Pole Barn Metal Panel cutter?

[MNBobcat]

Hi Guys,

I could swear that I saw advertised at Menards or Northern Tool some kind of guillotine or sliding style of shear that was meant for cutting the metal siding panels used on pole barns.

It would be easier if I knew the name of the tool. I've googled but can't find anything.

Do they make such a tool or am I nuts? Okay...I know I'm nuts but what is the name of this tool? If you've used one, do they work really well? I know I can cut them to length with a tin snips but if I can find or rent an inexpensive panel cutter that sure seems like the ticket.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I bought a pair of nibblers from Harbor Freight to cut mine. I figured if they worked long enough to do my barn, I would be happy. They worked great.

 

[Steve C]

Hi Guys,

I could swear that I saw advertised at Menards or Northern Tool some kind of guillotine or sliding style of shear that was meant for cutting the metal siding panels used on pole barns.

It would be easier if I knew the name of the tool. I've googled but can't find anything.

Do they make such a tool or am I nuts? Okay...I know I'm nuts but what is the name of this tool? If you've used one, do they work really well? I know I can cut them to length with a tin snips but if I can find or rent an inexpensive panel cutter that sure seems like the ticket.

The guys that built my barn have been doing it for 30 years. To my amazement, they used a harbor freight electric power shear that looks like a drill with a shear grafted on. It worked well and they cost about $50.

I have a Milwaukee metal cutting circular saw that uses the 18 volt batteries.
It makes very smooth cuts quickly in pole barn metal. I purchased it from Amazon.com. I had a very bad experience with one of the vendors,


I returned it and bought it again from Tool King a very good vendor.

I cannot fault the tool it works better and faster than I have ever imagined. I wrote a very extensive review on the Amason site and uploaded pictures to show the details. Please visit this site and take the time to read the review and look at the pictures. And please vote if you found the review helpful.

I don't get anything for writing the reviews but it makes me feel good when people find them helpful. I have a lot of reviews on Amazon. Please look at them if the products are of an interest to you. ( am a "tool guy" so there are a lot of tool reviews.)

This is a link to the tool on Amazon
Amazon.com: Bare-Tool Milwaukee 6320-20 18-Volt Ni-Cad 6-1/2-Inch Cordless Metal Cutting Circular Saw (Tool Only, No Battery): Home Improvement

 

[Huskerplowboy]

Menards and others have "panel shears", kind of like the giant paper cutter we all had in elementary school. Looks like they are usually shaped to at least mostly match up with the profile of the ribs so they support the panel to avoid smashing and distorting. Our Menards had a sign up that mentioned that they will rent them out. I want to say it was about $70 or so per day. As it turns out, I could have done that, as I got all the endwall steel that needed cutting to length/angle in one day on mine this past weekend.

I started out on my pole building using a cheap electric shear as mentioned in this thread. The problem that I ran into was that it cuts great running parallel to the ribs, but the shear head was bulky enough that it had trouble diving down into and back out of the ribs on cross cuts without bending/flexing/distorting the ribs. I used that shear to cut out around the windows on the sides, but needed something easier/faster for the endwalls..

I picked up an $8 metal cutting blade from Menards that fits a regular circluar saw. It was the type that pretty much looks like a saw blade without teeth, just thin grooves/notches cut in the outer perimeter. Makes a lot of noise in that thin steel, but worked, much faster than the shear for cross cuts. Not as nice of a cut, but my wall steel tucked up into J-trim under the soffits, so the cuts and slightly burnt paint right along the top edge is hidden...

If I was doing it all over, I'd rent the shear for 1 or 2 days. As long as the rib spacing was right for the steel you are using, I think the distortion to the cut ends of the ribs would be worth the convenience.

 

[Redneck in training]

When Morton built my house they used a nibbler. The material they use is so called self healing therefore you shoudn't use circular saw. Shears or nibbler pulls the galvanizing material over the edge and seals it so it will not rust. Circular saw leaves it exposed. Well that is what the builder told me. I just went to the garage and checked few pieces of leftover sheet metal. No rust on the egge after five years of laying there.

 

[2manyrocks]

How is the material supposed to be self healing? when they galvanize something, the exterior is coated. When you cut through it, the inside isn't going to be galvanized.

An abrasive saw blade may throw sparks and create a rougher edge than a pair of shears, but it gets the job done.

 

[EddieWalker]

I always buy my metal pre-cut to the exact size that I need, but from time to time I have to cut a few pieces. To do this, I just put an old framing saw blade into my saw backwards. It's very noisy, but also very fast. For free, since I already have these things, it's hard to beat.

Eddie

 

[powerstroke444e]

If you read the warranty on these panels if you use anything other than shears or nibbers it voids the warranty. I realy like the milwaukee shears, but will admit I have used the plasma to cut holes in the sheets before.

 

[Duffster]

How is the material supposed to be self healing? when they galvanize something, the exterior is coated. When you cut through it, the inside isn't going to be galvanized.

An abrasive saw blade may throw sparks and create a rougher edge than a pair of shears, but it gets the job done.

I don't know how to explain it but when you use a shears or a nibbler the cut edge doesn't rust (it takes many years to notice anyway). When cut with a saw it seams to rust badly and immediately.

I always buy my metal pre-cut to the exact size that I need.

Same here, easier and cheaper that way.

