Corrugated sheet is a sheet of galvanized steel with a profile and polymer coating. In appearance it is similar to corrugated sheet metal, but due to the polymer coating, the cutting methods of the material in question roofing material and the tins are not the same. In order to figure out how to cut corrugated sheets and which method to choose for this, you need to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of tools designed for cutting the material.
- grinder (angle grinder);
- electric hacksaw;
- manual and electric jigsaw;
- electric scissors;
- hand circular saw.
Grinder or angle grinder (angle grinder)
Manufacturers of this roofing material do not recommend using a grinder for cutting it due to the thermal effect on the polymer coating. However, even some sellers of corrugated sheets use it as the most convenient cutting tool.
The durability of corrugated sheets depends on correct installation and selection of cutting tools
When using an angle grinder, certain rules must be observed:
- To work with profile sheets, you need to use a disk with carbide teeth instead of an abrasive wheel. Such discs are called discs for cutting corrugated sheets.
- The thickness of the disc should be from 1 mm to 1.6 mm.
- To avoid corrosion, the cut area is coated with high-quality paint of the appropriate color.
When using a special blade, the cutting edges are very thin and neat.
Worth paying attention:
Some craftsmen, using a diamond-coated disk, cut a whole pack (10 sheets each).
When using a special disk designed for cutting corrugated sheets, the edges of the cut are smooth and neat
Using an angle grinder has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of using this tool is the cutting speed and convenience. Its main disadvantage is thermal damage to the polymer and zinc coating, burning of the edges and burning of sheets by sparks flying from the angle grinder. In addition, hot metal particles adhering to the surface contribute to the formation of corrosion. Torn edges sheets after cutting with a grinder require a lot of time to remove burrs. During operation, the tool creates a lot of noise. The use of a special disc designed for cutting corrugated sheets eliminates many of the negative aspects of using an angle grinder.
Pros and cons of hacksaws for metal
When using this tool, the coating of the profile sheet is subject to the least destruction. Corrugated sheeting does not offer much resistance when cutting, so even handmade does not take much effort and time, and the absence of thermal effects helps preserve the coating of the material.
Advantages of cutting corrugated sheets with a hacksaw:
- speed;
- accuracy;
- no significant effort required.
Disadvantages of cutting sheets with a hacksaw:
- when working with a hacksaw, straight cuts are easily made, but cutting out curved shapes is impossible;
- When using a hacksaw for metal, you will need a special cutting table.
A hacksaw is used to make straight cuts
Jigsaw manual and electric
A jigsaw is a tool that, unlike a hacksaw, allows for curved cutting of corrugated sheets. Significant difference between ordinary and electric tool no, but using a jigsaw gets the job done faster.
Manual and electric jigsaws are used for cutting short-length corrugated sheets famous brands, the corrugation height of which is not more than 25 mm. Sheets can be cut lengthwise and crosswise, but the sheet must be pressed so that it does not vibrate. Cutting corrugated sheets is carried out at high speeds using the finest-toothed metal saw.
This is important to know:
To increase the cutting speed, it is not enough just the reciprocating mode; it is necessary that the tilt of the file be longitudinal.
When cutting electric jigsaw the edges burn, but not as much as when using an angle grinder
Disadvantages of using a jigsaw:
- the tool is not very convenient for cross-cutting sheets with a profile height of more than 25 mm;
- not convenient for cutting thin strips;
- the cutting speed is inferior to the grinder;
- when working with an electric jigsaw, the edges burn, but not as much as when using an angle grinder;
- unpleasant noise.
Features of using metal scissors
Advantages of cutting profile sheets with metal scissors:
- This is an indispensable tool for cutting thin strips.
- Provided they are sharpened well, they do an excellent job of cutting across the wave.
Disadvantages of using the tool:
- Metal shears do not cut corrugated sheets lengthwise well, since the sheets have little flexibility in this direction.
- The main disadvantage of cutting with such scissors is the not very smooth edges of the cut.
