How To Cut Thin Sheet Metal Straight

Using tin snips for thin sheets.

How to cut thin sheet metal straight.

Do not press down all the way on the snips as this will make a jagged edge. Mark on your stainless steel sheet with a permanent marker or metal scribe where you want to make the cut. Making a circular cutout in a duct is simple using the techniques shown in photos 5 and 6. Use curve cutting snips to cut circles.

Step 3 place the edge of the stainless steel all the way inside the jaws of the snips and cut along the line that you marked. Pound on the back of the screwdriver with a hammer to puncture the metal and create an opening for the tin snips. Making detailed cuts with. Punch a starter hole for a circular cutout with a straight blade screwdriver.

Place the metal on a hard surface to score it and on long pieces do the bending with the score place along a sharp edge of a bench and if necessary clamp the fixed piece with a long piece of flat wood to prevent buckling the metal while bending it back and forth. Cutting straight lines with an electric saw. Choose between red blue or yellow snips based on the cut direction.