5
votes
Accepted
What is the trade name for this kind of sheet metal cutter?
It's a Double Cut Metal Shear
https://www.tooled-up.com/blog/nibblers-vs-shears-which-is-best-when-it-comes-to-cutting-sheet-metal/
Double cut shears are so called because they use two separate ...
- 1,091
5
votes
Accepted
What's the best way to cut a circular porthole window into the sheet metal of a van?
Cutting curves in sheetmetal is a good job for a pneumatic nibbler. They can cut strait lines or curves with any radius and can be a little cleaner than a jigsaw because they support both sides of ...
- 28.3k
5
votes
How to cheaply seal a metal sheet roof done poorly
Fibered (that is, it has reinforcing fibers in the mix that help it to bridge small gaps) aluminum (fine flakes of aluminum that float to the top of the wet paint and dry in place to protect from ...
- 226k
4
votes
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Sheet Metal Screws for HVAC - TEK or ZIP?
In my region the self-piercing (sharp tip) screw in #7x1/2 size is the standard. They pop through 28 or 30 gauge sheet almost instantly and they work decently well in heavier 24 or 26 gauge sheet too. ...
- 33.5k
4
votes
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How to join two pieces of sheet metal?
Pop Rivets
The easiest way would be with a pop riveter.
Clamp the two pieces together. Drill a hole for the rivet. Install one rivet.
Repeat this for a rivet at the other end.
Drill all the ...
- 3,612
3
votes
Most effective way to cut slots into sheet-metals
Your best bet for making these slots would probably be a Dremel (or similar) with a cutoff wheel.
Another option would be to simply punch the slots with a sheet metal punch. Not sure exactly what ...
- 5,098
3
votes
Accepted
What material can I put along a sharp, thin metal edge?
Two thoughts
First - "edge molding" or "rubber trim" comes in a variety of sizes, types, hardness, shapes, and prices. Here are just two examples taken from many from one of many ...
- 606
3
votes
What material can I put along a sharp, thin metal edge?
I second Nate's comment that folding the edges is your best bet - it'll give you a small, slightly rounded edge, instead of a sharp edge, and it will stiffen your panel. The drawback is that you ...
- 48k
2
votes
What thickness metal for ramp/walkway?
I'm not sure "thickness" really matters as much as the overall design of the ramp. U-Haul trucks come with 12' long aluminum ramps that one person can lift and they are made of pretty thin aluminum. ...
- 28.3k
2
votes
Accepted
How to cut 2-1/4" diameter hole in sheet metal box?
I cut holes in sheet metal with hole saw bits all the time. Depending on how thick your material is you might need more than one hole saw to get through it in a reasonable amount of time. 22 gauge ...
- 14.4k
2
votes
What's the best way to cut a circular porthole window into the sheet metal of a van?
If the only tool you have is a jigsaw, then make a radius guide. You'll need a fine-tooth metal cutting blade, and maybe several. A sabre-saw is not suitable for this approach.
Start by drilling a ...
- 11.8k
2
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What's the best way to cut a circular porthole window into the sheet metal of a van?
You can't cut a circle in a van side.
A circle would require the van side be flat. It's not flat, it's curved. The curve gives it a great deal of strength. If it wasn't curved it would go "...
2
votes
Sheet Metal Screws for HVAC - TEK or ZIP?
This is difficult to answer without just throwing an opinion out, but I go with the piercing screws for one reason and I think it's objective enough to count as a non-opinion. Self-drilling screws ...
- 7,404
2
votes
Cut sheet metal in half?
If you were doing a lot of freehand sheet metal work, I would recommend a nibbler (it takes little bites out of sheet metal) or set of powered shears with two cutting edges (they literally create a ...
- 5,347
2
votes
Accepted
Rules for cutting additional holes in an exterior panel body
You can add additional holes...
It is permissible to add extra knockout holes to a cabinet or junction box; in fact, many commercial panelboard cabinets and some pull boxes ship without any knockouts, ...
- 86k
2
votes
Accepted
Most effective way to cut slots into sheet-metals
Normally, one makes grooves with a router and an appropriate bit (though that's generally in wood - you'd need a specific bit designed for cutting metal), or with a circular saw blade.
A table saw ...
- 48k
2
votes
Accepted
Best way to patch small holes in sheet metal (for optics)
Easy button is a square of black electrical tape run around the 200A switch.
- 5,098
1
vote
Backing substrate for tin ceiling tile
I would opt out for the the thicker material. It should not matter if it is plywood or OSB, but perhaps I would go with OSB since it is cheaper, and presumably it is consistent in its density, since ...
- 37.4k
1
vote
Creating a large thin-walled hollow cylinder/tube
In addition to the wood bending techniques already mentioned, there's another approach. Very thin strips of wood bend easily, and gluing several thin layers together while bent around a form will ...
- 4,142
1
vote
Best way to patch small holes in sheet metal (for optics)
I would go with some black grommets or plugs.
Another simple option would be some small setcrews and nuts.
A third, not so liked by me, would be to make sure they are flat then fill with silicone or a ...
- 28.7k
1
vote
Scythe blade warped while peening
You've ruined that blade. Barring a skilled blacksmith being accessible; buy a new one, and buy a peening jig while you are at it, rather than peening freehand with zero experience.
If the blade had ...
- 226k
1
vote
How to cheaply seal a metal sheet roof done poorly
If you can get the polyurethane between the sheets in such a way that it will not trap water that's probably going to work for a while if that's where the leak is.
Else you may be be better off re-...
- 24.7k
1
vote
What's the best way to cut a circular porthole window into the sheet metal of a van?
Aviation Tin Snips are also an option, however being manually powered they're a lot of effort.
If you're right-handed then you probably want the red-coloured ones, because they turn to the left as you ...
- 11.8k
1
vote
Cutting copper sheets with a Dremel
Yes, your selection of tools will cut .2mm copper sheets but I don't think you'll get the results you want.
The diamond cutter will more than likely snag the sheets and getting a straight cut will be ...
- 86.2k
1
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Cutting copper sheets with a Dremel
A diamond cutter probably wouldn't do well. Soft metals tend to clog the abrasive material fairly quickly, resulting in overheating. Also, it's difficult to keep straight lines with such a small tool. ...
- 149k
1
vote
Accepted
How to fit a pvc window to a corrugated metal shed
Actually they probably will carry the load just fine. The general process is this
Buy the window size you want in vinyl. It should fit between the framing members (you do not want to cut those)
Buy ...
- 26.3k
1
vote
What thickness metal for ramp/walkway?
There are online plate deflection calculators. Here is 4 meters x 1.5 meters. 1.5 meters unsupported is a very long distance for a plate. I made some assumptions on the weight and allowable deflection....
- 2,244
1
vote
How to make a reverse bend in a sheet metal box
This object would be simple to make with an electromagnetic sheet metal brake. Magnabend is a name from many years ago (possibly the name of the original invention?); there are now several vendors ...
- 33.5k
1
vote
How to make a reverse bend in a sheet metal box
Unless you have a brake that has fingers or the clamping bar has removable plates you are still going to have a problem folding the third fold of the other three.
If you are able to do normal four ...
- 66.5k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible