Sheet metal cutter

[ews]

Hi all.

Any have experience of this item.

Link- http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cps75-mini-sheet-metal-cutter

Bought one last week and within a few cuts on 1mm mild steel sheet the toothed drive wheel was worn smooth, the item was replaced today and have done a few test cuts, in 1mm mild steel sheet ( 6 cuts 4 inches long ) and wear is already apparent on the gripping edge of the drive wheel . Do not have a lot of confidence in it lasting , even though its supposed to be capable of cutting 1.6mm mild steel sheet.


I know some of the Machine Mart kit is not the best, but at £43.19 for this little item, I expect it to have some life, to last a while.. I think the replacement will be returning before the week is out.

Any one got suggestions for a similar type of item, or are they all made by the same outfit in Asia..

 

[brightspark]

Hi all.

Any have experience of this item.

Link- http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cps75-mini-sheet-metal-cutter

Bought one last week and within a few cuts on 1mm mild steel sheet the toothed drive wheel was worn smooth, the item was replaced today and have done a few test cuts, in 1mm mild steel sheet ( 6 cuts 4 inches long ) and wear is already apparent on the gripping edge of the drive wheel . Do not have a lot of confidence in it lasting , even though its supposed to be capable of cutting 1.6mm mild steel sheet.


I know some of the Machine Mart kit is not the best, but at £43.19 for this little item, I expect it to have some life, to last a while.. I think the replacement will be returning before the week is out.

Any one got suggestions for a similar type of item, or are they all made by the same outfit in Asia..

buy a good second hand keetona if u can find one

 

[Paul.]

I have a sykes pickavant version of that, it must be 30 years old and still works as well as the day I bought it.
I don't know how the modern SP tools compare but here's one
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SYKES-PICKAVANT-SHEET-METAL-CUTTER-/170843641568

 

[cumbriasteve]

Exactly same as TIG Paul..Sykes Pickavant... great little machine and mine must be about 25 years old, I suspect the MM one's are Chinese copys.

 

[chunkolini]

I have had two of the machine mart ones, the first lasted ages and died from abuse cutting curves, I was happy for it to die like that.
The second did ok, then I bought a plasma cutter. The drive wheel does show some wear. But it was slicing through 1.2 and 1.6mm steel quite merrily.
I have always thought a decent one of these would be a very sensible buy. if you can push out the boat and buy a better one.
They are great for cutting whole 1.2x2.4m sheets of steel in half with an assistant. Also great for long convex curves. Cut a series of straights allowing about 10mm to the edge of the curve, then cut along the line and the waste curls off beautifully and stabs you in the hand if you dont watch where it is going. No burr, no rough edge.
The one Tigpaul linked to looks very tempting.
Somebody buy one and leave feedback here.
I have seen a huge version with a wheel about 200mm in diameter, cant remember where but I wanted it sooo bad.

 

[ews]

Thanks to all for your quick replies.

As a hobby maker of metal garden art/sculpture, as for every one today, money/costing is tight, really annoyed that that the purchased item was of poor quality , thinks the replacement will turn out the same, as the casting has moulding flashing around the throat, and that the toothed driving wheel is not aligned in the vertical plane , and after cutting some test pieces, the drive wheel seems to be showing signs of wear. ( may be not hardened correctly) . Back to the trusty old Gilbow tin snips, and they are years old, but my arthritic wrists don’t like them .

Really think the MM item is probably a Chinese copy of a successful item, but lacking in quality and material control.

I have some leaves for a Arum Lily to cut out in 1mm plate, but do not think this cutter will survive .

I will be leaving comments on the MM website as to the poor quality of this item if it fails again.

The “Sykes Pickavant” workshop tools have always seemed to have a good reputation, that may be the way to go, and try their version out. Thanks for the link.

 

[MattF]

This is a sturdy looking bot of kit, though with a price to reflect such:

http://www.stakesys.co.uk/product/sta125_rotary_metal_shear/