[TheForge] Re: Making dies for cutting sheet metal?

[Mike Spencer]

Bob Willman wrote:

> For 7-8 teeth I would opt for a sabre saw with metal blade - cut
> just outside the lines - file to finished dimensions.

For this option, a variation is to mount the sabre saw upside down on
a router table or similar.  Then the saw's out of the way and you can
see where your cut is going.  You'll have to make a widget similar to
a sewing machine presser foot that will serve exactly the same
function: to keep the metal from lifting off the table on the
up-stroke. [1] The presser foot gap has to be set jusssst..right to avoid
harmful chatter.

I've done this for repetitive cutouts in 16 ga. and in substantially
lighter sheet.


FWIW,
- Mike

[1] Which would be the non-cutting down-stroke as seen with the usual
    blade-down orientation of the saw.

-- 
Michael Spencer                  Nova Scotia, Canada       .~. 
                                                           /V\ 
mspencer at tallships.ca                                     /( )\
http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/                        ^^-^^