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When constructing a roof made of corrugated board having a complex shape, or when arranging abutments, as a rule, it becomes necessary to cut the roofing material. The quality of processing: the original geometry of the profiled sheet and the preservation of the protective coating depend on the tool used.
Everyone who is going to cut out corrugated board is interested in how not to lose the consumer qualities of the processed products. To do this, first of all, you need to choose the right way to cut the corrugated board. The error can threaten, at the very least, with uneven cut edges. And if this can somehow be dealt with, then burnt-out zinc and polymer coating, as a result of overheating of the metal during the cutting process, is another matter.
A tool for cutting corrugated board must meet certain requirements: do not contain abrasive substances, for example, a grinder, or do not use high temperatures in the process of cutting corrugated board, such as an autogen.
Manufacturers of a metal profile do not extend their warranty to cases when the profile sheet was cut with the wrong tool, for example, if a grinder with a diamond or abrasive disc was used.
Features of cutting steel profiled decking
In fact, a metal profile is nothing more than a galvanized metal sheet, most often with a special coating, which has a special profile. The difficulty of choosing how to cut the profile is due precisely to the presence of a protective layer, which must remain intact when cutting the profiled sheet with your own hands.
The polymer layer is not heat-resistant and therefore subject to thermal effects. Therefore, when choosing a cutting option, preference should be given to cold methods.
In addition, it will be necessary to treat the cut points with compositions that will ensure their moisture resistance and resistance to corrosion. Usually, a special factory dye is supplied with the material, which is used to paint over the edges left after cutting.
On a note
Even when processing the sections with ordinary paint, you can achieve the proper degree of protection of the sheet from corrosion and various natural factors.
How to cut a metal profile
Let's highlight possible options, how and how to cut a metal profile: use
- power tool;
- hand tools;
- machine tool equipment.
Hacksaw
The safest cutting option, which preserves the integrity of the decorative and protective layer, is the use of a conventional hacksaw for metal due to the absence of thermal effects in this case. In addition, working with a hacksaw does not take much time, since corrugated sheets do not offer much resistance to cutting, and cutting does not require significant effort.
The main disadvantage of this method is the impossibility of using it when cutting complex shapes. A hacksaw is not suitable for processing sheets with a wave height exceeding 25 mm. Moreover, deep cuts cannot be made with this tool. Working with it requires a special table or support surface.
On a note
For cutting curvilinear complex shapes, a jigsaw (electric or manual) is more suitable.
Can I use a grinder
Manufacturers strictly do not recommend processing profiled sheets with a grinder, better known in everyday life as a grinder. However, in practice, cutting with this tool is quite possible. Following certain rules, you can fully appreciate the obvious advantages of this method.It is important to understand that problems with this tool arise when using abrasive (diamond) discs and at high cutting speeds. Therefore, the negative consequences of material processing can be avoided if you work when cutting corrugated board with special disks with hard alloy teeth, which are located along the edge of the circle, and choose the right speed. These discs are quite thin, their thickness ranges from 1 mm to 1.6.
The use of a grinding machine can significantly increase the speed of installation, especially since the sheets can be cut at once in 10 pieces. True, some skills are required to cut a bundle. This cutting method allows you to obtain the desired geometric configuration, including an arc with a specific radius.
Let's note some features of working with a grinder:
- when cutting, the sheet is placed on pads, placing them at a certain distance from the surface of the earth or the table where the cut is made. Otherwise, the disk will "cling" to it and either a cloud of dust will rise or the desktop will deteriorate;
- if a small grinder is used to cut corrugated board with deep grooves, then it will not work to cut the sheet to the end - it will have to be turned over to the other side. Therefore, when choosing a grinder, one should take into account what the maximum diameter of the disc should be in order to complete the cutting of the sheet installed on the pads in one pass.
Shears for corrugated board
If you are looking for how to cut corrugated board, if you need to cut thin strips, then you need special scissors. The edges of the tool are perfectly sharpened, which allows cutting the sheet across the wave.
Cutting the material along is hampered by the structural features of the metal profile, its greatest flexibility in the longitudinal direction.
Shears for cutting corrugated board allow you to easily cut the material without damaging the protective coating. When using them, an uneven cut may remain, which, when installing the roof, will overlap the adjacent profiled sheet.
Hand scissors
They are used when curly cutting of a profiled sheet is necessary, or the amount of work to be done is small. This tool, which is also inexpensive, allows the formation of complex roofing elements. Manual scissors of different models differ in such parameters as
- length of cutting edges;
- blade configuration - it can be straight or beveled;
- design, say, the presence of a fixing mechanism and more.
