Cutting 18 Gauge Sheet Metal

In our test it cut through rebar like a hot knife through butter.

Cutting 18 gauge sheet metal.

Pay attention to the gauge rating for your tools. 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. Thick using a ferrous metal cutting blade. Guide the top blade of your snips along the line to complete the cutout.

Then cut a gradual curve until you reach the curved line. Thicker steel like pipes tubes and plates may require the use of power saws and torches. Steel thickness is referred to as gauge the smaller the number of gauge the thicker the steel. Aviation snips and tin snips are a common method of cutting thin sheet metal for hobbyists.

These metal shears are deal for any shop garage or hobbyist requiring precision metal cutting. These tools are good for cutting soft sheet metals such as tin aluminum and brass. You can cut mild steel up to about 3 8 in. Additionally the type of metal you are cutting make a big difference.

Hot metal chips will fly everywhere. You probably wont find snips which are capable of cutting above 18 gauge mild steel. They have short powerful jaws that can cut through 18 gauge sheet metal as well as the seams on sheet metal ducts. 18 gauge aluminum but the opposite is true for stainless.

Accurate and easy to operate this 120 volt powered metal shear features hardened blades for durability and long life. Start the curved cut by nibbling at the gash left by the screwdriver with the tip of offset compound snips until you can slip the lower blade under the metal. They are also handy to have around for cutting all sorts of other sheet materials plastic leather rubber etc so they re well worth the 10 or 12 for a decent pair. For a reference on gauge thickness see our gauge chart.

Steel comes in many different forms and thicknesses. It may not be an obvious choice but fitted with the right blade a circular saw is a great metal cutting tool. Cut metal with your circular saw. You can go up a couple thickness with aluminum 20 gauge steel vs.

You can damage the tool using it with heavier gauge material.