Cutting Aluminum Sheet Jigsaw

Clamp or hold a straightedge or square along the cutting marks and score a line with the tip of a sharp utility knife blade.

Cutting aluminum sheet jigsaw.

For cutting sheet metal choose a finer blade with 21 to 24 teeth per inch. Cutting sheet metal is slow work with a jigsaw and even more so if you are working with corrugated metal. Clamp a guide to your aluminum on both sides of your saw. Use a 24 toothed blade or greater to cut through aluminum.

Position the saw close to the side of the aluminum where you want to begin cutting. To cut the sheets of metal rathe. Do it carefully and slowly to make sure you get the shape right. Slowly push the jigsaw forward following the cutting line.

If your saw has variable speeds just consult the chart. Afterwards lower the blade approximately 0 39 inches 0 99 cm past the metal and guide the blade along the metal. And you can use the same technique anytime you need a straight cut on aluminum or other light gauge sheet metal even steel. Instead of pushing it forcefully slide the jigsaw slowly and allow it to eat through the sheet metal.

For pattern cutting drill blade starter holes instead of making plunge cuts. Work slowly and methodically. Usually it s a matter of moving a belt to a different sized pulley. If you are making a long cut you may need to apply cutting oil to the blade of the jigsaw to keep the blade cool.

Cut metal plate and pipe on low speed. The more teeth on the blade the smoother the cut will be. Sharp edges are present on the cut sheet metal so use a metal file or sandpaper to smooth the edges of your project. When you re cutting aluminum on a band saw you ll want to crank the blade speed up to 250 feet per minute.

2 make precise cutting marks on. To avoid shredding sheet metal or raising a lot of edge burrs tightly sandwich the metal between two layers of thin plywood. Use a jigsaw if circular cuts need to be made in the aluminum. Install a metal cutting blade into a jigsaw.

Using a softer piece of material such as wood as a backer will allow the chisel to push through the metal and prevent wear on the chisel s tip. Cut through the sheet where you have put the marking.