During cutting, the material is placed on a platform, which is collected from the bars. Their number should provide. The distance from the floor (ground) surface to the platform should be sufficient so as not to interfere with the movement of the scissors.
To begin with, make a basting cut and check how deformed the edges of the sheet are.
Only after that the final processing of the corrugated board is started.
Nibblers
For greater cutting accuracy, a nibbler is used. They work like an office punch, punching pin holes with a small diameter. In the process of working with this tool, the metal profile is kept suspended. The working head of the tool is inserted into the hole, it is pre-formed using a drill. The metal is punched through with a punch. To set it in motion, a simple push on the handle is enough. After the formation of each hole, the working part of the scissors continues to move progressively in the direction of the cut.
Profiled sheeting as a reliable building material is actively interested in these days, not in vain, because it has high technical characteristics. However, when working with it, a reasonable question arises: "How to cut the corrugated board?"
Despite its visual identity with tin-type materials (the sheet is very similar in appearance to corrugated tin), the material has a number of fundamental differences:
- it has a special type of profile;
- the presence of a special coating that reliably protects the material from corrosion.
It is the protective layer that determines the features of working with it. Possessing sufficient resistance to high humidity, the covering layer is not adapted to the effect of high temperature conditions on it, burning, being subject to fading, deteriorating under the influence of high temperature. It is fundamentally important to be extremely careful about working with profiled flooring, choosing the right equipment and tools correctly.
Cutting the profiled sheet
Cutting corrugated board involves several methods. The choice of the optimal one depends on how efficiently and quickly it is necessary to cut, what is the total amount of material that needs to be cut. High quality and the required performance in a short time is achieved if the sheets are cut using automated methods.
Among the cutting tools required to start work:
- electric shears;
- Bulgarian.
If the amount of work involves little use of material, then the process can be carried out manually. You can use the following tool:
- roofing scissors;
- jigsaw;
- hacksaw.
Features of work with various hand tools
Using a hacksaw for metal
Speaking about the tools with which you can do manual cutting, a hacksaw for metal should be noted. With this tool, you can quite accurately, you can quickly engage in cutting along the corrugated board, without making significant physical efforts. It is more expedient to cut this blade using a hacksaw on a surface specially designated for this. A straight-line cut of the material is more efficient.
Tools for cutting profiled sheets
Application of hand-held circular saw
A good alternative is to use a hand-held circular saw to cut. Practice suggests that it is more competent to use not an abrasive disc, but a disc for cutting corrugated board on aluminum, since it is more effective, given the presence of a reverse angle and a small step. The degree of safety provided by working with the equipment is of no small importance.
Roofing shears for cutting corrugated board
An excellent tool for cutting household flooring is a scissors of a certain technological purpose for working with tin materials, i.e. roofing scissors. They are always at hand with specialists engaged in this kind of activity.
Using manual nibbling shears
With the help of these scissors, you cut the metal of the corrugated board, without bending it, at the same time along two parallel straight lines. Such scissors have another advantage - they allow you to make a cut that has a perpendicular bend, without leaving burrs.
Cutting on sheets of corrugated board with a jigsaw
In the event that it becomes necessary to cut metal along broken, curved lines, it is better to use a jigsaw. Using a jigsaw, you can quickly and efficiently make a cut of any complexity.
Cutting sheets with electric tools
In an improved version, the scissors or jigsaw with a special attachment can be electric. The main advantage that this equipment has over manual counterparts is a high degree of quality of the work performed, combined with the efficiency of their implementation.
Electric scissors
Electric scissors cut the corrugated board, leaving a perfect, even edge. A small drawback of scissors is that they are somewhat rough in work. Inappropriate handling can result in a sharp breakage of the cutting sheet. In the modern interpretation, electric scissors can be of several types:
Jigsaw
- cutting;
- knife;
- slotted.
Slotted electric scissors provide high cutting quality due to the presence of a special head on them. It allows you to achieve a neat, precise cut line that does not have a skew or other deformation.
Electric jigsaw
An electric jigsaw is capable of performing aerobatics, leaving behind both complex geometric shapes and an openwork ornament, only it is better for them to work with those corrugated sheets that have a wave height of less than 20 mm. When you cut the sheet, you need to make sure that the blade of the electric jigsaw does not tear it. It is more advisable to use saws for metal with a length of less than 75 mm for an electric jigsaw. The main advantage of this tool over other alternative technological equipment is the absence of a burnt metal edge. The disadvantage is the high degree of saw breakage.
