Cutting Metal Roof Panels

scott

Hey everyone, was wanting to know what you guys are using for cutting metal roofing material.......we are trying to keep clean cuts and angles that most tools dont offer the ability.

pgriz

We install aluminum shingles, and regular snips work very well. What gauge are you dealing with?

Unregistered

we are cutting 26 gauge with various rib patterns .we have 6 or 7 pair of snips but they are time consuming and leave burrs w/ some not so straight edges, we cut about 38 inches across and up to 10 feet or so during angle cuts

Grumpy

I've seen power snips that attach to any drill. They are quick but create 1/4" of waste material.

Glasshousebltr

I use a skill saw with a panneling blade turned backwards, makes a lot of noise but it works well.
Bob

Bjd

Plasma Cutter? they make a real small unit for under $500.00

Grumpy

wow. isnt a plasma cutter for thick metals, not sheet metal? i can see a plasma cutter whipping right through a piece of 024 steel.

Glasshousebltr

Seems like it would burn and disscolor the edges too. Might be bad for a premanufactured Paint finnish.
Bob

Unregistered

I think a plasma cutter will burn paint and i dont think you can use one outdoors because of wind blowing your gas away, we tried this a while back with not real good results.....but thanx for you help.

Bjd

No you do not use any gas, it air from a compressor or some even have them buit in, as fars as paint edges burning no not to bad at all. The one I have is adjustable for the materail thickness, cuts like butter through the real thin stuff without ant distortion or paint burning. I use it a lot for cutting through heating units jackets for repairs, after the repair I flange the panel back into the sapce it was before.
Body shops use them a lot for this reason, find a shop with one and take a peek at how they use them.

Bernie

Teetorbilt

I have been thinking about doing my own roof and have been checking things out. The big companies use a special shear, most of them form their own panels on site too. All of the smaller guys seem to be using tin snips.
I have some samples and am considering an abrasive or diamond blade on a skill saw. I have also thought that laying the metal flat on a piece of plywood should kill a lot of the noise.
If I get around to trying this I will post the results.

Grumpy

I've heard of guys sticking the metal ontop of ISO insulation panels.

Bjd

How about some power snips, and or power nibblers, they sell cheap from HF, or northern?

Bernie