Great tool for cutting thin strips
Electric scissors: effective and convenient
Electric scissors are quite convenient to use
Hand circular saw
Corrugated sheets can be cut well and manually circular saw, on which a fine-toothed disk with pobedit teeth is installed. For convenience and quick work using a circular saw, you will need an assistant. The cutting feed should be minimal.
To avoid scratching the paint on the profiled sheets, a conductor is made from a strip of plywood about 1.5 m long and 300 mm wide. A groove is cut in its center along the entire strip, not reaching the ends, which will serve as a guide for cutting. Two points are marked on the sheet along the cut line, and a jig is placed on them. The groove should coincide with the marked points. After this, the sheet is pressed well and cutting is performed.
A circular saw with pobedit teeth is an excellent tool for cutting corrugated sheets
This is important to know:
Cutting profiled flooring, which, unlike steel sheet, profile and anti-corrosion coating, requires taking into account these characteristics of the material. Due to the sensitivity of the coating to high temperatures, cold cutting methods are preferred. These conditions and limitations must be taken into account when selecting a tool. For example, the use of plasma cutting, welding, autogen and other similar tools does not meet the requirements for cutting corrugated sheets, as it is associated with exposure high temperature. The use of abrasive tools that tear off and char the protective coating is also not recommended.
Profiled flooring is an aesthetic and durable material that justifies its purpose provided that it is installed correctly and the tool for cutting it is selected in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements.
Profiled flooring is nothing more than sheets of metal coated with zinc and, in some cases, additionally painted with special compounds to protect against corrosion. Their feature is a special plane geometry in the form of alternating protrusions and U-shaped recesses with a width of 30 to 300 mm. Various depths. For the manufacture of corrugated sheets, steel with a thickness of 0.55 to 1.0 mm is used.
It is these characteristics that determine the cutting features when preparing parts of the size you need. There are three options for cutting corrugated sheets:
- Using power tools
- Manually
- On machine tools
Below we will consider each of the options separately with a description of how to cut corrugated sheets correctly, listing the pros and cons of each method known to the craftsmen.
Hand tool for cutting corrugated sheets
In most cases, power tools are used, because... they are more convenient to operate and quick to use. The following power tools can be used for cutting:
- Bulgarian
- Jigsaw
- Electric scissors
- Hand circular saw
Tool for cutting corrugated sheets
– quite acceptable for cutting corrugated sheets. Let's see what professionals say regarding the use of each of the listed devices.
Is it possible to cut corrugated sheets with a grinder?
Grinder, this is the popular common name for manual angle grinding machines. The device is quite practical for cutting various metals, including profiled flooring.
The basic rule that must be followed when cutting corrugated sheets correctly is to use a cutting wheel that matches the type of material being cut.
For grinders, depending on their size:
- Small (circle diameter up to 135 mm)
- Medium (circle diameter up to 175 mm)
- Large (circle diameter up to 325 mm)
How to cut corrugated sheets with a grinder? It is necessary to select wheels that correspond in diameter to the nominal size of the tool. This is important to ensure ease of use.
In addition, the choice of size depends on the depth of the depressions in the profiled sheet.
When working with a small grinder with deep grooves on the corrugated sheet, you will not be able to immediately cut the sheet in the lower corners - to do this you will have to turn the sheet over reverse side. Therefore, immediately choose a grinder on which you can install a circle of maximum diameter.
The second feature of cutting corrugated sheets with a grinder is that the sheet should be placed on supports at some distance from the ground or the plane of the table on which you are making the cut. Otherwise, the circle will “catch” the ground and raise a cloud of dust or simply spoil your desktop or workbench.
Using a grinder to cut corrugated sheets in the hands of an experienced worker allows you to cut out parts of the desired geometric configuration, including along an arc with certain radii.
Jigsaw
A completely acceptable way to cut profiled sheets. But, again - only if you use:
- Professional tool
- Choose the right canvas
Household grade jigsaws, firstly, they are not powerful enough to perform such operations. Secondly, there are practically no blades for them, with the use of which you can cut sheets with a thickness of 0.75 mm or more.
