Cutting Steel Studs

25BRIAN

Going to be using steel studs on a jod tommorow for cutting them is a pair of snips appropiate never used steel before only wood studs...

DecksEtc

I'd use a hacksaw or, more likely a reciprocating saw with a bi-metal blade.

N.E.Bldg&Rest.LLC

You can use snips up to 20ga. anything heavier will be to hard to cut by hand, make sure they're aviation snips.
A metal cutoff saw is alot faster if you're going to be doing alot of framing and is a must for anything over 20ga.

Good luck

__________________
"Man is a tool-using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all."

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

Tom R

I agree with the metal cut-off saw, - - loud as hell though.

__________________
http://www.tr-built.com

JustaFramer

4" angle grinder would work pretty fast too

Mike Finley

Chop saw all the way baby!

DecksEtc

Not that I'm the one doing this but I am curious as to what blade you'd but in a chop saw...

SCC19

Chop saw is the way to go...i only do metal stud framing..light gauge(up to 20) can be used with snips,however if you are doing alot of framing using a chop saw speeds up the process because you can cut up to 10 at a time,the key is to make sure all the ends are flush to get the correct cut.Only problem you run into with that method is if your floor or ceiling is out of level,than your measurements will vary by each stud,so if you have the time and this isn't a productivity job,than your better having a helper cuting the studs with snips and feeding them to you. Anything above 20 gauge you must use a chop saw,and you can't cut more than two at a time,the RPM's of the saw cannot handle it,make sure to keep steady pressure on the saw and if you hear it running down bring it back up and let the RPM's catch up,if you don't it will stop resulting in saw damage or it could kick on you,resulting in personal injury...you more than likely know everything i am already telling you but i just assumed that if you didn't know how to cut them,you've proboly never worked with metal stud framing before,hope i helped!

SCC19

In reply to your question Terry,you use a Abrasive or carborundum blade.

DecksEtc

Thanks for satisfying my curiousity. I don't have any plans to work with metal studs anytime soon but now I know what to use if I do!

ConcreteGuy

http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/to...?productID=160

__________________
______________________________________________

A reasonable expectation becomes an assumption when it goes wrong.

Mike Finley

Shot my mouth off, because I really don't own a chop saw, but what I was referring to is just a cheap metal cutting blade in a power miter saw, which becomes a poor man's chop saw for me. I've got a $500 12" Dewalt miter saw, but my old $89 Craftsman 10" from Sears gets more use. You just have to remember to plumb it and true it every time you move it more than an inch or if the wind blows to hard against it. The Dewalt you can throw into the truck from 10 feet away, pull it out and it is still true.

ConcreteGuy

You're right Mike, and if you got a throw away circular saw, put a metal cutting carborundum blade in it and start cutting. Works great for rebar too. Yeah, no need in investing in production tools of the trade for the short term. Good point.

__________________
______________________________________________

A reasonable expectation becomes an assumption when it goes wrong.

N.E.Bldg&Rest.LLC

And the sparks that come off it is like a forth of July finale
Put something under it and behind it, if you're outside the dust from the metal and blade will stain concrete and if you're inside make sure the sparks don't hit any finish material or glass.

__________________
"Man is a tool-using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all."

Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881)

katttfishh

If you are using heavy gauge studs you will want a saw called a dry-cut. It uses a carbide tipped blade similar to a wood blade and cuts through steel like it was butter. Also it doesnt make any sparks. Its like 3 or 4 times faster than a carborundum blade.

boardslinger

N.E. Builder has the right idea. But if you have to cut multiple studs use the saw. If the roof line grows, cut 2 to 4 at a time and adjust the stud to the measurement. For instance, if your measurement grows a half inch, make you mark on one stud and slide one stud down a half inch so that you only have to cut 2 studs one time. Once you figure it out, you can cut 4 and 6 at a time.

__________________
Bang it, Slam it, Screw it, Aaaaaaah Sheetrock.

Blackcloud

I agree that you can cut studs up to about 20g with your snips. I like to cut just the sides of the stud , then score the top of the stud using my speed square and razor knife, which makes makes snaping the studs fast

easymoney

If you don't know what to use to cut steel studs, you ought not be doing this job... (unless your an employee and you'll just help out)

this is the most basic of basics in commercial construction, and roughly half of you sound unfamiliar with that process.


Stick to what your good at people!

CutCoreGrind

Angle grinder with a metal cutting blade or chop saw with metal cutting blade. Some companies even have metal stud specific blades that yield the best performance. The above tools can even be rented if you don't own them.

Chris Johnson

Angle Grinder
Chop Saw
Steel Cutting Circular Saw
Sheer Cutters - Corded and Cordless

The possiblities are quite a few

__________________
Chris