Using an electric drill using special cutting attachments
Modern methods of working with profiled flooring involve the use of an electric drill, which has specially designed attachments for this. Cutting nozzles have an undoubted advantage - these elements do not create extreme heating of the metal.
The drilled holes, the cutting line along them, are sufficiently resistant to corrosion. Considering the fact that there is no coating at all in the places of the cut, the presence of zinc molecules creates a reliable barrier to the possible oxidation of the sheet. Working with an electric drill with a nozzle requires skill, and this tool is a worthy alternative to any other cutting tool.
How to cut corrugated board with a grinder
The grinder is the ideal tool for cutting corrugated board. If this cutting tool is preferred, the main thing to remember when working with it is that the use of ordinary abrasive wheels can significantly spoil the sheet's appearance. When working with a grinder with a galvanized sheet of corrugated board with a polymer protective coating, it is this layer of protection that can be damaged by the high-temperature regime of the cutting disc itself. Significant extreme heating of the metal sheet will occur directly along the cutting lines of the abrasive wheel, as a result of which the plastic coating will be damaged, zinc will burn out and other intermediate layers will begin to melt. The cut will quickly corrode, which will entail the need to self-paint it or significantly reduce its operational life. When cutting with a grinder with abrasive wheels, burn marks from falling sparks can be observed on the sheet, which also leads to the loss of the product's presentation and reduces its service life. It is quite simple to avoid damage to the material. It is necessary to replace the abrasive disc with discs for cutting profiled sheet. However, when doing this, cut with extreme caution, keeping in mind the safety rules.
As an alternative option, most manufacturers of corrugated board offer blades for cutting aluminum, however, in this option, the threat from flying sparks still remains. The most practical thing, when purchasing sheets of profiled metal, is to take care of purchasing paint in advance. It is much better if it comes with this building material. Despite the fact that all of the above methods that can be used to cut the corrugated board allow you to work in the most gentle way with this building material, it will be quite useful to play it safe and cover the cut with paint:
- it is an additional protection against moisture and other aggressive environmental factors;
- prevention of the possible appearance of corrosion;
- visual hiding of possible defects and damages.
If external defects do not scare you, you can give preference to working with discs no more than 1.5–1 mm thick. At the end of the work, paint should be applied to the place of the cut. Hiding the place of the cut from prying eyes with such elements as a ridge, an end strip, if the corrugated board is used as a roofing material, will look quite professional.
Decking has a lot of advantages, one of which is the ease of processing this material. Since the profiled sheet is lightweight and lightweight, adjustments can be made directly on the construction site. And for this you do not need to purchase a special machine for cutting corrugated board, a portable hand tool is quite enough.
But, despite the apparent simplicity, cutting corrugated board has its own characteristics. This is explained by the fact that, unlike conventional sheet metal, a profiled sheet is a layered cake made from a metal base and multilayer protective and decorative coatings.
The structure of a profiled sheet with a polymer protective and decorative coating
The destruction of protective coatings when cutting corrugated board will inevitably lead to active corrosion and significantly reduce the service life of structures made of profiled sheet. Therefore, it is very important to know how to properly cut corrugated board in order to prevent significant damage to the zinc layer and protective paint.
Is it possible to cut corrugated board with a grinder?
The greatest harm to the protective coating of the corrugated board is caused by heating to a high temperature that occurs during the cutting process. Therefore, the use of gas-cutting equipment for these purposes is completely excluded. For the same reason, you cannot cut the corrugated board with a grinder.
The fact is that when cutting with a high-speed tool with abrasive wheels, the metal in the place of the cut simply burns out. Together with it, the protective coating burns out, and not only along the cut line, but on both sides of it. The width of the damaged area, as a rule, is 3-5 mm, which leads to the occurrence of the so-called edge corrosion.
Cutting metal with a grinder - due to heat and a large number of sparks, this tool cannot be used for corrugated board
In addition, sparks flying out from under the abrasive circle are dangerous. Due to the high temperature, they can damage the polymer coating at a distance of several tens of centimeters from the incision site.
Cutting the corrugated board with a grinder is possible only in one case - if, before cutting the corrugated board, the abrasive wheel is replaced with a cutting disc for corrugated board with fine teeth. However, even in this case, it is not recommended to use this tool, since such a measure will simply reduce the amount of damage, and not remove it at all.
How to cut the profiled sheet to maximize the preservation of the protective properties of its coating?