Jigsaw professional class It is quite possible to cut it to the buyers’ liking, but you will have certain inconveniences in your work. First, the sheet for cutting needs to be installed in a vertical position, and this is not very convenient, as you will need to support the already cut strips, for which you will need one, or better yet, two assistants.
Conclusion and opinion of professionals with experience - a jigsaw is not the best option for choosing a tool.
Electric shears - scissors for cutting corrugated sheets
Using such scissors is quite convenient - they cut quickly and are quite suitable for metal with a thickness of even 1.0 mm, with a certain dexterity of the worker.
They also allow you to make cuts of various complex geometries, but... After working with electric scissors, bending of the sheet occurs along the edge of the cut.
This will require you to perform additional operations after cutting - the edges will need to be trimmed by hand, using a mallet or hammer with wooden pads on the sheet, so as not to damage the metal coating.
Hand circular saw
A hand-held circular saw, like a grinder, is very convenient for cutting corrugated sheets if you have chosen a model with a large diameter cutting wheel and used a special cutting wheel for working “on metal”.
All work can be done in one turn on the tool.
It is also possible to make cuts along an arc with a certain radius rounding.
So, what is the best way to cut corrugated sheets?
Summing up the use of this or that power tool for cutting profiled flooring, we can conclude that the most optimal and convenient are a grinder and a hand-held circular saw. Electric scissors and jigsaws are more suitable for a small number of operations.
Power tools are used in any field of construction. A special need for them arises when you are building a unique one. Especially if you plan to decorate the fence with forging elements. Uniqueness may lie in design. All are listed possible types design of a fence made of corrugated sheets, as well as ways to decorate it. Beautiful fences made from corrugated sheets is an opportunity to stand out, emphasizing your individuality.
Hand tool
Hand tools suitable for cutting corrugated sheets include:
- Hacksaw for metal
- Hand jigsaw
Here you need to immediately make a reservation - working with hand tools is practical only for very small volumes of operations performed.
Another case when a hand tool is needed is the creation of complex cutting geometry when finishing individual lines after working with a power tool.
In general, working with hand tools for cutting profiled sheets is very labor-intensive and takes a lot of effort and time. This allows us to conclude that cutting corrugated sheets using hand tools is ineffective and unprofitable.
Edge protection against corrosion
Protecting the edges of profiled sheets from corrosion significantly extends their service life. This activity is especially relevant after cutting sheets with a grinder or a hand-held circular saw.
When working with an angle grinder due to increased speed friction of the disk on the sheet, part of the coating - zinc or special paint - literally burns out from the high temperature.
Bare metal remains exposed to negative physical and chemical factors and very quickly deteriorates (rusts). To protect it, special paints and varnishes should be used. Their consumption for covering the cut ends of a profiled sheet is minimal, it takes little time and is easily done by hand.
Such a small cost additional material and working time will extend the service life of the corrugated sheeting much longer and will fully pay off. Professionals definitely do not advise neglecting such a seemingly trifle if you want the material to serve you for a long time.
Video about the tools that are used when cutting corrugated sheets
We also recommend watching a video on how to cut corrugated sheets, which clearly shows the cutting of the material. various instruments with minimal losses. The attached videos below show cutting corrugated sheets using tools such as: grinder, circular saw, jigsaw, electric scissors, hand scissors.
Corrugated sheeting is a profile sheet made of galvanized steel with a top polymer coating, which serves as both protection and decoration. The material is supplied in standard dimensions, and during the installation of a roof, fence or balcony cladding, the question often arises - how to cut corrugated sheeting?
Features of coating cutting
Essentially, this material is a tin sheet with a special profile. The peculiarities of the cutting process are due to the presence of a special coating, which should not be damaged during cutting.
Protective polymer coating of corrugated sheets is not heat-resistant, that is, it cannot withstand high-temperature exposure, and therefore cold cutting methods are preferable.
