Cutting sheet steel

Save yourself a lot of aggravation. Do not buy anything from "Harbor
Fright". All they sell is junk and it never works like they say. You would
have a lot more fun throwing the money in your toilet and watching it swirl
around as you flush.


Harbor Freight has a $35 cutting tool that can handle the job according
to the advertised specs. It sorta, kinda looks like an angle grinder,
except that it has a short arm and a reciprocating tooth out one side.
I figure I can drill a 3/8" hole, clamp a 2x4 to each side of the sheet
as guides, and just make a run with the cutter. Anyone have experience
with these things? Do they leave a clean edge?

If this is a one time project and you do not see the need for a proper shear in
your future, find someone near you with a shear, pay them to cut the ribs for
you. Or, if they will allow, use their shear to cut the ribs. We let locals
use our shear now and then.

Kevin

Since most builders only need to cut a batch of sheet steel occasionally,
why not try a water jet cutting service. A friend here in Perth was
rebuilding a car and had a new steel firewall made up from a CAD drawing at
very reasonable cost. There are plenty of service providers in the USA -
have a look at http://www.precisioncuttingservice.com/ in Savanna GA for
example.

One local company here in Perth has done many instrument panels out of sheet
aluminum.

Phil Maley
Perth Australia

For lists of waterjet job shops in the USA or International visit the
following link:

http://www.waterjets.org/waterjet_jobshops.html
http://www.waterjets.org/internation..._jobshops.html

Or, call OMAX Corporation to ask for specific shops in your area:

http://www.omax.com (or 253 872 2300 or 800 838 0343)

- Carl



"Phil" philatwotechdotcomdotau wrote in message ...
Since most builders only need to cut a batch of sheet steel occasionally,
why not try a water jet cutting service. A friend here in Perth was
rebuilding a car and had a new steel firewall made up from a CAD drawing at
very reasonable cost. There are plenty of service providers in the USA -
have a look at http://www.precisioncuttingservice.com/ in Savanna GA for
example.

One local company here in Perth has done many instrument panels out of sheet
aluminum.

Phil Maley
Perth Australia

"Jimmy Galvin" wrote in message
...
Save yourself a lot of aggravation. Do not buy anything from "Harbor
Fright". All they sell is junk and it never works like they say. You would
have a lot more fun throwing the money in your toilet and watching it
swirl
around as you flush.


Harbor Freight has a $35 cutting tool that can handle the job according
to the advertised specs. It sorta, kinda looks like an angle grinder,
except that it has a short arm and a reciprocating tooth out one side.
I figure I can drill a 3/8" hole, clamp a 2x4 to each side of the sheet
as guides, and just make a run with the cutter. Anyone have experience
with these things? Do they leave a clean edge?

I think it is pretty obvious from the prices that the stuff you get from
Harbor Freight is not "top of the line". That said, I have bought a lot of
stuff from them that works just fine. My air powered pop rivet gun has
built 3 airplanes so far. I only paid $39.00 for it. My band saw has cut
anything I have need to cut on 3 airplanes. The snowmobile casters that I
bought from them hold my Pulsar just fine and allow me to put it in the T
hangar, behind the pole, and still fit my Waco in too.

It is a bit of an overstatement to say that nothing Harbor Freight sells
works.

Rick Pellicciotti

You have stated a valid view point.

I have been in construction all of my life. I made a living using tools. I
am not satisfied with less than top of the line tools because they make life
soooooo much easier. An example would be I use Milwaukee drills. I would not
walk across the hall to get a free Master Mechanic drill. I don't care for
their quality but if you are satisfied with their products then that's fine.
I think it is pretty obvious from the prices that the stuff you get from
Harbor Freight is not "top of the line". That said, I have bought a lot
of
stuff from them that works just fine. My air powered pop rivet gun has
built 3 airplanes so far. I only paid $39.00 for it. My band saw has cut
anything I have need to cut on 3 airplanes. The snowmobile casters that I
bought from them hold my Pulsar just fine and allow me to put it in the T
hangar, behind the pole, and still fit my Waco in too.

It is a bit of an overstatement to say that nothing Harbor Freight sells
works.

Rick Pellicciotti

On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 06:53:47 +0000, Jimmy Galvin wrote:

Save yourself a lot of aggravation. Do not buy anything from "Harbor
Fright". All they sell is junk and it never works like they say. You would
have a lot more fun throwing the money in your toilet and watching it swirl
around as you flush.

Sometimes it is not what you get that matters but you make out of it:

http://www.mini-lathe.com

That said, a lot of tools at Harbor Freight work just fine without such
refinement. Some do not, so asking around may make sense.

- Holger

I have purchased a number of items from Harbor Freight, and have
generally been satisfied with them. No question about these things
competing with top of the line merchandise, but for items that I
only use occasionally they are good enough. Two items that come to
mind are an angle grinder for $20 and an electric hoist for $60.

I'd suggest that you visit the store and decide which items you
would want to buy. Then if you are not in a hurry, get on their
mailing list and wait for what you want to come up on sale.
Sooner or later just about everything they sell is offered at
big discounts - often 50%.

David Johnson

Jimmy Galvin wrote:
Save yourself a lot of aggravation. Do not buy anything from "Harbor
Fright". All they sell is junk and it never works like they say. You would
have a lot more fun throwing the money in your toilet and watching it swirl
around as you flush.


Harbor Freight has a $35 cutting tool that can handle the job according
to the advertised specs. It sorta, kinda looks like an angle grinder,
except that it has a short arm and a reciprocating tooth out one side.
I figure I can drill a 3/8" hole, clamp a 2x4 to each side of the sheet
as guides, and just make a run with the cutter. Anyone have experience
with these things? Do they leave a clean edge?






That does sound like a good time, but the HF tools will have to do for
me. I know they're junk for the most part. I also know that they're
cheap. When the most likely failure mode is, "It rusted into a single
solid mass", then it's hard to justify spending what it cost for
professional grade tools. I count on the HF tools not falling apart
until I'm done with the few times I need it.

--
http://www.ernest.isa-geek.org/
"Ignorance is mankinds normal state,
alleviated by information and experience."
Veeduber

"Ernest Christley" wrote in message
om...

Harbor Freight has a $35 cutting tool that can handle the job according
to the advertised specs. It sorta, kinda looks like an angle grinder,
except that it has a short arm and a reciprocating tooth out one side.
I figure I can drill a 3/8" hole, clamp a 2x4 to each side of the sheet
as guides, and just make a run with the cutter. Anyone have experience
with these things? Do they leave a clean edge?

That does sound like a good time, but the HF tools will have to do for
me. I know they're junk for the most part. I also know that they're
cheap. When the most likely failure mode is, "It rusted into a single
solid mass", then it's hard to justify spending what it cost for
professional grade tools. I count on the HF tools not falling apart
until I'm done with the few times I need it.

I stopped by the HF tool retail outlet in Tacoma today to buy a set of five
jeweler's loupe's (2x, 3x, 5x, 7x, & 10x) for $2.99. Noticed they had the
electric shear tool on sale for $29.99.

Rich S.