How To Cut Duct Sheet Metal

At the beginning of each cut it is important to open the tool completely and seat the edge of the sheet metal as deep as possible in the jaws.

How to cut duct sheet metal. Align the tool s blade with your pattern line the. Mark the cut line or area on sheet metal with a felt tip marker. Use compound snips with offset handles for more leverage and thinner. To cut straight lines use an electric saw.

Simply line up your chisel along the line you are going to cut and strike the back of it with a hammer. For thin sheets of metal you can use tin snips to cut through it. Https amzn to 2mkd0sj large screw driver. Thick using a ferrous metal cutting blade.

Use the proper cutting tools. It may not be an obvious choice but fitted with the right blade a circular saw is a great metal cutting tool. Hot metal chips will fly everywhere. Https amzn to 2ndf97w the best tin aviation snips.

Punch a starter hole in the metal with the blade of a. Cut sheet metal ducts with tin snips but match the type to the cut. In order to cut metal ductwork you have to use the right tools for the job. Cutting metal requires hand or power tools meant for the job because you can t just use a knife for instance and think you will be able to do the job properly or safely.

Start by taping both sides of the sheet metal directly over the line you want to cut and clamp the metal to a work station so it doesn t move. A soft wood backer will allow for the chisel to pass through more easily by providing support for the metal. Make long strokes for long straight cuts. Open the cutters as wide as you can at the start of each stroke and make long smooth strokes.

Then grip the saw with both hands and push the blade through the metal to cut it. Cut metal with your circular saw. If you ve hit it hard enough the chisel will cut the sheet metal if it s thin enough. How to cut into hvac ductwork.

Place the metal on a hard surface to score it and on long pieces do the bending with the score place along a sharp edge of a bench and if necessary clamp the fixed piece with a long piece of flat wood to prevent buckling the metal while bending it back and forth. Https amzn to 2kstzae sheet metal hammer. Lift the cutoff strip and roll it to the side to prevent it from binding on the tin snips handle.