It is also recommended to treat the cut areas with moisture-resistant and anti-corrosion preparations. In fact, even in correctly cut profile sheets, you need to paint over the edges remaining after cutting. For this, the dye supplied with the material can be used, but you can also use regular paint that matches the texture and color. In this way, the cut points receive proper protection from negative influences. natural factors and corrosion processes.
So, how to cut corrugated sheets? Common instruments suitable for performing the operation include:
- grinder, angle grinder;
- hacksaw for metal - manual or electric;
- jigsaw - manual or electric;
- metal scissors and electric scissors;
- hand saw (circular).
Rules for using an angle grinder
When choosing how to cut corrugated sheeting, you will most likely come across recommendations not to use an angle grinder, since this tool creates a high temperature in the cutting area, which negatively affects the polymer coating. At the same time, it is one of the most convenient cutting tools. To ensure that the durability of the material is not affected, you should follow some rules:
- To cut a profiled sheet, you will need not an abrasive wheel, but wheel with carbide teeth.
- Special discs for cutting corrugated sheets should have a thickness in the range of 1-1.6 mm.
- You can cut the sheets at once in a pack of up to 10 pieces, but this will require certain skills.
The advantages of using a grinder are obvious - high cutting speed and ease of use of the tool. The main disadvantage is the heating of the metal in the cutting area, which causes damage to the polymer and zinc layers. In addition, when cutting, hot metal particles can fly, forming corrosion pockets on the sheet. Also, if you cut improperly, burrs are formed that need to be removed. However, this can be avoided if you use special wheels designed for cutting corrugated sheets. It is also worth noting that the angle grinder is noisy during operation, but all operations with it are performed very quickly.
Advantages and disadvantages of using a hacksaw for metal
Among the advantages of using a hacksaw:
- relatively high speed;
- lack of significant effort;
- neatness of the cut.
Note: While straight cuts are easy to make, a curved cut is impossible with such a tool.
In addition, for ease of cutting, you will need a special table or support surface.
Electric or manual jigsaw for cutting
When deciding how to properly cut corrugated sheets, one cannot help but consider such a popular tool as a jigsaw. With its help, you can provide both straight and curved cuts, which distinguishes a jigsaw from a hacksaw. During the cutting process, there is no noticeable difference between an electric and a manual tool - the only thing is that an electric one will cut the profiled sheet faster.
The cutting of corrugated sheets is carried out with a metal saw with the finest teeth, while the tool is adjusted to high speeds. You should also ensure a “longitudinal” tilt of the blade so that the cutting speed is higher. However, it is worth knowing that a jigsaw is not suitable for cutting thin strips. In addition, the process will be accompanied by unpleasant noise.
Features of cutting with metal scissors
If it is necessary to cut thin strips, metal scissors are an indispensable tool. If cutting edges are perfectly sharpened, they will be able to cope with a cut across the wave.
But the scissors don’t cut very well along the length - the structure of the material is such that in this direction it has the greatest flexibility. In addition, the process does not create very smooth edges.
Even electric scissors don’t make the edge perfectly straight. Otherwise, this tool is considered very effective for cutting corrugated sheets.
For internal thermal insulation balconies and loggias are used various materials. are described in our separate article. IN this moment this is one of the most popular materials for insulation.
An alternative to corrugated sheeting on the balcony is siding. is in this material.
Application of a hand-held circular saw
A hand-held circular saw will cut corrugated sheets well if a disk with fine carbide teeth is installed on it. It is better to carry out cutting work together. In addition, it is important to ensure a minimum feed when cutting.
And to protect the top coating, if a circular saw is used, a special jig is made. To make it you will need plywood strips 1500 mm long and 300 mm wide. A groove is made in the center of the jig, not including the ends, which will be used as a guide when cutting. Then two boundary points are marked on the sheet, and a jig is placed between them so that the groove and marks completely coincide. After this, the sheet is carefully fixed and the cut is made.
