I've got some .080 stainless steel sheet that needs trimming so I'm looking for info on how to cut it without ruining it. I've got a little hand held electric shears that I've used on aluminum sheet but don't know if it's up to cutting .080 stainless. Any info much appreciated. Thanks.
If you have access to a shear , i've put tape on the shear where the ss contacts it , and have cut polished that way with no damage
Without a shear, about the best thing to use on stainless that thick is thin cutoff wheels for a 4 1/2" grinder. I had to get rid of a flange bent on the edge of some SS sheet a while back so I could get it into my shear and figured I'd give the cutoff wheels a try. Got a 5 pack of the extra thin ones from harbor freight for about 5 bucks and was able to do about 10 ft of cutting with the 5 wheels. If you take it easy and don't try to force the wheel, its pretty easy to cut to a straight line. Your electric shear isn't gonna do much on the SS unless its a real monster. It takes about 1.5 times as much force to cut stainless as to cut mild steel, so to cut the .080 stainless you'd need shears rated for 11 or 12 gage mild steel.
wood cutting bandsaw with the blades teeth pointed up, once started, it friction cuts the SS like butter
I borrowed electric shears and did a large sheet, I marked a line with a permanent marker on the rear and turned sheet upside down (Polished side facing down). I did it outside on the lawn so as to cause no damage and cut from the rear. Just hold shears tight and guide the blade over the work surface. Worked out well. Wear ear protection as well as decent gloves as the edge is sharp and will cut if not careful.
Tape on stainless. Draw lines. Jig saw with very fine teeth. Then file the edges. Probably will need some kind of lubricant.
I'd go with the 1/16 wide cut off wheels in a 4 1/2" angle grinder. Don't forget eye and hearing protection. Pat
I go with this too. Small electric shears won't work on 80 thou SS sheet. Not unless they are pretty heavy duty.
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