cutting metal

dp3360 · 2 Dec 2010

I'm new here and please tell me if this post isn't in the right place.
I just wanted to find out what tools you can use to cut small shapes and holes into metal with. I'm not sure what type of metal it is I want to cut but I want to be able to cut precise shapes into a small piece of metal. I don't want anything that's going to cost me the house, just something that will do the job. If there isn't anything cheap, are there any methods? I tried searching the internet but didn't find anything that I was familiar with. Thanks

joinerjohn · 2 Dec 2010

Possibly something like this??

http://www.google.co.uk/products/ca...zcJYigxgXblpT_DQ&sa=image&ved=0CA0Q8gIwATgA#p

merlin50 · 2 Dec 2010

need to know how thick the metal is and what it is

Edma Monodex Nibbler Shears might do it, if its thin

ladylola · 2 Dec 2010

Depending on the shapes a hacksaw and a selection of files may be the cheapest course of action.

TicklyT · 2 Dec 2010

The cutting tools for metalwork vary according to the task in hand, and depth of your pockets. They include hammer and cold chisel, hacksaw, jewellers saw, file, jigsaw, nibblers (hand or powered) tinsnips, chain drilling, oxy-acetylene torch, milling, grinding, etc etc. I have used all of the above at various times.

For a basic kit, a hacksaw, files and tinsnips will accomplish most jobs.

A selection of HSS drill bits and a DIY power drill will supplement the kit. Just buy the drill bits you need when you need them. IME most sets of drill bits have two or three 'useful' sizes, and the rest hardly ever see the light of day.

A few more clues about the likely project(s) may provide more answers.

nickdsjnk · 3 Dec 2010

I use a small plasma cutter and tidy up the cuts with a die grinder or file, this works well in plate up to about 6mm with my cutter.

If you want a decent answer you need to tell us more details.

What are the shapes for?

dp3360 · 3 Dec 2010

Sorry for not being very specific, I can't actually be too specific because I'm sort of exploring and trying out a few things. It is probably steel what I want to cut, I'm not positive, but it is around 1mm thick, It looks like it anyway. I'm not using the shapes for anything, I'm planning to just make shapes in the metal just for an interlocking mechanism, the holes/shapes in the metal have to be pretty small and have to be pretty accurate, I wasn't sure if there was cheap enough equipment with that description. It's a small project I'm working on and so is the object I'm working on which however strange It may seem, is a stapler. It's no point asking me what I want to do with it because I haven't the slightest clue apart from wanting to be able to lock 2 pieces of small metal together... Hope this helps, thanks

Hitachimad · 4 Dec 2010

Sounds like a job for a selection of drill bits, a piercing saw and some needle files.

joinerjohn · 4 Dec 2010

Dragons Den here he comes

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cutting metal

dp3360

joinerjohn

merlin50

ladylola

TicklyT

nickdsjnk

dp3360

Hitachimad

joinerjohn

DIYnot Local

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