[TheForge] Anyone tried to cut 24 gage brass sheet?

[Ron Childers]

This one I used to radius fenders to install flares for larger than
stock tires on race cars. It will cut automobile sheet metal in a clean
line and the kerf rolls up in a spiral. It is sold by Snap-on and is
fairly expensive but is excellent for the job for which it was intended.
You gave me an idea; I have friends with plasma cutters; maybe that
would work. We only need a few. Accuracy is not a big concern as a belt
grinder will dress it up fine.


-----Original Message-----
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Andrew Vida
Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 8:20 AM
To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Anyone tried to cut 24 gage brass sheet?

Have not tried this, if I understand the tool to which you refer which 
has a reciprocating punch that nibbles its way along.  That would seem 
painful, particularly if you need any accuracy.

The fastest and best way to do this, beyond having a nice large water 
jet rig would be a circle shear.  I have a small one that needs to be 
set up... as do so many other things.

A quick peek on ebay shows no hand shears available, only powered ones 
and they are costly.  But one of those would be your best bet.  Cut a 5"

circle perfectly in under 30 seconds.

Price may be worth it if you have a lot to cut.  There is this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Libert-Shear-Nibbler-Circle-Shear-Hi-Speed-3-pha
se-motor-/270910652486?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f13888046

and this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/PEXTO-CIRCLE-SHEAR-/290713684998?pt=LH_DefaultDo
main_0&hash=item43afe2cc06

Or this - perhaps you can make one for yourself:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Greenlee-No-740-Sheet-Metal-Hole-Circle-Cutter-M
achinist-Electrician-Heating-use-/190723179163?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&has
h=item2c67fcc29b



On 9/5/2012 12:05 PM, Ron Childers wrote:
>
>
> Has anyone tried a pneumatic panel cutter (like a muffler cutter) to
cut
> 5" circles in brass sheet?
>