Will a nibbler cut 4mm Aluminium sheet cleanly and straight ??

[tedmagnum]

I'm having to cut a lot of 3mm and 4mm Aluminium sheet into pieces for making some motorcycle sump guards.

It's a pain of job and very slow going even with 1mm cutting discs and some droncos. My bench shears and band saw won't allow wide enough cuts and my plasma cutter is also too messy and in-accurate.
( However I'm thinking of buying a guide wheel for it).

So, I was researching Shears and Nibblers. Sheers seem to stop at the 2mm thickness but I found that
Stakesy's offer a big electric nibbler.....

Claims to cut 4mm aluminium sheet with ease.

Any ideas ??

http://www.stakesys.co.uk/product/sta126_sheet_metal_nibbler/

Cheers, Ted

 

[brightspark]

circular saw with a fine tct blade

 

[Angusdog]

I was surprised how well my circular saw cut 3mm checker plate - quite noisy but quick and a nice edge. Cleaning up the swarf was another matter - it got everywhere and can't pick it up with a magnet.

 

[ukracer]

circular saw with a fine tct blade

Plus one for circular saw. I cut some 8 x 4 sheets with my sheppach saw bench recently and it cut like butter.

 

[tedmagnum]

Plus one for circular saw. I cut some 8 x 4 sheets with my sheppach saw bench recently and it cut like butter.

Something like this ???

http://www.angliatoolcentre.co.uk/s...id39594.html?gclid=CLOJ6p7piL0CFQUIwwod250AHA

 

[ukracer]

Yeah but mine is 30 years old and I dont think the build quality is as good now. That said it will do the job fine.

 

[ben8vgte]

You'll find a old Milwaukee battery PMS18 on ebay cheap and made for the job, just buy a couple of aftermarket batteries to freshen it up.

 

[Sean]

Makita BCS550, Bet DeWalt and the rest will do one too - just depends on what battery system you have.

 

[MrFluffy]

That nibbler will cut like butter, but you will need a guide to cut straight lengths and they make a hell of a mess in swarf on the floor (little sharp semi circles that get everywhere). It will however cut rounded edges and shapes to perfection.

 

[Jan]

I've used one of those things in the dim, distant past and it was a complete PITA. Never again! I don't know how these would fare on that thickness of ally, but they're supposedly good to 1.6mm on mild steel. I just bought a set along with a couple of other air powered items in the current Aldi sale - just to add to an already almost complete air setup. Be quick as the sale started today (Thursday) and all the good stuff usually goes fast.

Alternatively you could try either a powerful jigsaw (just bought an as new ex Argos 800 watt jobby for £22.50 inc. postage off eBay) or an Alligator type saw. Either will be more than good enough for straight cuts while the jigsaw could cope with tighter curves.

 

[MrFluffy]

If your going to be doing a few, another option not floated is to search out a vertical bandsaw, theyre capable of straight AND curved cuts, the swarf isnt horrible to clean up, and the blade will last well. I have a crappy little underpowered ryobi still running wood saw speeds and blade that I use on aluminium all the time - its just a matter of lubricating the cut and being patient on thicker stuff (and by thicker, I mean 50-80mm thick plate) but it would zing through a 4mm section sheet.
Ive been abusing mine like this for a fair few years now, and have just converted the bottom blade guide to a homemade roller guide when it broke finally. My plan was never to keep this saw and find a big cast iron saw instead, but its just quietly kept working, so when I do find a monster it will probably be tucked in the corner of a mobile workshop setup as its very light. At the moment its mounted with two wheels on the back legs, so I can pick the front up and wheel it out the way when not in use.

I have a set of those shears as above, and theyre fast, but on softer material I find mine tend to jam and require fettling quite often. The cut edge also needs deburring as it has a sharp edge to it.