There is a wide range of tool options for cutting metal. We have listed six must-have metal cutting tools below to ace your metalworking projects.
Read on to learn more:
Angle Grinder
The angle grinder is probably one of the most used tools in a metal workshop. This tool comes with a cut-off wheel on it, and it gets used a lot because one can switch out the cutting wheel for a flat disc or a grinding disc.
With the right disk, you can make cuts on just about anything – you can use it to cut thin or thick metal tubes or cut quick pieces of flat steel. You can use the angle grinder for cutting aluminum. You get the idea – this basic tool is perfect for cutting through anything.
Before using the angle grinder, you might want to wear your safety gear as things can get pretty dangerous. The disk of the angle grinder spins very quickly, so you will have to use safety glasses or a face shield.
When buying the disks for the angle grinder, avoid buying the cheap ones so you can have better and smoother cuts.
Air Metal Shear
Another great metal-cutting tool is the air metal shear, which is perfect for cutting sheet metal and thin aluminum. Using the air metal shear, you can cut it in a straight line or do corners and small turns.
The air metal shear cuts fast and accurately – the way the air metal shear is designed, it might take up about ¼ inch of metal.
This tool is ideally used anytime you want to do long, straight or semi-straight runs on sheet metal. The air metal shear is also great for trimming fenders. This tool is relatively cheap – you can get one for about thirty to sixty dollars.
Another way to cut metal sheets is the metal shear, which is just like a giant paper-cutter. You might think of it as a huge desk-type thing. All you do is place your metal sheet in it, and its giant blade comes down and chops your sheet metal.
The metal shear is huge and ideal for those who do a lot of sheet metal work, and you are buying them in 4×8 sheets. This tool ensures a quick way to cut big sheets of sheet metal.
Chop Saw
Next up on the list of tools we have the chop saw. You might think of the chop saw in terms of an angle grinder on steroids. The chop saw has an abrasive wheel that spins really fast.
The only thing that you might not like about this metal cutting tool is that it throws sparks aggressively, but it is a good tool for cutting metal tubes. Besides, the good thing about the chop saw is that you can get it for relatively cheap – about $100.
So, if you are on a budget but want to need a good metal cutting tool, especially for cutting tubes, then the chop saw is an excellent choice.
Plasma Cutter
The CNC plasma cutter places every other metal cutting tool out of place. In fact, once you get the feel of this, you might not use any of the other tools for cutting metal. However, the plasma cutter is more expensive than the other metal-cutting tools; yet, it is worth it.
To use a CNC plasma cutter to its fullest potential, we recommend getting a CNC plasma cutting table. Another thing that you need to consider when purchasing a plasma cutter is that you will need to provide it with loads of air – so you will need a high-quality air compressor.
Also, depending on the size of the plasma cutter, you will need to provide it with 220 volts so that the plasma cutter can actually make straight cuts and intricate cuts. All you need to do is to set up your working clamp and put it on the metal.
If you make a straight cut, you can use a guide and drag the plasma cutter along the guide. The underlying trick is that the thicker the metal, the slower you will go. Once you have completed the cut, you will see something known as dross left on the backside of the cut metal.
You can simply take a chisel and knock the dross off. The only potential challenge you might face with the tool is the initial cost. Subsequently, you might feel like the workspace is getting smoky, so you will have to keep things well-ventilated.
The plasma cutter will enable you to get nice, straight, and clean cuts. All you need to do is to ensure that you have sufficient air and electric supply.
Air Die Grinder
This tool is just like a miniature angle grinder – you can place a bunch of different attachments on this. One of the attachments is the cut-off wheel. The essential benefit of the air die grinder is that you can make sharper turns because it has a smaller blade on it.
This metal cutting tool is mostly used to cut off bolts – for instance, if the bolt is too long, you can use it to get it into a tight spot and cut it down.
The air die grinder also works great for cutting out bad welds.
Hack Saw
The next tool is one of the most basic metal cutting tools – the hack saw. Now, you might use it infrequently. However, it is good to have one in your toolbox. The hacksaw wouldn’t be anyone’s first choice for cutting metal for obvious reasons, but it is good to have it as a backup.
You will need loads of muscle to maneuver this tool and a little time, but you can cut through anything with one of these manual tools. Of course, it will take you longer than power tools. However, it is sometimes a good thing to test your muscle.