The main thing that needs to be taken into account when cutting corrugated sheets is the features of its structure. Due to the low temperature stability of the protective coating, cold cutting is preferred. That is why autogen, welding and plasma cutting do not use. Abrasive wheels are also not used, as they will lead to charring of the polymer coating. If you choose the right tool and then completely process the edges, the corrugated sheet will fully retain its excellent performance qualities - durability and aesthetics. Do not forget that the tool must be selected depending on the shape of the cut required. In a universal way cutting can be called using a grinder, but with a special circle.
An example of how to cut corrugated sheets with a grinder is shown in the video.
Corrugated sheeting is a popular material often used in construction. It has many advantages, one of which is ease of processing. The profiled sheet weighs little and is quite thin, and therefore can be adjusted to the location directly on construction site on one's own. To do this, you do not have to buy a special machine, since hand tools will do the job.
But, despite its apparent simplicity, there are certain features that need to be taken into account if House master I was about to cut corrugated sheets. Unlike plain metal, the profiled sheet consists of several layers that are easy to damage. Therefore, it is important to know which tool can be used for cutting in order to preserve the protective paint and zinc layer on the metal surface as much as possible.
Features of cutting corrugated sheets
Profiled material – thin sheet layered metal, which can be damaged if cut incorrectly. Since the material is coated on top with a special polymer and galvanized, the use of conventional methods of processing tin sheets should not be allowed (cutting corrugated sheets with a knife or hitting with a chisel is a bad idea).
It is also prohibited to use high-temperature cutting methods (gas), since the sheet coating will immediately deteriorate, despite the initial factory protection methods. As a result of improper processing, the sheet itself will be damaged, and not just the outer protective shell.
To cut polymer-coated corrugated sheets correctly, you cannot use a grinder with an abrasive wheel, since there will be a risk of severely damaging the outer layer of the material, which will inevitably lead to the formation of rust. The service life of such corrugated sheeting will be reduced several times.
The structural features of the profiled sheet do not allow the use of any construction material for cutting. rough instrument. Therefore, it is necessary to know exactly how to process the material.
Is it possible to cut corrugated sheets with a grinder?
An electric grinder is often used in construction because it can process or cut any metal as quickly as possible. The device is also quite easy to use, and the speed of surface processing is its main advantage.
But it is worth noting that when cutting a profile with a grinder, experts highlight many disadvantages from using the tool. The grinder is an abrasive construction device that can quickly damage the sheet.
This happens for several reasons:
- Metal particles heated during operation spoil the coating by burning through it. If the material is not treated with a protective coating after cutting, corrosion will form in these places.
- After processing the corrugated sheeting, uneven edges remain, so you will have to additionally remove burrs from the surface.
To avoid such difficulties, you need to select special discs for cutting corrugated sheets and promptly coat the sheet adjusted to size with protective paints.
How to cut corrugated sheets
To cut corrugated sheets correctly, you need to select a tool that will preserve as much as possible protective properties coating and will not spoil the overall appearance building material.
There are a few suitable tools, which you need to learn about in detail, and when working with them you will additionally have to take into account some nuances.
Disc for cutting corrugated sheets for an angle grinder
As already mentioned, a grinder with a conventional abrasive and extremely rough wheel cannot be used to cut corrugated sheets, since it greatly damages the coating with sparks formed during the work, which will certainly lead to rust.
Therefore, this tool can be used if you buy a specially adapted disk for cutting corrugated sheets. This is a very thin working wheel (its thickness is less than 1.6 mm). The teeth must be made of carbide materials.
Important! After cutting the material, it is necessary to cover the corrugated sheet with a special protective paint to avoid the formation of corrosion.
Some home craftsmen, in order to save time, prefer to cut a whole pack of corrugated sheets with a grinder, placing a diamond blade on the tool. But experts do not recommend doing such things, since there is a risk of damaging the metal at the slightest displacement of the sheets.
Disadvantages of this method:
- The formation of torn edges cannot be avoided (additional leveling or covering the “sloppy side” of the corrugated sheet with another sheet will be required).
- Loud noise from the grinder.
- Even with the correct cutting wheel, the protective surface will be damaged by sparks.
Advantages:
- Fast cutting.
- Ease of work.