Many builders prefer to use an electric saw with a profiled sheet cutting disc. This tool has a number of advantages:
- The rotational speed of a circular saw is almost 2 times less than that of an angle grinder, therefore, the metal of the profiled sheet does not melt under the action of the teeth of the disc for cutting the corrugated board, but is removed in the form of small sawdust.
- The ability to quickly cut a large number of sheets
- You can buy a disc for cutting corrugated board in any building supermarket, in the same departments where abrasive cutting wheels are sold.
Circular saw for cutting corrugated board - smooth cut, minimal heat and no sparks
However, be very careful when using a power tool with a rotating wheel, as metal pieces formed during cutting can cause injury. Therefore, this tool requires certain skills to work with it and is not suitable for beginners.
If you need to cut a small number of sheets, then a classic tool for cutting corrugated sheets - a hand hacksaw for metal - is perfect for you. It is extremely easy to use, allows you to make an incision of absolutely any shape and is safe even for a person with zero construction experience. Of course, it is also possible to get injured from using a hand saw - however, such an outcome is extremely unlikely compared to other tools.
But this method also has its drawbacks. The main one is the large amount of time needed to complete the work. In addition, you will need a special table for cutting corrugated board.
Another option is to use a hand or electric saw. With the help of them, the work will be done faster, however, with their help, you can cut corrugated board only in a straight line.
Unlike the previous method, cutting the profiled sheet with a jigsaw allows you to make curved cuts of any shape. This adjustment is often necessary when installing roof coverings in the places of passage through the roof of ventilation and chimneys. However, before cutting the profiled sheet with a hand or electric jigsaw, you need to carefully mark the sheet so as not to be mistaken with the dimensions of the cutouts.
The disadvantage of this method is that cutting the corrugated board with a jigsaw is possible only with a profile height of no more than 20 mm. When cutting higher profiles, the blade tears metal and often breaks.
Finally, if it is necessary to adjust the profiled sheets of small thickness, you can use the scissors to cut the corrugated board. These can be either ordinary manual shears for cutting sheet metal, or special electric shears for cutting profiled sheets.
Shears for corrugated board can be of three types - cutting, knife and slotted. The most accurate cut is obtained if you use slotted shears for the profiled sheet. They are equipped with a special head that allows you to make an accurate cut without any deformations and distortions.
Nibblers for cutting corrugated sheet - as with all other tools, a preliminary marking of the cutting line is necessary for a good result
Electric shears are very popular among professional builders. They are considered one of the most convenient tools for cutting profiled sheets.
In addition to conventional manual and electric shears, nibblers are also used. They cut the profile sheet in two parallel straight lines, which avoids bending the sheet. Before cutting the corrugated board, using a special handle, the matrix holder can be turned at an angle of 90 ° to the cutting line. This makes it possible to cut a profile that is bent at right angles without burrs.
The only drawback of these tools is their high cost and, most importantly, an extremely narrow field of application. If cutting the corrugated board is not your daily routine, then buying a die cutter or electric shears does not make sense.
Many roofers use in their work such a tool for corrugated board as drill bits. If you have certain skills and use a cordless drill, such a nozzle is very convenient for cutting and adjusting the profiled sheet in hard-to-reach places.
Tool for cutting corrugated board
As you can see, the choice of possible instruments is quite large, and each of the options is optimal for a certain situation and loses to analogs in another. Therefore, it is quite difficult to say unequivocally what is better to cut corrugated board without reference to a specific task. How to cut a profiled sheet in each individual case is decided by a specialist, taking into account the complexity of the shape of the cut, the ability to access it and his personal skills and preferences.
How to cut corrugated board with a jigsaw?
If you can't decide how to cut the corrugated board, then we advise you to choose a jigsaw if you, of course, do not have any other tools already purchased. As a rule, this is the best choice for those who decided to independently engage in the installation of roofing in the country or the construction of a fence from a profiled sheet. It is desirable that it has a laser guide.
This tool is the most versatile of what you can cut a profiled sheet without spending serious effort and the presence of special skills. In addition, it can be used for carpentry work, and in order to cut down a few dry branches in the garden.
In addition, the jigsaw is very easy to maintain and use. The speed of work is high, the probability of injury is minimal; if the file breaks, it can be easily replaced, and even a beginner can handle cutting. All these qualities make the jigsaw almost the ideal tool for this task.
If you follow all these rules, you can easily cope with cutting corrugated board yourself. And you will do it quickly and without serious harm to the cover of the sheet.
