Cutting sheetmetal trailer skin - any ideas/suggestions?

[Mike0123]

So as a follow up to my original post on this subject
https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums...lt-trailer-ideas-How-did-you-attach-the-metal
I am wondering if anyone has heard of a flush trim bit for a router or laminate trimmer that will do sheetmetal?

Has anyone tried this, or have a better suggestion than cutting it by hand? Does anyone think a carbide bit for woodworking would work?

Thank you all

Mike

 

[Gwolf]

.046 X 4.5 cutting disk in 4.5 inch side grinder. Very thin and cuts a straight line. Any place that sells hardware has them.

For sure wear a face shield. The really thin disks are easy to break.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

.046 X 4.5 cutting disk in 4.5 inch side grinder. Very thin and cuts a straight line. Any place that sells hardware has them.

For sure wear a face shield. The really thin disks are easy to break.

I also recommend an Angle Grider for doing this ..... I buy 1mm ( .040 ) disc's made by Diablo in bulk, H.D. also sells them .... I think this is the Thinnest disc made

 

[Peter Aawen]

If you're going to be cutting lots of sheet metal, & you need to be able to cut around odd shapes as well as straight lines, you don't hafta rely on just disc cutters &/or angle grinders loaded with cutting discs, you can also get 'sheet metal nibblers' & 'sheet metal shears' - the nibblers do what they say, & chew/nibble a small section of metal out with each stroke, doing some hundreds or more strokes per minute; while the shears are heavier powered versions of what used to be called 'tin snips'. :thumbup:

Here's a nibbler that I chose at random from the first search I did on them: https://www.bing.com/shop/productpa...ds:"31309200332"&productpage=true&FORM=SHOPIC

And a shear that I found easily the same way on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW890.../B00004RHIU/ref=psdc_3206562011_t2_B011HX36GS

They're not the nibblers or shears I own/use, but they're similar & I find them a lot quicker & more versatile than disc-based cutting, easier for cutting complex shapes, & safer all round too - but depending on the model/type of either that you get, you might lose a thin strip of metal with every cut.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend cutting too much metal with a carbide bit (or any bit for that matter) that was designed for woodworking either - I reckon there's a whole bunch of reasons that they've been 'designed for woodworking' rather than 'designed for cutting sheet metal' :thumbup:

 

[2dogs]

:agree: Peter! That's the only way to go for ease, accuracy, and safety.

 

[Mike0123]

Ok ... thanks all!