Sheet metal and how to cut it.

[RTG_RACING]

So my floors were not to bad. I hate bodywork but do alot of fab stuff. So i know how to weld. Don't do much with sheet metal. But i thought i would just parch them up. Got me some 16 ga and I don't know the best way to cut it. Anybody recommend anything?

[CA180]

Lots of ways buddy... Sheers, torch, die-grinder and cut off wheel.

If your removing old metal from the truck, i would go with a dye grinder. Keep in mind the thickness of the wheel as it will remove that much material. So your new piece may not fit if you dont keep an eye on it.

[FORDification]

For virtually all similar sheetmetal repairs in my shop, I simply use a cut-off wheel in my 4-1/2" angle grinder. Since the flying dust and sparks sometimes will allow your cuts to go a little off-course, it's definitely best to mark your cut with a thick magic marker for better visability...and allow yourself a little extra metal to work with. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. In other words, you can always trim/grind it down a little more, but if you cut it too short...well....

[SmokeyBear]

If you have a decent air compressor, a nibbler is a gift from God!

[RTG_RACING]

I was thinking cutoff wheel in a grinder myself. I have the compressor to run a nibble but don't feel like spending the money for a one time job.

Thanks for he advice

[averagef250]

Cutoff wheel does a decent job. I'm partial to the torch myself. If you're handy with one floorpans don't usually warp much at all with a high travel speed. If not, you'll melt sheetmetal more than cut it and the cut edges will be fat. Plasma's real nice, but I don't have one and don't plan on getting one.

[Galaxie64]

I'm using a 4.5" cut off on my grinder to do my fenders right now, it is working great. I used an air cut off for part of the first fender and it took way too long compared to the grinder.

[Wes]

For virtually all similar sheetmetal repairs in my shop, I simply use a cut-off wheel in my 4-1/2" angle grinder. Since the flying dust and sparks sometimes will allow your cuts to go a little off-course, it's definitely best to mark your cut with a thick magic marker for better visability...and allow yourself a little extra metal to work with. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. In other words, you can always trim/grind it down a little more, but if you cut it too short...well....

I don't understand I measured once, cut twice and it still doesn't fit

[MadMaxetc]

For virtually all similar sheetmetal repairs in my shop, I simply use a cut-off wheel in my 4-1/2" angle grinder. Since the flying dust and sparks sometimes will allow your cuts to go a little off-course, it's definitely best to mark your cut with a thick magic marker for better visability...and allow yourself a little extra metal to work with. It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. In other words, you can always trim/grind it down a little more, but if you cut it too short...well....

[FORDification]

OK, I ALMOST considered not saying anything tonight, but decided to eat some crow and tell you all about my little mishap....where I didn't practice the "measure twice, cut once" adage.

I had to trim the top portion of my homemade rollpan...the upper lip was way too wide. So I just grabbed a small piece of cardboard to measure (on the truck) the amount I'd need to trim to get it to fit flush. I then transferred the cardboard over to the rollpan and marked it....and then started cutting, without double-checking things. I got it about 90% cut off before it dawned on me that I was cutting off WAY too much! Confused, I grabbed the piece of cardboard I'd used as a measuring device and discovered that when I transferred that to the rollpan, I accidentaly flipped the damn cardboard around 180 degrees...and ended up cutting of about TWICE what I was supposed to!

So I got about 2 hours behind schedule today, since I then had to weld that piece back on, grind the welds down smooth, and then re-measure and re-cut.

It only takes a few extra seconds to double-check things, folks....don't pull a keith!

[Wes]

ouch sorry Keith, didn't mean to jinks ya

[FORDification]

How ironic....look what I ran across in Saturday's newspaper:



I think they're talking about me.

[marz68]

go with a 4.5" cutting wheel or a sawsall with a 22 tooth blade

[19674x4]

:twisted:PLASMA CUTTER :twisted:

[Kurt Combs]

When welding the panel in place, don't forget to watch where the splatter is going. I ended up with splatter on a couple of my windows and it permanently adheres to the glass. For cutting out the old floor pan I used a cutting wheel and then trimmed to fit with a small grinding wheel. I even used a file to trim small spots. A good fit on the butt seem make the welding a lot easier.