Corrosion protection of edges
Even the use of special tools for cutting corrugated board does not guarantee complete protection against damage to the covering of the corrugated board. Only in profiled sheets of galvanized steel of the 1st class of zinc coating thickness, the presence of molecules at the cut creates a barrier that prevents the oxidation of the metal.
Therefore, in order to avoid shortening the service life of the corrugated board, it is imperative to apply a special anti-corrosion mastic to the cut edges. In addition, you can also paint over these places with paint in the color of the protective coating of the profiled sheet. The fulfillment of these simple requirements will reliably protect the edges of the corrugated sheets at the fit points, ensuring the reliability of the corrugated sheet throughout its entire service life.
The need to cut corrugated board may arise when erecting a roof of a complex shape or making connections. The quality of metal processing will depend on the selected tool. It is important to maintain the original geometry of the sheet and not damage the protective layer.
When choosing a tool for cutting corrugated board, you need to take into account the planned volume of work and the availability of electricity at the facility. Hand tools will be the best choice for a small amount of work.
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1. Manual scissors for metal
They are used for curly cutting of corrugated board or for performing a small amount of work. The advantage of this tool is its low cost and the ability to form complex roofing elements. It is best to use metal scissors to cut across the corrugated board wave.
- Right or left;
- Length of cutting edges;
- Cut type - straight or beveled;
- The presence of a fixing mechanism.
For processing, the material must be placed on a platform of several bars. The distance to the floor (ground) should be greater than the travel of the scissors. First, a basting cut is made, its direction is checked and the absence of strong deformation of the sheet along the edges. Then the final processing of the corrugated board is carried out.
The average cost of metal scissors varies from 1,800 to 4,500 rubles. The price depends on the design, the configuration of the blades and the brand of the manufacturer.
2. Nibblers
A more precise cut can be made with a nibbler. Their principle of operation is based on the puncture of small diameter holes. The closest analogue is an office punch.
To work with nibbling shears, the sheet of corrugated board must be suspended. Using a drill, a hole is formed into which the working head of the scissors is inserted. Pressing the handle sets the punch in motion, which pierces the metal. After the hole is formed, the working part moves in the direction of the cut.
Characteristics of the nibbler:
- Punch dimensions;
- The maximum and minimum allowable thickness of the cutting material;
- Handle configuration.
The average cost of shears for cutting corrugated board ranges from 3,500 to 6,000 rubles.
3. Circular saw
Small hand-held circular saws are suitable for straight cuts and large jobs. There are models of various capacities on the market, with power supply from the mains, and from a rechargeable battery.
To cut the roofing corrugated board, you will need a fine-toothed disk with victorious solders. The rotation speed is set to a minimum so that the surface does not overheat.
When choosing an electric circular saw, consider:
- Electric motor power;
- The sizes of the installed disks;
- Elements for fixing the tool relative to the sheet;
- The presence of a speed regulator (not available on all models).
The price of hand-held circular saws ranges from 4,000 to 40,000 rubles.
4. Die-cutting shears
It is best to do a lot of curly and non-standard cuts on a sheet of corrugated board with die-cut electric shears. They work in the same way as the manual nibbling shears described above. The difference lies in the way the punch cutter moves. The translational movements are transmitted from the flywheel of the electric motor.
Work can be carried out both by weight and on a fixed sheet. The hole is pre-formed for the installation of the cutting unit. Then the tool is installed and turned on.
When choosing, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:
- Rated power;
- Cutting head stroke rate;
- Power type - battery or network.
The main advantages of using electric shears are high productivity and a neat cut.
The average price is from 6,000 to 58,000 rubles.
5. Drill head
To optimize costs, instead of electric shears, you can purchase a special attachment - "Cricket". With its help, you can form a complex cut.
Installation is carried out directly on the chuck of an electric drill. The order of work is similar to the above described punching tool. The Steel Beaver attachment has similar functions.
The average cost of these devices is 1400 rubles.
Why the corrugated board cannot be cut with a grinder
According to the recommendations of the manufacturers, it is impossible to process the corrugated board with an angle grinder (grinder). But this only applies to those cases where abrasive or diamond discs are used, the cut is performed at high speed.
The profiled sheet consists of a metal base, and a multilayer protective coating, which burns out when exposed to high temperatures. Because of this, the following defects may appear:
- Destruction of the protective layer- subsequently, the metal base will begin to rust;
- Loss of appearance- sparks can burn through polymer or paintwork;
- Cancellation of Warranty from the manufacturer.
In practice, it is possible to carry out work on cutting corrugated board using a grinder. But this requires a special toothed disc and a correctly selected number of revolutions. The rotation of the saw blade should remove material from the cutting area mechanically, not thermally.