Drill attachment for cutting corrugated sheets
Professional roofers often use special attachments for cutting corrugated sheets on a drill to quickly and accurately process the surface.
But to carry out such work you must have certain skills and only use cordless drill. The attachment will be convenient to use if you need to cut corrugated sheets in hard-to-reach places.
Shears for cutting corrugated sheets
Hand scissors are used if you need to cut parts from corrugated sheets, but the number of sheets is small. The tool can be used when constructing gates or covering a shed or garage with material.
But if more global work is ahead, then experts recommend using electric scissors for cutting corrugated sheets.
The advantages of the tool are quite easy and accurate cutting of strips. Another advantage is the ability to cut metal across the waves.
Despite the advantages, there are also some disadvantages when cutting corrugated sheets with metal scissors:
- A rough, uneven and curved edge remains (will have to be straightened to give an aesthetic appearance).
- When choosing scissors, you must take into account that when cutting in longitudinal direction the work becomes much more difficult.
Cordless shears are the most preferred option for processing corrugated sheets. When cutting parts of metal, no sparks are generated, and therefore damage to the protective coating is minimal.
Jigsaw for cutting corrugated sheets
A jigsaw is a tool for cutting corrugated sheets, which is often used by builders and home craftsmen. But this statement remains valid if you choose the right one professional tool with quality fabric.
Regular household jigsaws have low power for carrying out such operations. It is also difficult to find suitable blades for them that can be used to cut sheets with a thickness of 0.75 mm or more.
Therefore, for accurate cutting you need to buy only professional jigsaws.
But even if you have a special tool, you need to take into account some features:
- The corrugated sheeting will have to be installed in a vertical position for ease of cutting, and this is extremely inconvenient, since you need to ask someone to support the cut strips.
- It is difficult to cut crosswise decking with high corrugation.
- The edges of the metal burn quite badly from the rapid movements of the blade.
Electric circular saw
An electric saw is a tool that is suitable for quickly cutting corrugated sheets, but it is necessary to select models with wide cutting wheels. It is also advisable to use special cutting parts for working on metal.
Attention! Observing these conditions, the work can be carried out in one turn on the tool.
The main advantage of using a saw is the ability to cut in an arc and round the material.
Having studied everything possible tools, suitable for working with the material in question, you can understand that the fastest options are an angle grinder or a circular saw. But using them without special discs is prohibited, otherwise there will be a risk of damaging the surface.
A gentle tool, but for slower work, is electric scissors.
These devices are most suitable for cutting corrugated sheets.
How to cut corrugated sheets evenly
To cut the material accurately and evenly, you need to place corrugated sheeting with the same profile on the sheet being processed. After this, draw a line and cut along it.
Another way is to place a sheet on top and not remove it, resting its side surface against the end of the corrugated sheet, which lies on top.
Important! With the second option, the top sheet will become unusable if you constantly use it as a guide. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately put this corrugated sheet aside as consumables.
Another effective method shown in video:
How to cut corrugated sheets to avoid edge corrosion
For any choice construction tools the material will be slightly deformed and the protective layer will be broken - this cannot be avoided. Therefore, we must not forget about treating the edges to prevent corrosion. Thus, it will be possible to significantly increase the service life of the material. Edge protection is especially important if a saw or grinder is used.
This is explained by the fact that the part of the coating protected by special paint will burn (due to sparks generated when working with power tools). As a result, the edge of the metal will remain bare, and, therefore, will be exposed to influences. external factors. As a result, rust forms.
To avoid such problems, you need to additionally purchase special paints and varnishes. After cutting, the ends must be covered immediately. This procedure is easy to perform manually yourself, since the special paint is available in spray cans, which simplifies the processing process.
When working with corrugated sheets, there is a risk of serious injury from cutting yourself on sharp edges. Therefore, experts recommend starting metal processing only with appropriate clothing:
- Protective gloves will protect your hands from cuts.
- When working with power tools, you should always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from small metal shavings.
- Construction headphones will protect your ears from the loud noise generated by power tools.
- To protect the body from damage, it is necessary to wear overalls.
