Looking for guidance on what to get as I've started on a fair bit of bodywork. Up to now I've cut metal and trimmed panels with Wiss snips but I find them hard going on long runs and usually end up with a wavy panel. There seem to be a few alternative choices: nibblers, disk cut off tools and air saws. I'm not going to get one of each so what's a good all round tool?
I've got an electric nibbler, grinder, jigsaw reciprocater saw, but in general i use the grinder, and if i have bigger sheets to cut up i use a circular saw with a metal cutting blade. and of course tin snips. Oh i've also got a cheap plasma cutter, but not really mastered it.
I use stainless steel cutting discs on the grinder There not made from stainless steel there designed for cutting it There about a mm thick and its uncanny how acurate you can be with one I have an air saw and air cut of tool and rarely use them
like paradox says 1mm slitting/cutting disks are the boy for panel work thinest cut with least fettling to do after i've got a good plasma cutter, nibblers tin snips, reciprocating piston air saw and out of the lot i'd use the 1mm disks on the grinder where space allows and the airsaw in tight spots ps i've used 150 disks so far on my resto and it's still not finished so buy in bulk to save cash
We have a set of these Metal Shears http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cps150-metal-shears they are only Clarke ones but will cut through stainless steel as well as mild steel and the fancy DP steels you can get too. we use them for cutting sheets of steel that have come from the rolling mill in 2m sq. sections..clean cuts too no matter what size we need
1mm Plasma discs on the Grinder for me as well, i have tried lots of brands but found Klingspor ones are the best, don't go for cheap ones of ebay as they are more dust than grit.
I ended up buying a pack of 50 Blue Spots. Don't know how well these compare with other brands but they seem to do the job OK. It'll be a long time before I use them up.
also i use a steel straight edge/bit of steel bar and clamp it to the sheet along the line i want to cut to get a neat cut.
we are talking about cutting sheet metal plates, not cutting fitted panels aren't we? it will come down to personal preference in the end. i have used a nibbler and found it easy and could get nice straight edges, grinders are really quick but not as easy to get a good straight edge as you can easily slip, a normal diy jigsaw will cut it but you need a big enough work bench to clamp the sheet down or if just flaps everywhere, tin shears are ok for small bits but again they are harder to use on long cuts, air saws use a lot of air and you need a large compressor tank and have the same issue as a jigsaw with the panel vibrating. most people already have a jigsaw or can borrow one so get a decent blade and try that before buying anything.
dont buy clark plasma 1mm either there poooooo....lasted 20 secs ,second shot off down the road .....
