Anyone have a sheet metal shear?

[bgaidan]

I need to cut some .025" aluminum sheet in to ~3" X 8" pieces and I'm having a hard time finding anyone local who can do it. They need to be very clean and straight cuts, othewise I rig something up myself. I need about 25 pieces.

Can anyone help out? I can pay for the work and if needed have the material shipped to you.

[ROXROES]

I need to cut some .025" aluminum sheet in to ~3" X 8" pieces and I'm having a hard time finding anyone local who can do it. They need to be very clean and straight cuts, othewise I rig something up myself. I need about 25 pieces.

Can anyone help out? I can pay for the work and if needed have the material shipped to you.

You making a heat sink? I did something like this for some underclassmen for their senior design project 2 years ago.

[Todd W]

What about the electric shear from HF? It cuts straight, and I cut 18ga STEEL (.048) like butter with it, and it's only $40.

At .025 it may leave the edges slightly bent/beveled but that should be easy enough to fix.

[bignissan]

How about water jet?

[CJHeap]

Talk to a hvac company or call a race car builder. Or, being in Kehma, call some offshore boat outfitters.

[BumpyDodge]

If it's only .023, you could probably get away with a cheap guillotine shear. Cheaper than shipping it to someone else and paying for the job.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category_6970_98+156+777696

[Josh83]

I have two 12' shears at work that will cut 1/4" steel. Too bad Friday is my last day or I would cut that shit up for you.

[Todd W]

Not to get off track but this (http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_120048_120048)seems cheap.

Anyone ever use one? Says it can do 16ga at 52".

[DSW]

[QUOTE=bgaidan;7963320]I need to cut some .025" aluminum sheet in to ~3" X 8" pieces and I'm having a hard time finding anyone local who can do it. They need to be very clean and straight cuts, othewise I rig something up myself. I need about 25 pieces.
QUOTE]

Try this. Use a steel straight egde and a utility knife. Score the sheet carefully along the side of the straight egde. You can then fold the sheet and it will break at the score or use multiple scores and go all the way thru. You don't need to push real hard just enough to score the sheet. A couple of clamps will keep the straight edge from moving, an dbut a small sheet of plywood under to cut into. This is the way siding contractors cut sheet flashing on a break. The break just lets you bend the pieces to snap them with a limited amount of bending. You my find a siding contractor who will do it for you. Might not be as acurate as if you did it yourself. You can also rent these brakes from Depo. I've even cut up to 20gauge sheet steel this way.

You might also sandwhich the alum between 2 pieces if 1/8 masonite and run it thru a table saw. The masonite will keep the saw from grabbing the alum. I've cut 1/8" alum with out the masonite on a table saw no problems. and cut sheet steel this way with a circular saw to make long rip cuts. BE VERY CAREFULL. The saw most likely won't even notice the thin alum., but be prepared with all the normal saftey precautions just in case.

Good luck.

[Todd W]

FWIW: Here's a pic I took after using my HF Sheet Metal Shears.

http://www.4x4blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/cut.jpg

Straight, not bent, and that's 18ga.