- Closed shoes will also help avoid injury.
More helpful advice regarding safety when working with the tool: it is prohibited to use an angle grinder without a protective casing. The fact is that the cutting parts rotate at a very high speed, so special care must be taken when working. These are basic tips and recommendations that experts do not recommend forgetting about.
Conclusion
If you have to cut corrugated sheeting when building a fence and roofing system, then you definitely need to find out what tools are suitable for this. The sheets require special processing of the edges, otherwise they will become unusable soon after installation.
Profiled sheet is a material that no construction can do without. Just before adjusting it to size, you need to carefully understand how and with what to cut the corrugated sheet. Although the process itself is simple and quick if you have certain tools, there are nuances in this operation that are not visible to the eye. And the error may manifest itself a couple of months after the start of operation.
Rolled steel coated with zinc, 0.3 to 1.5 mm thick, with trapezoidal or rounded stiffening ribs extruded into it, is called corrugated sheeting.
The overall dimensions of the sheet and the color of the corrugated sheet are not important for the discussion of the topic.
Instrument gradation
To cut profiled sheets, the following tools can be used:
- Electrical, including:
- Stationary;
- Manual.
- Mechanical.
Of course, when working in a domestic environment, it is not possible to use a stationary power tool. This means that the entire range of our review will be occupied only by a hand tool for cutting corrugated sheets.
Hand power tool
Bulgarian
The most common power tool with which you can cut profiled sheets is an angle grinder, or grinder.
There are a number of prejudices that inspire a person with the idea that if you cut a profiled sheet with a grinder, it will rust very quickly. This is explained by the fact that significant heating of the material occurs at the cutting site, which in turn leads to burnout of the protective zinc layer.
Let's look into it thoroughly.
Zinc has a boiling point of ≈ 906˚C, and a melting point of more than 400˚C. In other words, even in order for the zinc to melt, it is necessary to heat the corrugated sheet to an extremely high temperature, at which the cutting disc will crumble and the paint will char.
This means that this argument is false.
There is another argument - sparks seriously damage the paint layer. It is a fact! But this aspect can be prevented if you use a protective sticker.
How to cut corrugated sheets with a grinder
For safe and high-quality cutting of profiled sheets, follow the following rules:
- Before cutting the corrugated sheet, stick it on the cutting line masking tape, and apply markings on it;
- The tape must be watered 3-5 cm before the point of contact with the cutting tool;
- Set the grinder to minimum speed;
- Carry out the cutting with short touches, in one contact, cutting off no more than 10-15 cm of material.
FIG 1. BOSCH disk
IMPORTANT: observing the above rules, cutting corrugated sheets without damaging protective layers can be done with any cutting disc.
The cutting line after working with an angle grinder turns out to be perfectly smooth, without burrs or waves.
Jigsaw
There are two standards for jigsaws - household and professional. In addition to the fact that a professional jigsaw is much more powerful, it is more difficult to choose the right blade for an amateur tool.
But for cutting corrugated sheets in a small volume, any jigsaw will do, the main thing is to choose the right blade.
How to cut with a jigsaw
To work with corrugated sheets, you need to use a metal blade with a fine tooth and wavy layout. In this case, the cut will take place with minimal heating of the blade and material.
FIG 2. Jigsaw files
Blade length important parameter, which affects not only the depth of cut, but also the width of the cut. The fact is that long cloth when working with thick metal it starts to play. And the closer to the end of the canvas, the vibration becomes more noticeable.
This beating slightly widens the cut line, and this is especially noticeable on corrugated sheets with deep/high relief.
The edge of the cut is jagged and has a small wave. To level out this flaw, you can go along the edge with a file.
Electric scissors
Although they are intended for one purpose, they work according to different schemes, since there are three types of electric scissors:
- Leafy;
- Splined;
- Die-cut.
The most optimal result when cutting corrugated sheets is provided by slotted electric shears. In fact, they are the least powerful of all varieties, and even expensive models cannot properly cut corrugated sheets thicker than 1.5 mm.
