How To Cut Aluminum Sheet Into Shapes

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.

How to cut aluminum sheet into shapes.

To cut the sheets of metal rathe. Cut circles in aluminum using curve cutting snips. 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. Draw a circle in permanent marker on the aluminum piece.

They cut small circles and corners. Afterwards create a starter hole within the circle by hammering the back of a straight blade screwdriver into the metal. 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. Then grip the saw with both hands and push the blade through the metal to cut it.

One tool is a foot shear or a jump shear. They look like scissors and work fine with sheet metals like brass aluminum tin steel etc. With the aid of a straight edge and a sharp knife score both sides of the aluminium sheet. Such as straight cut snips left cut the right cut etc.

And you can use the same technique anytime you need a straight cut on aluminum or other light gauge sheet metal even steel. There are some cuts that you can do with decent tin snips. Then bend the sheet back and forth a few times to snap it. Plasma cutters cut all metals and leave an edge that must be smoothed.

The other tools mainly make round holes and to use them you start by drilling a small pilot hole. Another tool is a plate shear for cutting slightly. For thin sheets of metal you can use tin snips to cut through it. Clamp or hold a straightedge or square along the cutting marks and score a line with the tip of a sharp utility knife blade.

Tin snips or aviation snips are one of the most widely used tools to cut sheet metals. These cutters ionize the metal to separate it into parts. This weakens the aluminium and creates a fracture line. To cut straight lines use an electric saw.

They must have an air compressor with high capacity. Then place your tin snips into the opening.