Large sheet metal circles

[audrey]

Hi I need some help again. Thanx for all the replies from my last posting. I have to cut out Two 26 inch diameter circles from 14 gauge steel. The thing Im building looks like a Garbage Can Lid. I need to make two of them and would like to do it at home . I was thinking of a piece of string fastened to the centre and then to my JigSaw. Then spinning the Jigsaw around the fixed centre and voila a circle? Will this work? Any better ideas? Thanx Audrey. What do you guys think of that? Thanx Audrey.

[ibewgypsie]

We used to put a washer behind the cutting tip on a torch, put drill a hole in the middle and tap a small bolt in (self tapper). put a small washer in the middle and tie the two together with a string the right length. We cut ports in stainless tanks the same way except with a plasma cutter.
No clue about a jig saw if that would work the same. I sure buggered up some roofing with my cut-out end saw. Crooked and not on the lines I took so long to draw square.

[darryl]

I would tend to use a piece of scrap 1/4 in. plywood, screw it to the jigsaw, and drill a pivot point in it. Make sure the blade is at 90 degrees to the radius, and use a new blade as an old one might tend to want to go its own direction. The plywood will get scratched up along the cut line by the burr, instead of the base of your jigsaw. You'll get a rounder circle that way, also.

[Dr. Rob]

Been there and done it. Jigsaw works (makes an infernal racket too) but for simplicity's sake, bag the compass jig idea. The blade wanders all over the place anyway. Just draw the circle and follow the line with the saw.; you'll spend more time sawing rather than fighting the ornery, disobedient jig thing.

[gunsmith]

A simple and quiet way to cut thin sheet metal is to sandwitch it between two pieces of scrap plywood or MDF type material. I prefer 1/2 inch and in most cases the plywood does not go to waste afterword. There are always uses for 14" circles or 6" circles or . If I am using my jig saw there is a slot in it for a pivot bar. If not use a mounting screw drilled into the plate of the saw to which you can attatch a bar to act as a pivot point. This method helps the blade run true and on most jig saws a wondering blade is the norm. By the way, use a corse cuting blade or you will smoke out the shop. Good luck!

[SGW]

How good an edge and how close to round do you need?

[darryl]

I should have added in my reply that a lot depends on the shape of the jigsaw. If it's sloppy, I'll agree with Dr Rob, just go at it by hand, and you'll make the blade follow the line by sight. If it's in good shape, which most aren't, by the way, you can use a circle jig happily.

[CCWKen]

You didn't say if it was ok to have a hole in the middle or what kind of tools you have to work with. Most of the above will work in a pinch. If you'll be doing this a lot, I think I'd make a radius jig for a band saw or SM rolling slitter. (I have both--I hate to waste good plywood cutting circles)
If all you have is a jig saw, then I agree with just drawing and cutting. It's going to want to wander.
Forgot to mention-- That's going to be one heck of a Bar-B-Que pit! 26" ends!



[This message has been edited by CCWKen (edited 05-06-2003).]

[L Webb]

I would roto-blank them. It would take less than a minute to cut both.
Trepanning would work also, but take a little longer.
No centerhole required either way.
Les

[Rotate]

RotoZip on 14 gauge steel? I'd like to see that done. What bit did you have in mind.

Albert

[L Webb]

Rotozip?????? I think you'd go deaf and dumb trying that.
I said I'd roto-blank them.
Les

[CCWKen]

I've never seen a Roto Press that can handle 14ga. steel. But I guess if you can cold roll it, you could blank it too. I would think tooling up could be costly though.

[Thrud]

audrey:
I assume you want a nice job of it...

You can do it two easy ways, the first involves a metal cuttin vertical bandsaw with an out arm attached with a pivot point at the radius from the blade. You turn the 14Ga. into the blade and you willend up with a perfect circle with a small (1/4" is good) hole in the center.

The other way is with a nibbler - again, attach a stiff arm to it so it can pivot and make a smooth cut.

Other ways that can be done is cutting with a sawzall {regular jigsaws are too light for this), plasma torch, gas torch, CNC Turret punch, Laser, and water jet.

[yf]

I cut a 24" circle out of .25" steel plate with a chopsaw.

First drilled center hole, then drove lag bolt through hole into piece of oak 4x4 about 3' long, clamped 4x4 in chop saw vise so blade was cutting a bit over sized.
Then locked switch on and with gloved hands fed the plate around and around till cut through. As the blade wears and gets smaller it is able to cut deeper in the plate. Then removed blade and replaced with 9" angle grinder wheel and moved the 4x4 in slightly and then ground edge to square up edge all around.
Time consuming but faster than torch cutting and cleaning up.

Now I have a 12 gauge powered beverly shear.
Still wont cut .25" plate.

[This message has been edited by yf (edited 05-07-2003).]

[Dr. Rob]

Okay...one BIG holesaw. Run at low RPM, like, one.