Treated myself to a birthday present...

...wish I'd bought it when I did my bodywork. Cuts through ali sheet like a hot knife through butter. Don't end up cutting my hands to ribbons on the edges any more, either!



DJ
Rescued attachment shears.jpg

ive used one of those - i cant get away with it. It forever sticks and snags up when cutting. Its poss that the blades have started to go blunt tho. it could be worth lubricating the ali with WD40 when cutting to prolong the life. They like a lot of air as well.

They certainly need lots of air - I've got a 10 cu.ft/min, 50 litre compressor and it starts running almost as soon as I begin cutting. It keeps up easily though. The instruction sheet says that it requires 7 cu.ft/min with a 50 litre minimum tank.

The only time it gave me trouble was when I was cutting ali with protective film - it didn't like the extra plastic sheet.

I should add that cutting sheet metal is one of my pet hates - it never seemed to go as well as I would like, and I was forever carving my fingers up. Any mechanical aid is welcome!

DJ

[Edited on 2/8/05 by David Jenkins]

I have one of these, it's so easy to cut through the ali.

I used mine this weekend too, to cut part of the transmission tunnel.

I wouldn't be without mine!
I bought one of the cheaper (£50) electric drill attachment jobbies at the Detling show. It make easy work of cutting complex shapes in sheet material - and burr free too.

quote:

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Originally posted by RazMan
I wouldn't be without mine!
I bought one of the cheaper (£50) electric drill attachment jobbies at the Detling show. It make easy work of cutting complex shapes in sheet material - and burr free too.

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I had a cheapie air nibler too, but this is my weapon of choice:

Top tip - WD40 is good for cutting steel, but if you can (be bothered) use paraffin or Ajax window cleaner (yup really) instead for cutting aluminium. No clue at all what to use for stainless :-)