknesses that basic copper carries are 1 mil. 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.

Clamp or hold a straightedge or square along the cutting marks and score a line with the tip of a sharp utility knife blade. It is approximately twice as thick as 22 mil copper and weighs approximately 2 pounds per square foot. It s often used for various construction art and craft projects diy projects electrical applications research and development and much more. 24 gauge makes a nice medium weight cuff bracelet for example.

2d contouring tips and tricks. If you need to cut fine details in thin material here s some recipes and tips to get you started. 0 5mm copper sheet would be 0 019685 inches thick around 24 gauge and snips would be recommended for cutting. Aluminum 38 gauge this also cuts great with the metal copper setting.

Do not use the aluminum foil setting as i have not had any luck with it. I would skip this one. Copper 40 gauge this cuts perfectly with the metal copper setting on your machine. 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.