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bobkyllo 
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Location: minnesota
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 Topic: Cutting pole shed metal
Posted: 17 May 2024 at 1:44am |
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I bought a 30x120 pole shed last summer. This summer i want to fix it up a bit. The last owner poked holes in the walls with a fork lift. All the holes are 3 foot and below.
My idea is to cut a straight line and create a wainscoting look.
My question is how to cut the steel. A backwards blade in a circle saw is the cheapest but I think there must be a safer and nicer way to do it.
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KMAG
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Joined: 26 May 2020
Location: Elizabethtown,
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Posted: 17 May 2024 at 5:34am |
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Angle grinder with a metal cut disc works well for this task. A plasma cutter also works, but leaves a small ridge at the cut you may want to grind flat depending on how the new lower section is attached.
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WF owner
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Location: Bombay NY
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Posted: 17 May 2024 at 5:43am |
When I was building my garage, a neighbor brought over a rotary cutter for me to use. After using it, I never wanted to cut steel with a backward saw blade again!
The one he loaned me was not an attachment (like the link below). His was a tool designed as a rotary cutter, but I didn't find one in my search. Here is an inexpensive alternative.
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KMAG
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Posted: 17 May 2024 at 6:55am |
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The above drill attachment and electric shears work well on flat stock, not so much on stock with folds/bends.
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plummerscarin
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Posted: 17 May 2024 at 7:35am |
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I used a 120 tooth carbide blade in my circular saw in the forward position. In this case I was installing new metal so it was laid flat finish side down so I could cut on the flat side. Safety glasses and hearing protection an absolute must
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WF owner
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Posted: 17 May 2024 at 7:53am |
 KMAG wrote:
The above drill attachment and electric shears work well on flat stock, not so much on stock with folds/bends. |
I used it on regular steel panels (used for roof and siding) and it worked well. It is easier to use on flats. On my steel siding, I had many cuts around windows and doors. In my opinion, it beats a circular saw, hands down.
Another option is a metal cutting saw blade. They make them for jigsaws, reciprocating saws and circular saws.
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KJCHRIS
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Location: WC Iowa
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Posted: 17 May 2024 at 7:56am |
Milwaukee Tools makes a circular saw especially built to cut metal. I'm sure other companies offer them. The Morton Bldg crew had 1 when they built my bldg. Although I did notice that just 1 of the crew did all of the cutting. So maybe not as easy as he made it look.
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Thad in AR.
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Posted: 17 May 2024 at 8:06am |
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4.5” grinder with metal cutting blade is all we use anymore.
Not an abrasive blade but a metal cutting blade.
We e built many buildings with just one or two blades.
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8070nc
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Joined: 21 Mar 2019
Location: North Carolina
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Posted: 17 May 2024 at 5:41pm |
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If I remember correctly the last I cut was with a diamond concrete blade on a circular saw. To me its easier to control and safer than a angle grinder. Not that im a safety wimp i just dont enjoy accidents as much as I used to
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DMiller
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Posted: 17 May 2024 at 5:44pm |
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Are Several Cold Cut metal Saws, I own one of the noted Milwaukee. Does NOT throw Sparks as severely as a Cutoff wheel or plasma cutter, less chance to set fire to the building structure and is how the contractor built my Shop and Barn.
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BuckSkin
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Location: Poor Farm
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Posted: 17 May 2024 at 6:02pm |
If the metal is already attached and well supported as in the stringers being 2-foot instead of 10-foot apart --- you guys are gonna laugh --- but you will be surprised at how well this works --- take one of those old GOOD butcher-knives --- like an Old Hickory or Case --- get the knife started on the cut line by shoving it through the metal like it was an enemy --- now, holding the knife handle in one hand and your favorite hammer in the other, hammer the back side of the blade and guide the knife in the proper direction by how much or little you twist the handle.
This is far easier and quicker than it sounds and you can even follow curves if necessary.
The cut edge will be clean.
Just don't cut through any wires.
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TramwayGuy
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Posted: 17 May 2024 at 6:16pm |
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bigal121892
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Posted: 17 May 2024 at 6:45pm |
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I have both a Milwaukee metal cutting saw, and an 18 gauge shear, both are very easy to use. With the metal saw, would recommend wearing throw away coveralls.
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BuckSkin
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Location: Poor Farm
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Posted: 17 May 2024 at 7:58pm |
Also super-fast, easy to control, can go straight or make intricate turns, I have one of those pneumatic Harbor Freight sheet-metal "nibblers" = wonderful for dealing with metal roofing/siding.
The only drawback is that it makes a 3/8" kerf; if one is hoping to use the cut-off piece, it is going to be 3/8" shorter than it was when you started.
It rapidly cuts millions of tiny C-shaped bits of metal as it nibbles it's way along.
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AveryD12
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Posted: 18 May 2024 at 7:42am |
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Nibblers as BuckSkin described works best for cutting across the corrugations. I have also used a blade for my “skilsaw” made specifically for cutting metal. If the metal is already installed and you plan to cut it in place, I would go with the nibblers
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bobkyllo
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Posted: 19 May 2024 at 3:28am |
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Thank you guys for all your thoughts. I have a nibblers and it was the worst tool for this I felt. It was hard to keep straight and I struggled to get it to follow the terrain.
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jaybmiller
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Posted: 19 May 2024 at 6:49am |
to keep it straight, screw a straight 2by4 or 1by4 on to use as a 'guide'. just be sure to mount it on the lower side( what you cut off). the cuts will be faster and 'laser level'.....
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 19 May 2024 at 8:42am |
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seems like a small 4.5 inch hand grinder with a steel cutting blade is the cheapest and fastest sollution.
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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WF owner
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Posted: 19 May 2024 at 2:58pm |
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The only thing I will recommend is using safety equipment whatever you end up using. Most of the saws throw out all kinds of metal shrapnel. Hearing protection is also recommended if using a circular saw.
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Dakota Dave
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Posted: 21 May 2024 at 7:51am |
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I cut out the windows in my shop used a dual saw cuts wonderful easy to guide and makes a nice clean cut. When I built the shop windows were back ordered so I framed but just #heeted over to get the building closed in had the windows for a year before putting them in was dreading cutting already installed new wall. Got a dual saw from Menards many years ago when working on a boats. Rembered how nice a jod it did on the boat so I tried on steel wall. Worked great. Even the part I had to do on ladder.
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GSTROM99
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Posted: 21 May 2024 at 2:03pm |
+1 on the "shear"... Cutoff wheel/grinders work good, but are loud and produce sparks.
Edited by GSTROM99 - 21 May 2024 at 2:05pm
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Tracy Martin TN
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Posted: 22 May 2024 at 6:16pm |
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Jay gave advice. Mount a guide on the wall to be cut. Fix it where the saw can't damage the good part of panel. Time well spent. HTH Tracy
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