How to cut a thin sheet of Stainless Steel

[PEU]

I received free of charge a large sheet of mirror finish stainless steel sheet, the thickness is around 0.2mm or 0.008"

I need to cut 3 pieces, longest one is 950x180mm (37in x 7in)

Tried using some sheet scissors but the cut is not clean at all, and I cut myself in the process when doing some preliminary tests.

What would you suggest for the job?

Thanks


Pablo

 

[highorder]

go to your local highschool with a shop... use this.

http://www.ece.byu.edu/services/shop/images/metal_shear.jpg

 

[lrw2]

.2mm is pretty thin. You might try scoring it with a utility knife and a straightedge.

 

[TXArsonCop]

Or a cutoff wheel on a 4" or 4.5" grinder...

 

[PEU]

HighOrder: technical schools here don't provide shop services to general public here

Irw2: it is thin, but you dont have an idea how strong stainless steel is, before making the 1st cut, that was my idea

TXArsonCop: The grinder is a good idea, maybe if I use the dremmel with some cutting discs... I even have a diamond coated one... will try on monday

Thanks


Pablo

 

[highorder]

a dremel wont even touch stainless steel. far to stringy.


sad to hear that schools dont do that sort of thing. here, schools use jobs like this a teachable moments that actually connect to the real world.

 

[frisco]

Be careful with sheet Stainless...... more people get hurt with that stuff...... it grabs and all Hell breaks loose!

Maybe try a HVAC shop that does heating and air conditioning ducts. Give em a few bucs to shear it.

frisco

 

[PEU]

This is what I want to do:

Thats the barbecue I have in my apartment, I live in the top floor so neighbors don't complain

Its a really nice unit made completelly in stainless steel with removable cooking panels for easy cleaning. The problem with it is that the heat from the charcoal spreads quickly to the sides, and I like to cook meat veeeery slowly, so I want to mod it like its shown in the picture.

Will try one more time using the suggestions here, and if I fail I will use frisco suggestion

Thanks


Pablo

 

[65535]

Go buy some metal shears. http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/prod...BV_EngineID=ccghaddjmddgmejcefecemldffidfjm.0

like that. Makes easy work wear gloves we need you to make us pinapples and stuff.

 

[highorder]

65535, you've never used those have you? he wants a nice cut...

 

[65535]

I have gotten good results but you have to go slow. And use an edge to line it up. Like a bench or something a straight line and clamp the metal to your line guide.

One other option is a large cutting press (highorders suggestions) what kind of tooling do you have that can cut?

That is a large amount of material to cut so I am sur eany machine shop will charge a premium for the cuts. A dremel with diamond disk would work but it would take a long time and be hard.

 

[highorder]

A dremel with diamond disk would work but it would take a long time and be hard.

its also a long, tough walk to the Moon.

 

[65535]

Nothing is impossible people just give up.

 

[frisco]

You really do want to go to a HVAC shop. Looks like you want a bend in there also. To bad your not local to me. I have a 52" Stomp Shear and a 48" Finger Brake.

I've had stuff done at a HVAC shop that was larger than my stuff can handle. In most cases a case of Beer works for payment.

Looks like your serious about your BBQ !!!! Ummmmmm !!!!

frisco

 

[TXArsonCop]

PEU, barbecues are allowed in apartment complexes in your city? Not that I care personally, but you could get in a bit of trouble with that. In most cities that's a major fire code violation. Wouldn't want to see you put that much work into it and get busted by management.

It is one great looking pit by the way.

 

[Sawtooth]

its also a long, tough walk to the Moon.

If a dremel is too small, try a small angle grinder (wheels are something like 4.25" or something). Ive never cut metal with mine though -- just tons of flagstone with diamond wheels.

 

[Amonra]

if you have a 5" or a 7" circular saw, you could fit an abrasive wheel to it. 1mm thick ones work best for sheet metal as they are fast cutting , dont heat up too much and leave a reasonably clean cut. you would probably need to make some sort of centering washer as the bore diameter of abrasive discs is normally 22.22mm and the most common bore sizes for small circular saws is 18mm. by using a side guide with the circular saw you are virtually guaranteed a straight cut. you could clean the cut afterwards using a fine grit flap disc on an angle grinder.

hope this helps.

 

[Mirage_Man]

Pablo,

Just a thought but from your picture it appears you will have to reach over this piece you're wanting to cut right? If so I think you may want to look into having the edge folded over with a brake. I wouldn't think you'll want that sharp edge there.

Just a thought...

MM

 

[luigi]

Barbecues like Pablo's are more or less standard in Argentina in any house that has a yard or a terrace.
As long as you don't smoke your neighbours there is no problem at all.

To be a fire code violation we would need to have a fire code

Luigi

PEU, barbecues are allowed in apartment complexes in your city? Not that I care personally, but you could get in a bit of trouble with that. In most cities that's a major fire code violation. Wouldn't want to see you put that much work into it and get busted by management.

It is one great looking pit by the way.

 

[nerdgineer]

Find a small commercial metal shop, pay them to make the cuts?