fat pete Posted February 22, 2008 Share Posted February 22, 2008 What do you guys use to cut shapes outta 1/8 and smaller? Does Stainless steel pose a problem. Plasma, Laser and O/a are not the methods of choice in this situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chyancarrek Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 Hey Pete, For sheet 1/8th and thinner I use my variable speed jigsaw. I'm always cutting circles and irregular shapes so it works really well. I also rigged up a removable cutting deck for my metal cutting band saw that gives me a little more support area for cutting when the saw is vertical. It's pretty versatile for cutting a variety of shapes. Couldn't say for stainless. I only use a plasma because I've never had luck using a mechanical means to cut it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 B3 beverly shear would be my first choice for cutting sheet. *Quiet* too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispinnh Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 hard to beat a scroll saw for fine work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcraigl Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 If it's a complex shape, I draft it up in autocad and email a *.dwg file to the water-jet shop and then stop by after work with a 6 or 12 pack (depending on how big the job was) to pick it up. I still pay them for it, the beer is more for the inconvenience of them setting up for my piddly little jobs while they have production runs going that make them far, far more money than said piddly jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Czar Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 at the shop: generally there are dozens to hundreds of somethings (leaves typically) to cut out, so they get shopped out for laser cutting, if super high accuracy is required (rarely) waterjet is used. If its less than a dozen or a sample they are generally plasma cut in the shop, the iron worker with a nibbler is an option depending on the shape, then grind at home: rough it out with a jigsawscrollsaw, grind and file (grinding includes cutoff wheels either in an angle grinder or my foredom, for tight detail) there is also a hand nibbler if the gauge is thin enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fat pete Posted February 23, 2008 Author Share Posted February 23, 2008 thanks guys i like the scroll saw idea.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Czar Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 a jewelers saw is nice for really tight pierce work, but 1/8" would be pushing it in steel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted February 23, 2008 Share Posted February 23, 2008 A good cold chisel with curved cutting edge to rock around the shape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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