Cutting 18 Gauge Sheet Metal

You probably wont find snips which are capable of cutting above 18 gauge mild steel.

Cutting 18 gauge sheet metal.

Then cut a gradual curve until you reach the curved line. Cut metal with your circular saw. Guide the top blade of your snips along the line to complete the cutout. Thin gauge steel like sheet metal can be cut with a large variety of tools.

Hot metal chips will fly everywhere. In our test it cut through rebar like a hot knife through butter. Thicker steel like pipes tubes and plates may require the use of power saws and torches. Pay attention to the gauge rating for your tools.

If it say 18 gauge that really is the limit. You can go up a couple thickness with aluminum 20 gauge steel vs. For auto body work or any other metal cutting project this metal shear makes smooth and clean cuts in aluminum plastic or sheet metal as thick as 18 gauge. You can cut mild steel up to about 3 8 in.

Steel thickness is referred to as gauge the smaller the number of gauge the thicker the steel. 18 gauge aluminum but the opposite is true for stainless. You can damage the tool using it with heavier gauge material. Aviation snips and tin snips are a common method of cutting thin sheet metal for hobbyists.

These tools are good for cutting soft sheet metals such as tin aluminum and brass. 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. 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. They have short powerful jaws that can cut through 18 gauge sheet metal as well as the seams on sheet metal ducts. Thick using a ferrous metal cutting blade. 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.

Additionally the type of metal you are cutting make a big difference.