IMPORTANT: slotted electric shears do not bend or bend the profiled sheet at all when cutting.
But you can start cutting from any place; just use the same tool to make a hole in a sheet of metal. The edge is smooth, without burrs. But to protect against cuts, it is better to file the sharp edges.
Only electric scissors have a big drawback - the price. Since the tool is extremely highly specialized, it has very limited use in everyday life. And the cost of the cheapest model, Makita BJS100Z, which allows you to cut metal up to 1 mm thick, is more than 7 thousand rubles. And if this device is needed only 1-2 times, then it is better to look for another option.
Hand circular saw
The ontological principle of influencing the material is the same for a hand-held circular saw and an angle grinder. But studying the advice of experts on how to cut corrugated sheets, a surprising inconsistency emerges. It turns out that the grinder leads to the destruction of the protective coating, but the circular grinder does not! Absurd! But upon closer examination, it turns out that such advice is largely due to concerns about safety. The fact is that when cutting corrugated sheets, the disc can “bite”.
And if for a manual circular saw such an episode cannot lead to tragedy, because the architecture and design of the case prevents this, then for an angle grinder, “biting” the disk can lead to dire consequences. Especially if a toothed disc was used.
IMPORTANT: when working with cutting-off power tools, scrupulously follow the safety rules! Do not exceed the maximum permissible thickness material being processed and disk rotation speed.
In fact, cutting corrugated sheets with a hand-held circular saw is the most quick way. The only drawback is the unsafe edge left after using the circular saw.
But to correct this flaw you can:
A. File the edge;
B. Use a fine toothed disc.
Renovator
Otherwise this device is called " Multifunctional tool" The device is quite new and little known to the general public. However, it has a number of significant advantages that can be successfully used when cutting profiled sheets.
FIG 3. Renovator
Using a metal cutting blade, you can easily cut sheets of corrugated sheets up to 1 mm thick. You can start cutting from anywhere.
The renovator’s enormous advantage is its safety.
And the monstrous drawback is noise.
But the renovator copes with the task quickly, and the edge is of ideal quality.
Mechanical tool
To work with mechanical tool It will take some effort, but if you need to cut 1-2 sheets with something, then the task is quite feasible.
Hacksaw for metal
The option is not the best, since most models have a bow-shaped (arched) shape. It is this arc that prevents making an even cut. A way out can be found if you use hacksaws for metal with one-sided fastening of the blade.
If you use a blade with a fine tooth, you can cut the corrugated sheet at a faster pace, and the sawn edge will be perfect.
FIG 5. BOSCH hacksaw
Metal scissors
They may be intended for:
Straight cut;
- Right cut;
- Left cut.
FIG 4. Metal scissors
Working with them is easy and simple. If you use only one type of scissors, then when moving from one cutting plane to another, the corrugated sheet will bend.
To prevent this defect, use all types of scissors, changing them when moving between stiffeners.
Construction knife
It can be used to a limited extent only if:
- The thickness of the corrugated sheet does not exceed 0.8 mm;
- The cut is made along the sheet.
The procedure is as follows.
The sheet is placed on flat surface, and mark the cut line with a marker. Then apply a ruler (or rule), and with pressure draw construction knife according to the markings.
The task is to create deep scratch on metal.
Then the sheet is bent along the marked line, first in one direction, then in the other direction. After 2 bends, the corrugated sheet breaks in the right place.
Edge protection
Regardless of what you had to use to cut the corrugated sheet, edge processing is a significant event that significantly extends the life of the sheet material.
For this purpose, you can use any paintwork materials that are intended for metal processing. Once dry, they will create protective film, which will stay on the material for at least half a dozen years when used outdoors.
The use of lubricants such as WD40 for protection does not have any compelling arguments, because after 3-4 good autumn rain non-drying materials will be washed away with water.
conclusions
Purchasing expensive and highly specialized tools for cutting corrugated sheets is advisable only if you plan a significant amount of work.
Most optimal choice There will be slotted electric shears.
With small volumes, you can do a great job simple scissors on metal.
