Things to Know Before Cutting Metal

At home, you won't often encounter a situation where you need to cut metal, but there are some DIY projects that will expose you to this obstacle, and you need to know what to expect. Regardless of the project, the tools and materials used to cut metal can themselves pose a significant safety risk. To ensure your project is safe and successful, keep these helpful tips from GOODKLIFE, suggestions and reminders in mind.

When cutting metal, you should wear gloves to protect your hands from possible vibration and excessive friction. You should also wear safety glasses to protect your eyes while providing a clear view, and a mask to prevent any stray fibers from being blown around. A simple set of ear plugs will keep you safe from hearing damage.

Steel wire rod cutting blade

In order to adequately cut the material you want and avoid exposing yourself to chips, nicks and other dangerous breaks that can cause metal fragments to fly across your workstation, it is important to choose the right cutting blade.
Cutting and grinding wheels are specified for ferrous or non-ferrous metals. Ferrous metal blades are ideal for cutting ferrous metals such as stainless steel or cast iron. When cutting softer metals, such as aluminum or copper, choose a non-ferrous blade.
For best results, use diamond blades that cut the type of metal you are working with. Their superior strength and hardness will help you make neater cuts, and your blades will last longer.

Each type of metal requires a slightly different technique to ensure that the material is held in place and adequately supported, but there is a basic formula you must follow to get the results you need.
Before you begin, determine the type of blade and type of tool you will be using. Choose ferrous or non-ferrous blades based on your metal, and the right tool for the type and size of metal you are using.

While row saw is at the top of almost every category, there are some limitations to its use. The first is price, and the second is portability. It's easy to cut metal pipe or other long, narrow metal pieces with a cut-off saw, but if you're working with sheet metal, you'll have a hard time trying to run the entire width of the metal through a stationary cut-off saw. This is where an angle grinder comes into play.
Angle grinders are cheaper and more portable than cut-off saws. They can be easily held in the hand and are especially effective when they are used to cut small, precise pieces out of larger materials.

A manual method of cutting metal may be better. The best manual metal cutting tools you will find are tin snips (for sheet metal) and hacksaws.
Tin snips are similar to scissors and work in much the same way. They are durable, inexpensive and easy to use.
Hacksaws are great for getting into tight spaces, cutting metal at odd angles, and working with existing materials that won't fit on your workbench.

Contact our experts today to buy the blades you need!