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Cutting sheet metal is simple when you know what you’re doing. However, when learning to cut sheet metal, there are guidelines to follow to avoid costly mistakes.

First, you need to consider the quality of cut you require and how thin this metal is. This will determine the best sheet metal cutting tools for your job.

For Cuts Where Quality Isn’t Important

If you are demolishing a small piece of equipment, then you’d be fine to use a cutting disc on an angle grinder. For substantial cuts like demolishing a room made of sheet metal, you’ll need a foxy-fuel torch or a plasma cutter to get the job done much faster.

For Perfectly Straight Cuts

If you have access to one, it’d be best to use a hydraulic shear for flat cuts that need to be perfectly straight and square. Hydraulic shears are excellent because they cut large metal lengths faster than any other process, and cuts are instantaneous. A shear can also cut off squares by angling the metal; however, cut lines are required for accuracy.

For Cuts That Include Curves or Complex Designs and Shapes

Having a CNC plasma cutter on hand is necessary if you regularly cut patterns of holes or other shapes into sheet metal. These machines are computer run and can be programmed to cut the same pattern repeatedly, freeing you up to work on something else in the meantime.

For Quick Cuts of Extremely Thin Metal

Consider using ting snips if the sheet metal material is thinner than 18 gauge and you need a rough cut. They’re cheap to buy, use no power, and create no excessive noise.