The need to cut corrugated board may arise when erecting a roof of a complex shape or making connections. The quality of metal processing will depend on the selected tool. It is important to maintain the original geometry of the sheet and not damage the protective layer.
When choosing a tool for cutting corrugated board, you need to take into account the planned volume of work and the availability of electricity at the facility. Hand tools will be the best choice for a small amount of work.
1. Manual scissors for metal
They are used for curly cutting of corrugated board or for performing a small amount of work. The advantage of this tool is its low cost and the ability to form complex roofing elements. It is best to use metal scissors to cut across the corrugated board wave.
- Right or left;
- Length of cutting edges;
- Cut type - straight or beveled;
- The presence of a fixing mechanism.
For processing, the material must be placed on a platform of several bars. The distance to the floor (ground) should be greater than the travel of the scissors. First, a basting cut is made, its direction is checked and the absence of strong deformation of the sheet along the edges. Then the final processing of the corrugated board is carried out.
The average cost of metal scissors varies from 1,800 to 4,500 rubles. The price depends on the design, the configuration of the blades and the brand of the manufacturer.
2. Nibblers
A more precise cut can be made with a nibbler. Their principle of operation is based on the puncture of small diameter holes. The closest analogue is an office punch.
To work with nibbling shears, the sheet of corrugated board must be suspended. Using a drill, a hole is formed into which the working head of the scissors is inserted. Pressing the handle sets the punch in motion, which pierces the metal. After the hole is formed, the working part moves in the direction of the cut.
Characteristics of the nibbler:
- Punch dimensions;
- The maximum and minimum allowable thickness of the cutting material;
- Handle configuration.
The average cost of shears for cutting corrugated board ranges from 3,500 to 6,000 rubles.
3. Circular saw
Small hand-held circular saws are suitable for straight cuts and large jobs. There are models of various capacities on the market, with power supply from the mains, and from a rechargeable battery.
To cut the roofing corrugated board, you will need a fine-toothed disk with victorious solders. The rotation speed is set to a minimum so that the surface does not overheat.
When choosing an electric circular saw, consider:
- Electric motor power;
- The sizes of the installed disks;
- Elements for fixing the tool relative to the sheet;
- The presence of a speed regulator (not available on all models).
The price of hand-held circular saws ranges from 4,000 to 40,000 rubles.
4. Die-cutting shears
It is best to do a lot of curly and non-standard cuts on a sheet of corrugated board with die-cut electric shears. They work in the same way as the manual nibbling shears described above. The difference lies in the way the punch cutter moves. The translational movements are transmitted from the flywheel of the electric motor.
Work can be carried out both by weight and on a fixed sheet. The hole is pre-formed for the installation of the cutting unit. Then the tool is installed and turned on.
When choosing, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:
- Rated power;
- Cutting head stroke rate;
- Power type - battery or network.
The main advantages of using electric shears are high productivity and a neat cut.
The average price is from 6,000 to 58,000 rubles.
5. Drill head
To optimize costs, instead of electric shears, you can purchase a special attachment - "Cricket". With its help, you can form a complex cut.
Installation is carried out directly on the chuck of an electric drill. The order of work is similar to the above described punching tool. The Steel Beaver attachment has similar functions.
The average cost of these devices is 1400 rubles.
Why the corrugated board cannot be cut with a grinder
According to the recommendations of the manufacturers, it is impossible to process the corrugated board with an angle grinder (grinder). But this only applies to those cases where abrasive or diamond discs are used, the cut is performed at high speed.
The profiled sheet consists of a metal base, and a multilayer protective coating, which burns out when exposed to high temperatures. Because of this, the following defects may appear:
- Destruction of the protective layer- subsequently, the metal base will begin to rust;
- Loss of appearance- sparks can burn through polymer or paintwork;
- Cancellation of Warranty from the manufacturer.
In practice, it is possible to carry out work on cutting corrugated board using a grinder. But this requires a special toothed disc and a correctly selected number of revolutions. The rotation of the saw blade should remove material from the cutting area mechanically, not thermally.
The better to cut corrugated board: top 5 tools
Popular hand tool for fast cutting of corrugated board without damaging the protective coating.
How to cut corrugated board: tools for cutting a profile sheet
Profiled sheeting is a galvanized steel sheet with a profile and a polymer coating. In appearance, it resembles corrugated sheet metal, but due to the polymer coating, the cutting methods for the considered roofing material and sheet metal are not the same. In order to figure out how to cut corrugated board, which method to choose for this, you need to familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of tools designed for cutting material.
