Metal cutting advice

Post by **MattH** » Fri Jan 13, 12 9:34 am

What is the best way to be cutting panel work? I have always used a grinder with cutting disc but think it is a bit brutal.

I am needing to cut rear quarters off to fit new lower halves and want a neat cut.
I also need to cut a roof panel to fit.

I have heard Blue mention sawzall but not sure what that is.
I saw a reciprocating saw in Homebase for £50, is that any good?

Recommendations please , I think tin snips are not suitable!

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Fri Jan 13, 12 9:42 am

Nibbler.

Post by **MattH** » Fri Jan 13, 12 9:53 am

Like this one??

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electric-Shee ... 43ab8c77f8

VGVIP · Post by **VGVIP** » Fri Jan 13, 12 10:17 am

You can get reasonable results with an air cutoff tool, if you have a compressor. Nice thin discs seem to work quite well.
This is what I have used on the VG for a few repairs.

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalo ... CF8Q8wIwAA

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Fri Jan 13, 12 10:21 am

Nibblers come in various types.

Purpose built powered, ones that attach to a normal drill, hand operated.

They vary in price a lot so it depends on what you want to pay.

If you are going to use it once and probably never again then the simple hand tool will be the most cost effective. That is all I ever used. But to be honest. I still favour the angle grinder because of its speed. I don't mind cleaning up the edges of my cuts. But the nibbler is much cleaner.

latil · Post by **latil** » Fri Jan 13, 12 10:56 am

Don't use one's like these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRO-AIR-SHEAR ... 3836wt_926

They leave a rippled edge each side of the cut.

Ivor · Post by **Ivor** » Fri Jan 13, 12 11:18 am

latil wrote:Don't use one's like these

They leave a rippled edge each side of the cut.

I use those sheers for doing floors, for panels I use a high speed cutter:

MrNorm · Post by **MrNorm** » Fri Jan 13, 12 12:33 pm

For precision work I would use an air saw; eg

I used one of these when cutting out the doors inners from my old doors and welding to my new ones. I cut the old panel out and trimmed the new one at the same time and was able to pretty much weld it straight in, the gap was perfect and I could see exactly where I was cutting mm by mm. You're welcome to borrow mine if you wanted to. You need a compressor with enough air.

The sawzall is an electric saw, also good for cutting metal, but heavier and more unwieldy for a precision job, But perfectly capable of getting job done.

Air shears will work too, I have not used mine much yet, but if they did leave any kind of wave I think the welding and grinding process will create more disruption that that anyway.

Or could use a nibbler for a drill - works pretty well but leave thousands of chips everywhere.

I think you could use any of these and be OK. Assuming speed is not the main objective, but precision, I would probably use the air saw. For speed the shears.
Personally I've never had much luck with the air cutoff tool but some people swear by them

My 2c

sinny · Post by **sinny** » Fri Jan 13, 12 1:04 pm

I use a grinder but with thin plasma cutting discs like this:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... g-disc-9in

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Fri Jan 13, 12 1:18 pm

Nother vote for the small angle grinder with the thin cutting discs. A sawzall is great for removing big chunks of metal quickly, such as floorpans, but not much use for precision body work.

Post by **MattH** » Fri Jan 13, 12 2:00 pm

Thanks for all the response, and so fast!

I have a good quality grinder already, and the thin discs look like they might do the job a bit better.

My compressor is quite small so may struggle to run the tools mentioned.
I am only wanting to do rear quarters where I need to cut and join below the swage line, plus I need to cut a hole in the boot floor for the fuel filler neck, which will need a saw or similar.

Post by **TyreFryer** » Fri Jan 13, 12 3:50 pm

Matt' I've got some air nibblers and small grinder if you want to borrow them.

autofetish · Post by **autofetish** » Fri Jan 13, 12 3:53 pm

My air compressor is 150lt and 3hp and struggle with a small air grinder

Dave999 · Post by **Dave999** » Fri Jan 13, 12 4:01 pm

what are you chopping up

or is it a secret?

Dave

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Fri Jan 13, 12 6:13 pm

Blimey... I have an 80 gallon 8HP just for my airbrushing!