Cutting Metal Barn Siding?

[blueridge]

Any Good Suggestions you all have used to cut 36 in. wide metal with ribs 9 in. apart? got the east end of my barn to cover, hip roof, every sheet will have to be cut at an angle at top. it's only 29 gauge steel. Thanks Gene

 

[RandyB(MI)]

Check with your rental centers and lumber companies. We've rented these and when you buy your metal some will let you use theirs for free. Like a big paper shear.

 

[Dean]

Within the last 6 years I've had 2 pole barns built. The guys who built them cut all of the metal with a circular saw.

Wear ear protection!

Dean

 

[JF in MI]

When I was putting the metal roofing on my work shop I used my circular saw with a metal cutting abrasive wheel in it. Clamped a 2x4 across it to guide the saw for straight cuts. Was real easy, clean cuts, but noisy.

 

[Bill in IL]

Get yourself a carbide tipped steel cutting blade for your circular saw and go at it as dean suggested. You do need to cover up well with those blades cause the shards are sharp and hot but the blades cut like butter even on thick structural steel.

Don't wast your time ruining a blade by putting it in backwards. Yes it will tear through the steel but leaves a poor cut and ruins the blade.

 

[4520BW]

I have a Milwaukee 18v metal cutting circular saw. Works great on siding up to 1/4 inch plate.

 

[Russ from MN]

I cut it crosswise with snips, length wise with a angle grinder with a cut-off wheel. When you use a abrasive wheel you should wipe it off real good, the dust will rust and stain the steel. If you are ordering new steel you can usually get it cut exactly right.

 

[Stephen Newell]

I've tried putting saw blades on a circular saw backwards. I've used metal cutting circular saw blades. They all seem to eat you alive with metal chips, occasionally imbedding in the skin on your arm. I've also tried metal cutting blades for a sawzall but the vibration is terrible. It's more costly but I only use metal cutting carborundum blades on a circular saw now. The blade is only good for four or five cuts but tolerable.

I saw a professional cutting the tin before. The guy had a tool that looked like a big paper cutter he slammed down on the metal and cut it. It would be nice of the tool rental places had such a tool.

 

[CBBC]

I use an angle grinder and zip disk. Don't cut deep and don't let it get too hot.
Grant

 

[ed will]

Hi, I put metal siding on my irrigation pump house.It was 22ga IIRC. I used my angle grinder with really thin blades. Less than 1/8 probably 1/16. Cut quick. Ed Will Oliver BC

 

[TJV]

A power shears or nibbler will be the easiest on your hearing and you won't have the flying chunks to worry about

 

[JerryS]

The best thing I've ever found is the DualSaw. It has twin, counter-rotating blades that make for smoother, quieter, no-grab cutting of metal. It will go right through sheet metal, nails, even rebar. As shown here, I was cutting vents into a burning barrel. Each cut took no more than two seconds. Lowes and Home Depot may have them. Don't know the price. Mine is actually a Sears, but look for the DualSaw brand.

 

[Dusty MI]

I also use a nibbler. I was told that if you use a saw the chips come out hot and will melt into the paint and will stick then rust.

 

[Mike M]

I cut all my liner panel in my building with a pair of Midwest snips. Get the Left hand and Right Hand ones. They are made so that your hand stays above what you are cutting not in between like old style snips do.

 

[dhermesc]

I asked the same question here a couple months ago. All kinds of answers - in the end I bought a couple high quality metal blades and used my Sawzall (Craftsman version). I was kind of surprised by how fast it cut.

 

[rrlund]

We had our first pole barn built in 1964. They just turned a blade around backwards in a circular saw. That's all I've ever done since. Eye and ear protection is an absolute must.

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Freud Steel Demon circular saw blade. Buy one now. Thank me later. I busted my buttski trying to get clean cuts other ways and it never even dawned on me that there was an exactly right tool for the job and all I needed was the right blade for it.

http://www.amazon.com/D0748F-Diablo-Ferrous-Knockout-PermaShield/dp/B00008WQ3B/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1459969357&sr=8-2&keywords=steel+demon

Wear hearing and eye protection!

This produces a clean, burr-free cut with minimal heat and paint damage to the edge. Cut with the finished side of the steel DOWN. Make a 4 foot zero clearance rail guide out of a piece of masonite before you start. Each cut will then take about 20 seconds.

Grouse

 

[Sparktrician]

NIBBLER!!! You can buy a makita nibbler for $99.00! Best money you'll spend, and best way to deal with cutting metal, they cut up to 11 gauge I believe.

 

[bobwny]

Electric nibblers.don't need ear protection or eye.nothing hot flying around,easy to control and cut any shape or angle you want,plus it won't hurt you.have put a lot of steel on over the years and have tried every way,like nibblers the best.

 

[Doug Wi]

Over the years I have built several sheds. Always used a circular saw with an old blade backwards. Getting older now and harder to climb, so hired a contractor to put steel on an old machine shed. Thought they would have some fancy tool to cut with. But they just used a good pair of what I call tinsnips. kind of narrow , fairly new and sharp and tight. These weren't the aviation type cutters, old fashioned tinsnips . couldn't believe how fast they cut. No noise, no chips, just a nice clean cut. They used an electric nibbler for the few length wise cuts.

 

[Hogleg]

I bought one of those dual counter-rotating blade saws from Harbor Freight. Works very well...cuts like a knife in hot butter.

John

 

[UAFitter]

Which Makita nibbler are you talking about, and where are you buying it? I'd be all over that.

 

[MSS3020]

I bought a blade from Harber Freight two years ago when I put up my smaller 24x36. Blade was for my circular saw and for steel.. worked really well but make sure you wear full face shield and welding gloves or something on your arms when cutting.. one blade did all the metal.. still use it once in a while..

 

[Dusty MI]

Bad Dog Biter drill-mounted nibbler demo - YouTube

This is my nibbler.


Dusty

 

[oliver power]

Here you go... http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IMJDNKK/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=137APUX9WN663&coliid=IH7Z3I3XEO8ID

 

[ray_woods]

Diablo Demon blade (7 1/4)"
Eye protection, gloves, long sleeves etc.

 

[ohiojoe]

The pros which built my building cross cut with a metal cutting blade in circular saw. They cut the metal parallel to the ribs by scoring with a heavy duty razor knife. They then folded and snapped along the score line.

 

[RBoots]

I just bought a bunch of
new barn steel, and I
was told the same thing.
If you cut it with
something that got hot
or threw sparks that
melted the paint and
caused rust, the 45 year
warranty was void.

Ross