Pole Barn Metal Panel cutter?

MikeD74T · Oct 17, 2009

BillinTX said:
Years ago my daddy taught me how to cut a sheet metal panel the easy way.
All it takes is two sticks and a length of bailing wire.
Lay a length of wire on the ground and place the panel on top of it.
Make a cut in each end of the panel where you want the cut to start and end.
Bring one end of the wire up through the cut on one end and tie it to one of the sticks.
Lay the stick across the end of the panel.
Pull the other end up through the cut on the other end and wrap it around the second stick.
Lay a plank on either side of the cut.
Now standing on the panel, one foot on either side of the cut, pull up on the stick.
As you pull up the wire will cut the panel.
Roll the wire onto the stick and pull up again.
Continue till the cut is finished.
It is surprisingly easy to do and makes a straight cut.

A metal working site had a similar suggestion. They hinged the top plank to one under the panel with a spacer to compensate for thickness at the hinge. Was about 5' long to lay on a bias for angle cuts. MikeD74T

tommu56 · Oct 17, 2009

I was picking up some other stuff at at the big orange box stoor and saw this at $45.00

Malco Products, Inc. | Products | Power Assisted Cutters / Shears | TurboShear

tom

mark2610d · Oct 20, 2009

I bought a turbo shear attachment that goes on your drill motor and let me tell you it is the BOMB!!!! I can cut a piece of metal siding like its butter. The turbo shears are the real deal for pole barn type metal.

Amazon.com: Malco TSHD Turboshear Heavy-Duty: Home Improvement

tommu56 · Oct 20, 2009

mark2610d said:
I bought a turbo shear attachment that goes on your drill motor and let me tell you it is the BOMB!!!! I can cut a piece of metal siding like its butter. The turbo shears are the real deal for pole barn type metal.

Amazon.com: Malco TSHD Turboshear Heavy-Duty: Home Improvement

they were the same thing at hd for $45.00

tom

Steve C · Oct 20, 2009

tommu56 said:
they were the same thing at hd for $45.00

tom

The professional crew that built my barns has been doing it for 35 years. They use this tool, a metal shear that costs $39 at Harbor Freight. They build about 75 barns a year. They told me they get very good service with these tools.

Harbor Freight also sells a replacement blade and anvil set for it for $19.

I think this qualifies as a Harbor Freight tool that doesn't suck.
It has a swivel head to make cutting curves easier.

buckeyefarmer · Oct 21, 2009

radioman said:
How well did it work and how much was it used ?

The nibblers worked good. I think the shears would be even better, but I didn't see them at the store when I was shopping, so went with the nibblers. Some of the cross cuts I just did by hand.

BX2230Dude · Oct 22, 2009

How do the shears work with corrugated metal roofing? I'm planning on building a "carport" style roof on the side of the garage to protect my 'hoe. Would the circular saw mentioned at the top of this thread be better for cross-cuts across the corrugations?

AlanB · Oct 22, 2009

BX2230Dude said:
How do the shears work with corrugated metal roofing? I'm planning on building a "carport" style roof on the side of the garage to protect my 'hoe. Would the circular saw mentioned at the top of this thread be better for cross-cuts across the corrugations?

The HF shears shown do not work (for me at least) cross panel, they do not have enough bite to make the ribs. You need to bend the metal quite a bit to get them to go through. They are however EXCELLENT at going lengthwise on the panels, better than the air shears, they have a different head on them.

Cross cuts on the ground, two people and the hand shears worked about as well as anything for me. (like doing the 45's where the panel meets the roof)

I also bought the $40 freued lifetime garunteed metal panel cutting blade and we used it for the straight cuts, if I could have rented a shear I would have in a new york second. The blade is effective and accurate but man, safety glasses and a face sheild and really good ear protection is a must.

Several people said that scribing the metal along a straight edge like a trim brake worked well, several said it was too thick and would drive you up the wall, I found the too thick and drive me up the wall (VERY short trip) to be the case.

I also have the Malco Turbo shear, and I would look for the attachment that will attach it to the drill, not use two handles, actually I would by the HF three toed shear and use it.

I never did feel that I was doing a good job shearing across the panels on an angle, and god knows I have dang near every tool sitting in my shop to cut that stuff with to include plasma and there was a bit of a hang or downfall with everything.

If you can order your sheets already exactly what you want, that is by far the best

I will have to try the boards and bailing wire deal and see how that comes out, that is one I had not heard.

Oh, and go look at the Kett website for videos of cutting panels.

Duffster · Oct 22, 2009

BX2230Dude said:
How do the shears work with corrugated metal roofing? I'm planning on building a "carport" style roof on the side of the garage to protect my 'hoe. Would the circular saw mentioned at the top of this thread be better for cross-cuts across the corrugations?

I use one of these for cross cuts.

And one of these for rips.

The shears does not work for cross cuts.