Tools for cutting corrugated board
The most common tools used for cutting corrugated board are:
- Bulgarian (angle grinder);
- hacksaw for metal;
- electric hacksaw;
- manual and electric jigsaw;
- scissors for metal;
- electric shears;
- hand-held circular saw.
Grinder or angle grinder (angle grinder)
Manufacturers of the specified roofing material do not recommend using a grinder for cutting it due to the thermal effect on the polymer coating. Nevertheless, even some dealers of corrugated board use it as the most convenient cutting tool.
When using a grinder, certain rules must be observed:
- To work with profiled sheets, you need to use a disc with carbide teeth instead of an abrasive wheel. Such discs are called so - discs for cutting corrugated board.
- The thickness of the disc should be between 1 mm and 1.6 mm.
- To avoid corrosion, the cut area is covered with a high-quality paint of the appropriate color.
When using a special blade, the cut edges are very thin and neat.
Some craftsmen, using a diamond-coated disc, cut a whole pack (10 sheets each).
Using a grinder has its own advantages and disadvantages. The advantage of using this tool is cutting speed and convenience. Its main drawback is thermal damage to the polymer and zinc coating, burning of the edges and burning of sheets by sparks flying from the grinder. In addition, hot metal particles adhering to the surface contribute to the formation of corrosion centers. Torn edges of sheets after cutting with a grinder take a long time to remove burrs. The tool makes a lot of noise during operation. The use of a special disk designed for cutting corrugated board eliminates many negative aspects of using a grinder.
Pros and cons of a hacksaw for metal
When using this tool, the profile sheet coating is subject to the least damage. The corrugated board does not provide much resistance when cutting, therefore even manual work will not take much time and effort, and the absence of thermal effects contributes to the preservation of the material coating.
Advantages of cutting corrugated board with a hacksaw for metal:
- speed;
- accuracy;
- no significant effort is required.
Cons of cutting sheets with a hacksaw for metal:
- when working with a hacksaw, even cuts are easily made, but cutting out curved shapes is impossible;
- when using a hacksaw for metal, a special cutting table is required.
Manual and electric jigsaw
A jigsaw is a tool that, unlike a hacksaw, allows you to perform curvilinear cutting of corrugated board. There is no significant difference between a conventional and an electric tool, but with the help of a jigsaw, work is done faster.
Manual and electric jigsaw are used for cutting small-length sheets of corrugated board of famous brands, the height of the corrugation of which is not more than 25 mm. Sheets can be cut up and down, while the sheet must be pressed so that it does not vibrate. The cutting of corrugated board is carried out at high speeds using the finest metal saws.
It is important to know:
To increase the cutting speed, only the reciprocating mode is not enough, it is necessary that the inclination of the saw be, as it were, longitudinal.
Disadvantages of using a jigsaw:
- the tool is not very convenient for cross-cutting sheets with a profile height of more than 25 mm;
- not suitable for cutting thin strips;
- the cutting speed is inferior to the grinder;
- when working with an electric jigsaw, the edges are burnt, but not as strong as when using a grinder;
- unpleasant noise.
Features of the use of scissors for metal
Advantages of cutting a profile sheet with metal shears:
- It is an indispensable tool for cutting thin strips.
- Provided they are well sharpened, they do an excellent job of cutting across the wave.
Disadvantages of using the tool:
- Scissors for metal poorly cut corrugated board lengthwise, since in this direction the sheets have little flexibility.
- The main disadvantage of cutting with such scissors is that the cut edges are not very straight.
Electric shears: efficient and convenient
Hand-held circular saw
Sheets of corrugated board are also cut well with a hand-held circular saw, on which a fine-toothed disk with victorious teeth is installed. For convenience and quick performance of work using circulars, you will need an assistant. The cutting feed should be minimal.
In order not to scratch the paint on the profiled sheets, a conductor is made from a strip of plywood about 1.5 m long and 300 mm wide. A groove is cut along its center along the entire strip, not reaching the ends, which will be a guide when cutting. Two points are marked on the sheet along the cut line, a jig is superimposed on them. The groove must line up with the marked points. After that, the sheet is well pressed and cutting is performed.
It is important to know:
Cutting profiled decking, which, unlike steel sheet, has a profile and an anti-corrosion coating, requires taking into account these features of the material. Because of the sensitivity of the coating to high temperatures, cold cutting methods are preferred. When choosing a tool, these conditions and restrictions must be taken into account. For example, the use of plasma cutting, welding, autogen and other similar tools does not meet the requirements for cutting corrugated board, as it is associated with exposure to high temperatures. It is also not recommended to use abrasive tools that tear off and carbonize the protective coating.
