There are many tools that are used to cut sheet metal. These include hand tools such as tin snips and power tools such as vertical band saws. Shears are also effective tools for cutting sheet metal with accuracy and efficiency.
The following is a review of different types of shears and how they can be your preferred metal cutting tool. As with all metal cutting tools, you want to be sure to wear appropriate safety gear such as gloves and safety glasses.
Electric Shears
Electric shears allow you to cut sheet metal in straight and gentle curves. These shears don't distort the metal and you don't need to apply heat in the process. Electric shears have serrations at the front centre section that move up and down. While these serrations wear out over time, you can replace them to make your metal cutting work easier.
It's important to note that the width of the serrated blades take out a portion of your metal as it cuts, so you should place the blades on the section of the metal that you're not going to use. In other words, when using the electric shears, always cut from the waste material side of the metal.
These shears can cut through 18-gauge steel and can be adjusted at the head to rotate according to the angle you need to cut with.
Throatless Shears
Throatless shears are another effective tool for metal cutting. There are two types of throatless shears.
Throatless hand/bench top shears: Bench top shears have a design that moves the metal out of the way while allowing you to keep cutting. This enables you to make intricate shapes, which is where bench top shears really shine. They are perfect for making rounded cuts and half-moons that can be used for an inner wheel weld.
They're also easy to use, and they cut steel that is up to 14-gauge thick, as well as stainless steel that is up to 18-gauge. Bench top shears have three holes at the bottom to allow for easy mounting and the blades can also be adjusted after they wear.
Throatless electric shears: These shears can make accurate, straight, curved and irregular cuts. Their design mimics bench top throatless shears in that you can make continuous cuts while pushing the material through the blade. They're also less flexible because you can't rotate the head of the blade. This causes less room for error during the sheet cutting process.
Ultimately, electric and throatless shears provide for unique metal cutting techniques that can result in higher quality products.
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