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

I don't know about the rusting issue with using a circular saw, and haven't noticed a problem with any of the panels I have cut with a circular saw. Anyhow if you take an old plywood blade and put it on the circular saw backwards, you will find it cuts metal panels very well. But, be careful about pinching and kick back, as anytime you use a circular saw.

 

[jimgerken]

When Morton built my house they used a nibbler. The material they use is so called self healing therefore you shoudn't use circular saw. Shears or nibbler pulls the galvanizing material over the edge and seals it so it will not rust. Circular saw leaves it exposed. Well that is what the builder told me. I just went to the garage and checked few pieces of leftover sheet metal. No rust on the egge after five years of laying there.

This makes sense. Example: On my dog kennel outdoors, I used a few bolts and nuts that were just plated junk. After years of them attached to the galvanized stuff outdoors, the gavanization has covered them.

 

[tommu56]

I have a Kett-tool set up

Kett Tool Company : KIT #215


shear and nibbler kit

shear works best for rips and nibbler best for cross cuts

I also have the a clark metal saw too but it works the best for cross cuts

tom

 

[jayste]

I don't know about the rusting issue with using a circular saw, and haven't noticed a problem with any of the panels I have cut with a circular saw. Anyhow if you take an old plywood blade and put it on the circular saw backwards, you will find it cuts metal panels very well. But, be careful about pinching and kick back, as anytime you use a circular saw.

This was the first way I used to cut metal panels as well (well, after I got tired of the tin snips!). I should mention that you shouldn't use a carbide tipped one though! Sure likes to rip the cemented-on teeth off! I've been using an abrasive wheel blade in my circular saw and works pretty good but as all abrasive wheels will do they wear down. I've not tried the metal cutting blades. I will say a good pair of ear plugs or muffs are good to have here.

As others have mentioned, I usually buy it cut to length but, as we all know, Murphy's Law has to come into play somewhere!

The shear would be nice and I'd like to try one. The nibbler is something I've seen at the place I've bought my metal. I've never asked them about them though.

One other thing that bears mentioning, Wroughtn Harv says that if you're making a cut parallel to the ribs that a simple utility knife works as good as anything. He says to score it with the knife and snap it apart like you would other construction materials. I haven't had the opportunity to try it though.

Jay

 

[Duffster]

One other thing that bears mentioning, Wroughtn Harv says that if you're making a cut parallel to the ribs that a simple utility knife works as good as anything. He says to score it with the knife and snap it apart like you would other construction materials. I haven't had the opportunity to try it though.

A utility knife will work but not real well on high end quality steel.

 

[petegoud]

I've found the best saw for cutting metal panels is one similiar to this one;

Craftsman 6-1/8 in. Twin Cutter Electric Saw Sears Item# 00925574000 | Model# 25574

It makes a clean cut, without the heat of an abrasive blade.

Doug

 

[GE222]

I made a jig to slide the panels into and lightly clamp them to the jig. It has a track to slide a skilsaw across making quick straight cuts. the jig is wide enough to make up to 60 degree angle cuts. I will take some pics and post them. The right blade helps with the cut. Which ever one is used, make sure to wear eye & hearing protection.

 

[MNBobcat]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the great tips. A lot of good ideas. I called Menards and they do indeed rent a shear. Its $55 for 10 hours. Not to bad of a price. They said to buy the shear is $1,100.00 so that is out of the question. I ended up deciding to use a tin snips for now. I'm doing 9 sheets on the roof and now that I know I can purchase the rest of the sheets (for the back wall) cut to length I'll plan to do that. The only panels I would have to cut then would be on the ends.

 

[bpattie]

all good ideas. in the past and these have been nothing bigger that 36 X 36 barns I have just used a circular saw and metal abrasive type blade. As I recall it did a pretty good job. the comments about the edges makes sense, but don't most edges get covered either with overlap or corner pieces that cover the edge?

 

[Steve C]

all good ideas. in the past and these have been nothing bigger that 36 X 36 barns I have just used a circular saw and metal abrasive type blade. As I recall it did a pretty good job. the comments about the edges makes sense, but don't most edges get covered either with overlap or corner pieces that cover the edge?

The metal cutting Milwaukee circular saw that I have produces a very smooth cut and doesn't seem to heat the metal at all si it doesn't damage the paint. You can touch the cut immediately after making it and it is cold to the touch. It leaves no burr or sharp points. It is also much quieter than I had anticipated probably about 1/4 the sound level of an abrasive wheel or a regular circular saw with the blade on backwards. The magic must be in the design of the blade. The teeth seem to be carbide. If you cut with the good side down the shoe of the saw glides over the panel sitting perfectly flat and it is just about like cutting thin plywood. Very straight cross cuts and diagnol cuts are very easy to make free hand following a pencil line or chalk line. It has a clear plastic forward blade gaurd that allows you to see the cut line very well and since the blade is on the left side that helps also, no leaning over the saw to see where it is cutting.

 

[Redneck in training]

How is the material supposed to be self healing? when they galvanize something, the exterior is coated. When you cut through it, the inside isn't going to be galvanized.

An abrasive saw blade may throw sparks and create a rougher edge than a pair of shears, but it gets the job done.

The galvanizing metal is a special alloy that is soft and pliable enough to be pulled over the of the steel sheet metal and seal that. But it only happens when you use nibbler, shears or another tool that uses similar cutting princible.