Cutting sheet metal?

[Seano]

How's the tool holding up?

I'm swithering between this one and the Bosch GSC 2.8, which cuts thicker sheet. Comparing the specs, the 2.8 seems better. Does the GSC 10.8V-Li have any advantages over the 2.8 (other than being battery operated)? Does the 10.8V-Li cut a smaller radius curves?

If anyone has any other recommendations for a good quality power shear that can produce detailed work, i'm all ears. It's for sculptural work, I currently have access to a plasma, but would like a quieter, neighbour friendlier option.

Have also been looking at the same model after a lot of deliberation between plasma cutter, vertical band saw, the only other choice is what I term as scissor type shears, which use the two finger, centre cutting finger setup, my main criteria is size of min radius, the GSC 2.8 is 25mm I believe which would be the stumbling block for me, nibblers would give me this, but the cutting waste from them is a nightmare.

 

[chunkolini]

Reghards the bosch shears I use mine the GSC16 loads, in fact I prefer them to the plasma cutter, cleaner edge and less finishing needed.
On an outside curve you can go a bit tighter than 25mm what I often do is rough out the shape and then take a thin line off to refine it.
Size of hole to get them into a larger piece of sheet? I reckon a 51mm hole saw would do it, take a hole to a shp and have a go.
If I remember I will have a tinker about tomorrow and report back.

Brabo choke
Interesting name, what kind of sculpturing do you do?
Pop into the introduction and projects sections and show us what you do.

Chunko.

 

[hotrodder]

The 3 blade style are typically the worst when it comes radius cutting, where they excel is in absolutely distortion free uninterrupted* straight cuts/gentle curves. You're not gonna get better than about 90mm min radius from this style, many of 'em more like >150mm min rad

There is no one tool that'll do it all well without being messy, slow or noisy. Personally i own 2 and 3 bladed leccy shears and find them both invaluable. When neither cuts it either for thickness or radii reasoning then a jigsaw or plasma is more versatile than nibblers and a nicer kind of mess

*because the strip they remove gets in the way unless you spend the dough (and they are 'kin pricey compared to Bosch/Makita etc) on something like the Trumpf version with a chip breaker... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCeplQI2taE They are a different league though really

 

[Seano]

The 3 blade style are typically the worst when it comes radius cutting, where they excel is in absolutely distortion free uninterrupted* straight cuts/gentle curves. You're not gonna get better than about 90mm min radius from this style, many of 'em more like >150mm min rad

There is no one tool that'll do it all well without being messy, slow or noisy. Personally i own 2 and 3 bladed leccy shears and find them both invaluable. When neither cuts it either for thickness or radii reasoning then a jigsaw or plasma is more versatile than nibblers and a nicer kind of mess

*because the strip they remove gets in the way unless you spend the dough (and they are 'kin pricey compared to Bosch/Makita etc) on something like the Trumpf version with a chip breaker... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCeplQI2taE They are a different league though really

I had wondered if I was actually going to be able to cut my shapes out in one go using one single tool, I honestly think the only way to do that would be to use a jigsaw, personally not my favourite or first tool of choice for this kind of work, TRUMPF ........pure sheet metal working porn.....

 

[chunkolini]

I cant see any problem cutting out guitar bodies with shears, they are quite gentle curves.
if you were closer you could pop over and have a play if you like.

 

[Seano]

I cant see any problem cutting out guitar bodies with shears, they are quite gentle curves.
if you were closer you could pop over and have a play if you like.

My biggest concern with regard to the curves chunko is the top and bottom body horn contours, suppose I could always cut them 'Fat' then trim them down using the power file, after all the body contour will be cut slightly 'Fat' anyway..... dropping over would be a good idea if I was closer...but the I have my left leg in a pot anyway until September (not conducive to very legal driving).......

 

[chunkolini]

Seano
I had a play about today.
A rough cut hole just under 40mm was penty big enough to get the business end of the shears through and cut away from the edge.
I will post a photo later.

Edit, a bit later.
First picture shows how was able to cut from the hole to the edge of the piece of metal, the hole was say 40mm in diameter, note how tight a curve I was able to cut.

second pic shpws that all you have to get into the hole is the lower foot thingy and blade, the rest then follows it in.

I was surprised by how small a hole I needed.
50mm holesaw would work a treat. Thanks for making me try this one out.
Chunko'.

 

[brabo choke]

Ended up getting the Bosch GSC 2.8 cutter.

Got some 1.5mm plate delivered this morning and free handed the attached shapes out of it. Flat cut the the more intricate bits and detailed them using an angle grinder.

Pleased with the lack of dross compared to plasma cutting.

 

[chunkolini]

Look like Ninja death star swallows.
Happy with the new tool then?