Cutting Aluminum (not with the laser)

[Jeff Belany]

I'm interested in what techniques/equipment you guys use to cut sheets of aluminum to size before you laser it? Product like Laserblak or brass plated steel JDS sells. I know about the metal shears out there but was interested if anyone does it without one. Or, any supplier that sells anything cheaper.

Thanks,

Jeff in northern Wisconsin

[Chuck Stone]

If it isn't too thin, I've had decent luck with a toy band saw (Ryobi tabletop with a metal
cutting blade ie. many teeth, finely spaced) If it gets too thin and starts to pull rather
than cut, I'll put it on a piece of sacrificial plywood with some double stick tape.
Might not be the best way to do it, but I did it so infrequently that I just thought
it would work so I did it.
BUT .. I haven't used the products you mention. That might change everything.

[Martin Boekers]

Some places sell pre cut plates, but then your stuck with those sizes.

Don't go cheap on a cutter, it is one of our main tools in this industry.
You can have the most perfect engraved plate, but if the cut isn't clean
It looks like %#$@.

You may try to find one used on Craigslist are at an auction house, it
cost about $30 or so to get the blades sharpened.

When you look at shears make sure you get the one that fits your needs,
some only cut acrylic, others aluminum and/or steel.

[shawn zumbrum]

Jeff
spend the money and by an accucutter check out there site at accucutter.com they are made in the u.s.a. and are made to last.
I have had mine fo 2 years no trouble.

[Doug Griffith]

When you look at shears make sure you get the one that fits your needs,
some only cut acrylic, others aluminum and/or steel.

Only a guess, but I'm sure you mean a saw for cutting acrylic.

[Martin Boekers]

Only a guess, but I'm sure you mean a saw for cutting acrylic.
Ya got me!

Should have been plastics!

[ray hampton]

if the plastic or aluminum are thin enough then a paper cutter will cut them within reason

[Dan Hintz]

If it's small quantities, I use an electric metal shear from HF... something like $25 on sale, and you can cut surprisingly accurate straight lines by hand, even better if you set up a fixture.

[Joe Pelonio]

Establish a relationship with a sheet metal/heating shop. The one I work with will charge me from 0-$7 to cut up a sheet into whatever sizes I want on their hydraulic guillotine.

[Andrea Weissenseel]

I bought me this mini circular saw http://www.exakt.biz/ec320.html and use it for cutting metal, tiles and slate. Haven't tried acrylic yet

[Ron Chapellaz]

Jeff
spend the money and by an accucutter check out there site at accucutter.com they are made in the u.s.a. and are made to last.
I have had mine fo 2 years no trouble.

I agree with Shawn. I've had a shear for many years, and it is a very valuable tool and I wouldn't go without.

[Bill Cunningham]

I have a 24" Ideal Kuttrimer I bought over twenty years ago, Don't use it too often now, it was bought for cutting the rotary type Romark engraving plastic. And would still cut that fine if I ever needed it again..I cut my laser Romark, or Encore plastic with the laser while doing the job itself. For metal, I have a bench top 12" shear that cost me about 200 bucks, and it does a nice job on metal.

[Jeff Belany]

Just saw this one on EBAY. Anyone ever used one? Cost is about $150 shipped. Curious how smooth a cut it makes.

Another one I've looked at is the one Harbor Freight has for $400 (on sale) It is a shear/brake/roller that is 30" wide. Always wanted one for working on my old cars although the older I get, that hasn't been happening much.

Jeff in northern Wisconsin

[Jonathan Overlin]

I would agree with Dan, I would think an electric metal shear would work for you, and they are under $50.

[Bruce Boone]

I have a shear like the one Jeff shows. I use mine to shear Damascus steel and meteorite. It makes great cuts.

[Bill Cunningham]

Just saw this one on EBAY. Anyone ever used one? Cost is about $150 shipped. Curious how smooth a cut it makes.

Another one I've looked at is the one Harbor Freight has for $400 (on sale) It is a shear/brake/roller that is 30" wide. Always wanted one for working on my old cars although the older I get, that hasn't been happening much.

Jeff in northern Wisconsin

The one in the picture, is usually used for hacking off flatbar.. Mine is one of the combo shear/roller/brake but has working areas of about 12.5" wide. I didn't need a 30 inch one.

193778

[Mike Null]

I agree with the Accucutter. It's a premium but the best equipment I've seen. You'll need square cuts and repeat cuts. Hand helds just don't have the reliability on that score.

[Ross Moshinsky]

This is what we use: http://cgi.ebay.com/16Ga-Cap-36-W-Diacro-36K-SHEET-METAL-SHEAR-Foot-Shea-/150595809447?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231035b0a7#ht_6291wt_1270

If we didn't have this, we'd probably have a 25" Accucutter.

[Jeff Belany]

Wow Bruce. Damascus steel and meteorite!! Not something most of us cut every day. Do you ever cut thin metals on it? Does it make a fairly clean cut? Price is right. My thought was to build a table around it with a fence to allow for nice square cuts. Think it would work?

Thanks everyone for the input. SMC is the best!!

Jeff in northern Wisconsin

[Conrad Fiore]

Had this shear for over 50 years and still works like the day it was bought.
http://www.diacro.com/metal-forming/hand-shears.php