Cutting steel sheet using a jigsaw
Cutting steel sheet using a jigsaw
How to cut sheet steel using a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade. Brought to you by http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk
Cutting steel sheet using a jigsaw
How to cut sheet steel using a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade. Brought to you by http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk
Just a quick tip: you could have used a piece of angle iron and measured back from side of blade to side of jigsaw and make a mark to use as a guide to make a straight cut.
Get yourself a cheap chinese cut50 plasma cutter – £150 notes and they’re fab. If using a jigsaw its better to use a straightedge and then you can grease your cut line on both sides of the metal prior to cutting. Interesting fact – the first jigsaw was made by a fella who had the idea of attaching a blade to his wife’s sewing machine – hence why the design is similar to this day. His original jigsaw the "Lesto" is literally made from sewing machine parts – you still see the odd one for sale on ebay.
You notice any difference between the aerosol thread cutting fluid vs the regular dark thread cutting oil that you pour out of a nozzle in a jug? I always see people online using the spray but they don’t have it at my local metal/tool shop and I’m wondering if it makes any difference in the ease of cut.
For this I borrow from my woodworking tricks and clamp a piece of wood to serve as a fence and guide. Then I don’t have to visually follow a line. I’m planning on getting a plasma cutter and will use the same trick.
So all I need to get is some drilling fluid and I can cut my 3.17mm steel plate.
could always clamp a straight edge on the piece as a guide and then not have to worry about how well you guide the saw. Thanks for sharing by the way!
How thick a plate can you cut with a jigsaw?
Nice work thanks
I cut 16 gauge steel with a very large set of tin snips. And by very large I mean I needed both hands to do it and I’m a big girl (taller than most dudes). It was hard but doable. Using a cutting fluid worked quite well in making it easier! It also cut pretty fucking straight (more than this). I certainly wouldn’t want to do that every day though, it was for a 1 time project.
What a fantastic video. Thanks for the work you put into it! Keep it up 🙂 🙂
Is this any good for cutting shapes or just straight lines?
Real men use hacksaws.
Thanks for posting this idea. May I suggest a steel plate (1/4" X 1"W X 18"L) to be pressed together with the C clamp (better if at both ends) just to guide the jigsaw? This way you will not have to adjust the position of the cutter as you go along, because it will be supported along by the plate, acting as a guide, a ruler. Again, the ‘steel blade’ would have a set of much smaller teeth, and probably be made of a stronger alloy. Thanks again.
I miss the hydrologic guillotine I used at school lol.
So I thought for cutting metal, you want to use the lowest speed on the jigsaw and press very firm.
Similar to drilling holes…? Low speed on the drill, and press very firm.
Its a disaster when you don’t use any type of jigsaw guide, you made it even worse adding that liquid that hide the line you are cutting.
Wow it cuts really well. I dont know much about metal cutting.
If I was doing a job like that with wood I’d clamp a fence for the shoe of the jigsaw to run against.Then it doesn’t matter if you cant see the line from the lube.Just an idea.
Ideal demo. I need to cut exacty the same thickness (3mm) with a slightly longer cut. I have the jigsaw and blades. Didn’t fancy using my angle grinder with cutting disc because they make a mess. I think if you have the time you could go slower and also use a straight edge as a guide to improve the chances of a staighter cut. But it is a good video. I cannot take mine to be guilotined because it is flanged at each end.
Nice….I probably would have used a straightedge as a guide to ensure a straight cut…and piece of mind. But I suppose if the work doesn’t require high precision, this definitely more than suffice.
Say i have a question. Can i use scroll saw to cut thin metal sheets?
great ! Do you have an idea on how to cut a hole in a 30 Qt pot. I’m try to make a homemade fireplace. please let me know? bye!
I’m looking to cut some 16 gauge stainless sheet. Whats the minimum amps I should be looking at to not burn the saw up if I’m doing a lot of cuts?
Am struggling with a piece of
.75mm sheet steel. I want to cut a small piece off, but my clamps get in the way, and even with one still on,, it vibrates so much I bent a blade (!).
Any tips on how I can contain the ‘loose end of thenpiece I am cutting off while i finish? (The body of the jigsaw itself leaves no room to clamp it.)
get an angle grinder. they buzz through that pretty quick
Hey thanks….I use my little jigsaw for everything……but I thought I better make sure I could cut galvanized steel with it. I think it will work just fine.
