OT...Cutting Metal, what to use

bigdraft · Jan 17, 2014

OK, I have some projects that involve license plates. What/how would I cut them and have a relatively smooth edge? I wont mind a little grinding/sanding, but want to get the smoothest cut possible the first time around.
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Thanks guys!!!!!

Mike (WA) · Jan 17, 2014

Band saw (or hack saw) with fine tooth blade.

bigdraft · Jan 17, 2014

That's kind of what I was thinking......fine tooth blade and take it slow.

johndeere720GA · Jan 17, 2014

I have had good luck cutting thin aluminum with a carbide blade on my table saw.

Janicholson · Jan 17, 2014

The use of a metal shear is probably the least trouble. Pexto is one type. Sheet metal shops all have them. I have three in my labs at SCSU. They will cause a flattening at the point the cut crosses an embossed area, but leave no raggedness.
A heavy duty paper cutter might also work well on aluminum. Jim

Allan in NE · Jan 17, 2014

Tin snips.

Allan

gab · Jan 17, 2014

Don't know how to cut them, want to know what your going to do with them. I worked for a car dealer for 40 yrs, not sure why but started collecting plates, had a pile of them, went through them last fall and hauled over 100 lbs to the junk yard, all of them were Illinois plates and looked the same for 20 yrs. Still got a bunch of out of state plates and the plastic dealer advertisement plates that came on auction cars and dealer trades.
Was thinking about arranging them on the garage wall filling in the shape of the country, but think I'm short a few states.

60 acre hillside · Jan 17, 2014

Allan is right. Get a high quality pair like the Wiss inlaid ones like the Union Sheetmetal workers use.

Greg_Ky · Jan 17, 2014

Throatless shear.
Poke here

Dr. Walt · Jan 17, 2014

If you're wanting to cut out the letters & numbers,
drill a 1/4 inch hole and use a "Nibbler".

Steve in VA · Jan 17, 2014

Plasma cutter. Probably a new toy but never pass on a reason to get a new toy.

Pops1532 · Jan 17, 2014

Aviation snips

Jason the Red · Jan 17, 2014

Metabo with abrasive cut-off wheel.

showcrop · Jan 17, 2014

I'll third the tin snips. I have done it a few times. you can't get smoother with a saw you may need to just touch up a little with a little sharpening stone.

Geo-TH,In · Jan 17, 2014

I think my plates are aluminum. So I would use a straight edge, a utility knife, scare the aluminum, flex it and it should break off with a clean edge.

Actually I would put plate in metal brake, scare it and pull up on brake. Should get a clean edge.

Stephen Newell · Jan 17, 2014

I would be more inclined to use tin snips. Any saw would leave burs on the edges which would need to be filed or ground off.

howdy1960 · Jan 18, 2014

The throatless shear is what I was thinking too

MarkB_MI · Jan 18, 2014

If aluminum, a band saw would be my first choice. If steel, I'd probably use a die grinder with a cutoff wheel.

OT...Cutting Metal, what to use

bigdraft

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Mike (WA)

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bigdraft

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johndeere720GA

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Janicholson

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Allan in NE

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gab

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60 acre hillside

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Greg_Ky

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Dr. Walt

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Steve in VA

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Pops1532

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Jason the Red

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showcrop

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Geo-TH,In

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Stephen Newell

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howdy1960

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MarkB_MI

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