Cutting 29ga metal panel liner

[gnxtc2]

I have some left over corrugated metal panel liner that I want to install on the walls in my shop.

The panel liner is 29 ga and I need to cut approximately 20 sheets. I've done it before using snips but it took a long time.

Was looking into using a circular saw

or metal shears

If anyone has any other recommendations, let me know.

Thanks

Billy T.
[email protected]

 

[Addrock]

Shears or utility knife and a clamped strait edge, or a sheet metal break (trim) and utility knife.

 

[RPH]

Dual saw I have heard works well. No experience with it but will later this spring when the building goes up.

 

[Jess]

I have done both roofing, cladding and liner using a regular circular saw with a metal cutting blade. The one I got has carbide teeth ground specifically for metal. They are also used for metal studs. Don't try to cut more than a few sheets and you'll be fine. Any decent tool place will have one and here, they run about $50. If you need to do radius cuts, Makita make a nice nibler that works well, but its expensive at over $350. Either beats a recip saw or hand shears times over.

Jess

 

[PAToyota]

Shears or utility knife and a clamped strait edge, or a sheet metal break (trim) and utility knife.

None of those is going to work very well on corrugated material - fine on flat material, though.

How much thicker than heavy aluminum foil is 29ga? I think 23ga is pretty flimsy...

Just looked it up - 22ga is 1/32" and 28ga is 1/64". So maybe Addrock's suggestion of a utility knife isn't too far off...

 

[Grumpy365]

I have some left over corrugated metal panel liner that I want to install on the walls in my shop.

The panel liner is 29 ga and I need to cut approximately 20 sheets. I've done it before using snips but it took a long time.

Was looking into using a circular saw

If anyone has any other recommendations, let me know.

Billy T.
[email protected]

I have uses a circular saw may times. You may want to flip the rotation of the blade, a lot of people seam to think it works better.

I always like a jig saw for sheet metal, but the 29 ga might be a little light for thin for a jig saw.

 

[stingry]

I have some left over corrugated metal panel liner that I want to install on the walls in my shop.

The panel liner is 29 ga and I need to cut approximately 20 sheets. I've done it before using snips but it took a long time.

Was looking into using a circular saw

If anyone has any other recommendations, let me know.

Thanks

Billy T.
[email protected]

I have the Milwaukee circular saw pictured here. It works fantastic on 29 ga panels, just turn them over and cut from the backside. Be sure to get a blade made specifically for thin metals. I used it to sheet a large barn and my new 3500 sq ft shop. Used three blades if memory serves me correctly. The other tool pictured will not work for this application due to the ribs.

Cheers
Steve

 

[csp]

If you don't already have that Milwaukee metal cutter, don't buy it just for 29ga panels. Any cheapie circular saw with a carbide blade will cut metal that thin.

The Milwaukee pictured is good for much thicker metal, but for thin stuff it's a bit pricy for a single use.

Be sure and use a full face shield as the chips go everywhere and can be very hot!

 

[rwhite692]

Unless you really want to buy a shrouded circular saw like the Milwaukee pictured above, Use a regular circular saw, and purchase the right blade for the purpose: a ferrous metal cutting circular saw blade with negative raked teeth (Such as the Diablo Steel Demon - they are available at Home Depot). Cuts sheetmetal like a dream and leaves a clean edge, a regular carbide blade will not.

Wear ear plugs. Wear a long sleeve shirt, gloves, glasses/goggles/face shield/etc, as there will be lots of flying metal bits.

 

[rwhite692]

Shears or utility knife and a clamped strait edge, or a sheet metal break (trim) and utility knife.

....He's working with corrugated panels.

 

[stingry]

Unless you really want to buy a shrouded circular saw like the Milwaukee pictured above, Use a regular circular saw, and purchase the right blade for the purpose: a ferrous metal cutting circular saw blade with negative raked teeth (Such as the Diablo Steel Demon - they are available at Home Depot). Cuts sheetmetal like a dream and leaves a clean edge, a regular carbide blade will not.

Wear ear plugs. Wear a long sleeve shirt, gloves, glasses/goggles/face shield/etc, as there will be lots of flying metal bits.[/QUOTE]

That's the beauty of the milwaukee, the shroud keeps the chips confined but completely agree that for a one time use it is rather pricey. The secret is to use the right blade.

Steve

 

[John in OH]

Even if you use a shrouded saw you should still use all the personal protection equipment suggested above ..... Wear ear plugs. Wear a long sleeve shirt, gloves, glasses/goggles/face shield/etc, as there will be lots of flying metal bits.

My brother is an ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) and he has tons of gross horror stories about metal shards, chips, swarf, etc. and how severely these small pieces of metal debris totally mangle eyeballs. A short talk with him and he will make you a true believer in multiple layers of eye protection.

