How To: Cut Sheet Metal

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about How To: Cut Sheet Metal and hope the blog can help you.

Avoid accidentally bending, scoring, or gouging the metal in your next DIY project when you use the tools and technique outlined here.

Whether you’re repairing HVAC ducts, replacing roof flashing, or tackling the occasional metal craft project, you’ll wind up working closely with sheet metal.

A sheet of copper, tin, or aluminum used in residential applications is often very thin, making it easy to bend, score, or gouge while you manipulate it. To sidestep these rookie mistakes, selecting the right tool is the crucial first step in how to cut sheet metal. A variety of tools—hammer and chisel, angle grinder, or hacksaw, to name a few—may be up to the task, but tin snips are typically the best and most economical option for do-it-yourselfers.

Also referred to as aviator snips, these scissor-like hand tools cut sheet metal materials up to 18-gauge in thickness accurately without leaving a ragged, bent edge as the finished product. Pick them up from your local home improvement center for $15 to $20 each, and you can start making controlled cuts in either straight lines or curves.