Cutting 26 Gauge Sheet Metal

Most sheet metal cutting tools are limited to 16 gauge and thinner 14 gauge is still sheet metal but in common forms 11 gauge while technically sheet metal is 1 8 thick and not really sheet metal for the purposes of this article so we will focus on 16 gauge and thinner.

Cutting 26 gauge sheet metal. But you don t have to be a tinsmith to cut sheet metal successfully. Sheet metal gauge size chart gauge or gage sizes are numbers that indicate the thickness of a piece of sheet metal with a higher number referring to a thinner sheet. And for this reason there are other tools for cutting metal roofing such as metal shears or an electric nibbler. It will primarily limit your cuts to straight lines.

They are rugged and will last a lifetime if kept clean and sharp. Reasonably easy to cut a big sheet up as long as both sides are biggish. Metal corrugated roofing can come in different gauge s most gauges can be cut with tin snips easily but slowly. Cutting sheet metal with snips can be tricky and frustrating.

To compensate for how metal may curve or bend cut a strip out where you use red snips for one side and green snips on the other cutting 2 inches at a time on alternating sides so two inches up the right side two inches up the left. Gauge to thickness chart gauge stainless galvanized sheet steel aluminum fraction inches mm inches mm inches mm inches mm 30 0 0125 0 33 0 0157 0 40 0 0120 0 30 0 0100 0 25. While you can cut down the middle of a large sheet of metal aviation snips are best for narrow strip removal. These bench mounted shears convert leverage into a compact scissor which is capable of cutting medium gauge sheet metal.

The lower the number the thicker the metal is. These problems are common for those of us who don t work with sheet metal every day. Thin gauge steel like sheet metal can be cut with a large variety of tools. These types of shears lend themselves towards hobbyists and sheet metal shops doing custom or repair work.

The edges are sharp the cutoffs are stiff and get in the way the snips bind or you just can t seem to negotiate the curve. Saws and torches can also be used on thin steel but are impractical choices unless you re cutting high volume or need to cut steel often.