How to Cut Aluminum With Snips
Aluminum is a flexible and relatively soft metal. However, cutting shapes from sheets of aluminum (or even scrap aluminum such as cans) is much easier when using metal snips. These look like snub-nosed scissors with thick handles that require less hand-force to cut cleanly through the metal. A basic set of specialized snips, called compound or aviator snips, will prepare you to easily shape most types of sheet metal at home.
Things You'll Need
- Heavy leather work gloves
- Protective eyewear
- Sheet aluminum
- Green (left cut), red (right cut), or yellow (straight cut) handled compound aviator snips
Instructions
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1
Put on protective work gloves and eyewear before beginning to cut any metal.
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2
Choose the compound snips required for the job. If you want to make a cut that curves to the left, pick up the green-handled snips. For a right curve, choose the red-handled snips. For straight cuts, pick up the yellow-handled snips.
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Hold the snips in your dominant hand, pointing away from you. Hold the aluminum to be cut in the other hand.
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Feed the aluminum between the snip’s blades so that the blades are at a right angle to the aluminum. This ensures a clean, even cut.
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Cut using the same motion you use with scissors. Use long, even strokes, but avoid using the full length of the blades to avoid tearing the soft aluminum.
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Tips & Warnings
To cut a circular hole in the center of a piece of aluminum, it’s usually easier to poke an entry hole for your snips using a drill or an awl.
If you are cutting a large sheet of aluminum, begin your cuts on the opposite side of the metal from your dominant hand. This way, it is easier to control any curling of the metal with your non-dominant hand as you work.
Be careful. The edges of newly-cut aluminum are very sharp.