Thanks for Maki g this video. I have a dewalt 20 volt max jig saw and I need to cut a larger hole in the rear deck of my automobile to fit a larger sub woofer speaker. Is there a specific cutting blade I need or will any metal jig saw cutting blade work? My sheet metal on my rear deck seems to be between 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch thick, I’m not sure if I’ll need something more heavy duty. Thanks again.
Good video. Wondering what HSS blade you used, e.g. tooth pitch, brand, etc.?
Need to cut up a large galvanised steel water tank in the loft into pieces small enough to fit through the hatch. On a budget, so planning to use my jigsaw to tackle the job. Just need blades.
You should spray the coolant on the underside of the piece as the line for cutting will be visible still and the jigsaw cuts on the up-swing and will draw the fluid in to the cut (I think?)
You forgot to mention plasma cutters, they are very affordable nowadays, or oxy acetylene torch
How did you cut the hole in that same piece?
I hate jigsaws no matter what I do, I can’t get a straight cut,
So basically, WD40, a buff jigsaw, and metal-cutting blade.
I hoped to learn a new trick.Oh well,seems I’m in the loop on this.On the other hand,for a straight cut,I use my angle grinder with a 1mm cutting disk.The jigsaw -at medium speed for stainless or normal steel- works good enough for strange shapes.Cutting fluid is almost mandatory.My jigsaw is a normal Makita mated with DeWalt blades, and I did work with 10mm steel.Patience is needed tough.
My jigsaw is a Black and Decker. Will that work or do I need something more heavy duty? Also do you think this would work on pipe? I’m not sure what kind of pipe it is. It’s the pipe that connects the handle bars to a bike. I’m tired of waiting for my husband to cut it is his shop at work but my tools at home are limited.
is it a battery jigsaw?
goog video…. learned to cut metal.. thanks
Hi, is speed an important factor when cutting? I bought a cheap 400W single speed jigsaw using dewalt metal blades for 6mm steel – it’s not happening.
"We can’t see the line we need to cut. Nevermind, we have a rough idea of where we are going…"
Hi there, glad I came across your video. I am about to cut some 2mm bookcase strips made from roll steel. Can you tell if which jigsaw blade would be the best (bosch if possibe) . Thanks in advance 🙂
Turn that speed down as low as you can
Thanks for this video, also to mention sometimes I need to use a jigsaw or cutoff rather than O/A or plasma because the metal I’m cutting has paint, or is galvanized and the extreme heat really vaporizes whatever the coating may be. I know heat is unavoidable, but there’s a lot less the ‘low tech’ ways. Thanks again!
cheers mate, been pulling my hair out figuring out how to cut out a spacer for my sway bar on 6mm steel plate.
I cut copper plate. One: Grove with a small saw where you want to start helps minimize jump back by blade. Two put a wood guide on out side of jig plate helps minimize blades pulling off line and makes super nice line. Three, clamp tightly close to cutline as copper is a bit nasty for messing your job if vibration high. I make antennas using .032 to .040 inch flat stock from Georgia Copper We cut a heavy steel plate using your idea and made a really nice curved arch for a coupler that held weight. I am DIy nut so I try crazy things at least once!!!!
get you a steel demon blade made by diablo for your skill saw. it will cut that stuff as easy as wood. they are amazing.
Many thanks.. I’ll give it try when the metal arrives.
How thick is this steel? 4mm?
Hi, an excellent tip. I rarely make things out of 3mm so use air-shears for up to 1.5 mm. But I will be making some brackets and other things out of 3mm soon and I do have a jigsaw. My saw is single speed so my question is; does yours have a speed controller and, if so, do you recommend a fast or slow speed?
Jigsaw with a metal cutting blade works great I made about 16 ft worth of cuts in 1/8 inch steel and some double layer 1/8 inch areas cutting up an old wood furnace which I removed in 8 much lighter pieces, used reciprocating saw with metal cutting blade as well for cutting through the welded corners, no need for the spray lube coolant though.
Thank you Ser Davos for the tutorial!
I have the same machine,what blade your using,and specific number