 

[DCarr]

The air and electric shears work fine. When I did my Shop I used those and then a metal cutting blade on my Skillsaw 77 which thew hot chips of metal. I preferred the shears.

 

[jwith68]

Don't even think about using a circular saw. That's about like trimming your toenails with an axe, while sitting next to a jet engine at full throttle.

Use the shears - edge that will not cut your head off, no paint damage, no hot metal particles to stick in the paint and rust later, no flying metal particles period, about 0.01% of the noise, ability to easily do nice cuts around electric boxes and other obstacles. Only drawback about the shears is that they can be a little tricky to get to cut over the ribs - but they will do it, once you get the hang of it.

 

[Slowboat]

How would a jig saw with a metal blade work for this. Seems like it's a "knife fight" in between a fist fight (shears) and a gun fight (circ saw).

 

[Nighttrain]

I just built a barn with 26 ga. steel. Used a makita grinder with metal cutting disc. That's what my builder used on my garage. Cuts quick and clean and easy to control. Went through about 8 disc for the entire build (roof, walls and trim) disc are about $3.00 ea.

 

[milner351]

A plasma cutter works very fast but does not leave a clean edge
(fine for cuts that will be covered under the corrugation of the adjacent panel)

I used an ingersol ran air nibbler with great results - you have to get used to getting it through the corrugations - but it will do it with the right technique - it leaves a nice edge and is great for cutting holes in the middle of a panel (start with a drilled hole then insert the nibbler)

It does shoot out little quarter moon shaped shards - so putting a strong magnet near by is very helpful for clean up.

As already mentioned - no matter what cutting method you use - eye protection and other safety equipment should be employed!

 

[mobetta]

looks like a good reason to buy a new tool.

I have cut plenty of steel roofing with my Bosch jigsaw. if you dont already have a good jigsaw, they are a very versatile tool.

of course, next time I need to cut a bunch of steel, that milwaukee saw is on my wish list.

not sure on the $$ of that milwaukee but if you arent going to use it everyday, and you will buy cheeep chinese tools, northern tool and harbor freight have sub-$100 models.

 

[Donkey on a waffle]

grinder with thin cutting disc ?

 

[rwhite692]

Don't even think about using a circular saw. That's about like trimming your toenails with an axe, while sitting next to a jet engine at full throttle.

Use the shears - edge that will not cut your head off, no paint damage, no hot metal particles to stick in the paint and rust later, no flying metal particles period, about 0.01% of the noise, ability to easily do nice cuts around electric boxes and other obstacles. Only drawback about the shears is that they can be a little tricky to get to cut over the ribs - but they will do it, once you get the hang of it.

I would not want to try to cut 20-some sheets of corrugated steel, as the OP indicated he needs to do, with a pair of shears. Not even the electric ones. one or two panels, maybe, but 20? no thanks.

Thousands of Corrugated steel panels are cut every single day, using a circular saw with the appropriate negative rake blade for ferrous metals.

If this was not the case, do you think that you would be able to buy a blade made for this specific purpose? probably not....

I have made probably 2,500 such cuts on corrugated steel, and this is by far the easiest and best method, unless you have unlimited time to do the job and are a freaking masochist.

Then, by all means, go with the shears.

 

[sdetweil]

I am just finishing my 30x40 metal clad building, and am using a cutoff wheel in a hand held grinder. I use this tool all the time for metal cutting, except when I need a finer control (for the wheel tub cuts on my pickup truck bed I used a plasma cutter)

Sam

 

[milkovich]

+1 on a grinder with a cutting disc. Like a hot knife through butter.

 

[gnxtc2]

I bought the Milwaukee metal cutting saw. I flipped the sheets over (good side down), snapped a caulk line and cut away. The saw cut the sheets like butter, just like using a Skil saw to cut plywood/lumber.

Yes, you need hearing and eye protection.

Billy T.
[email protected]

 

[Hosalabad]

I have that Milwaukee circular saw and to be honest, it is badass.

I've been using mine for about a year now on 1/4" and 3/16" sheet and tubing. It cuts like a hot knife through butter, and leaves an edge so clean you think it came out of a mill.

It may not be cost effective for 20 sheets, but you'll have a lot more fun.

Just watch out for the curly C's that it cuts out in thicker material. They will stick in your shoe and ride into the house and get you later when you are barefoot.

 

[12valve]

harbor freight sells a saw like the milwaukee. Of course the milwaukee will probably outlast it. I have cut 3/16 diamond plate sheets with my harbor freight saw. Goes through it as easily as cutting plywood

 

[quick60]

Like Hosalabad said the Milwaukee is BADASS. I've cut 1/2" steel plate with with it. Leaves behind a perfect edge almost as clean as if it was cut with a waterjet.