Profiled decking is an aesthetic and durable material that justifies its purpose, provided that it is correctly installed and the tool for cutting it is selected in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements.
How to cut corrugated board - the pros and cons of tools for cutting corrugated board
How to cut corrugated board: choose tools. Pros and cons of using a grinder, metal hacksaw, hand and electric jigsaw, metal scissors and
Cutting corrugated board - how to cut a corrugated sheet so as not to spoil the material
No one will argue that today corrugated board is an extremely popular (and often simply irreplaceable) material for construction and decoration. In this regard, for many novice builders, the question of how to cut corrugated board becomes very important, because, despite the acceptable cost of its sheets, damage to the covering of the profiled sheet can negate all the advantages of using this material and significantly slow down construction.
How to properly cut corrugated board, what tools are used for this and how to handle the cut in order to avoid corrosion, is described in this article.
What is the difficulty of cutting profiled sheet?
The profiled sheet is a rather thin product that is easily damaged during the cutting process. The second feature of the corrugated board is its coating with a layer of galvanized and polymer, due to which it becomes impossible to use the usual methods of cutting sheet metal sheets.
High-temperature methods of metal processing in this case are also not suitable, because the covering of the corrugated board, no matter how strong and resistant to unfavorable natural factors, it easily burns out under the influence of high temperatures. You can not cut the profiled sheet and abrasive wheels, as they severely spoil the coating, which leads to the formation of corrosion. So, what can and should be done to cut corrugated board?
Method 1. Cutting corrugated board with a grinder
Since a grinder with an abrasive wheel, as already mentioned, is not suitable for a profiled sheet due to severe damage to the coating, it is permissible to use this tool only in conjunction with special discs for cutting corrugated board, which are thin cutting wheels 1-1.6 mm thick with teeth from carbide materials.
To avoid corrosion, after cutting the profiled sheet with a grinder, you must immediately process the edges with special paints.
The advantages of cutting corrugated board with a grinder are the speed of performing all operations and the relative ease of cutting the corrugated sheet.
The disadvantages of cutting corrugated board with a grinder are torn edges and a strong, very unpleasant soundtrack. Even if you use a special disc for cutting corrugated board, the grinder, in any case, is an abrasive tool, because the hot metal particles formed during the cutting process fall on the polymer coating and burn it, creating prerequisites for the appearance of foci of corrosion.
In addition, the torn edges of the profiled sheet after cutting require additional work to remove burrs. All this makes the grinder far from the best tool for cutting corrugated board.
Method 2. Cutting the profiled sheet with a hacksaw for metal
A fairly economical, convenient and popular way of processing corrugated board is a hacksaw for metal.
The advantages of cutting corrugated board with a hacksaw are neat and fast cutting, no chipping and burrs, the ability to work independently without much physical effort. Usually, builders use a hacksaw to work with fences, gates, small roofs and other structures that require a small thickness of corrugated board.
The disadvantages of cutting corrugated board with a hacksaw for metal are the impossibility of making curved cuts and the need for a special cutting table to fix the material. Thus, in the case of performing complex cutting operations, in addition to the hacksaw, it is necessary to provide for the use of another tool. However, all the disadvantages of a hacksaw for metal are successfully covered by the advantages of this method.
Method 3. Cutting corrugated board with an electric jigsaw
The jigsaw is used for corrugated board, the height of the corrugation of which starts from 25 mm and is combined with a short length. Cutting with an electric jigsaw is done across or along the sheet, however, it is necessary to firmly press the profiled sheet so that it does not rattle.
Cutting should be done at high speeds using a fine-toothed saw specifically for metal. In the case of high speed, a reciprocating operation with a longitudinal inclination of the file is recommended.
The advantages of cutting corrugated board with a jigsaw are the low cost of work.
The disadvantages of cutting corrugated board with a jigsaw are the inconvenience of cross-cutting the corrugated sheet with corrugation from 25 mm, the practical impossibility of cutting thin strips, strong burning of the edges of the metal sheet and protective polymer coating, strong noise during operation.
Method 4. Cutting the corrugated board with scissors (conventional and electric)
Simple shears for corrugated board are used when it is necessary to carry out small works related to the installation of flooring, the construction of garages, gates and fences. Electric shears are used for a wider range of tasks, however, when an even cut edge does not matter.
How to cut corrugated board with scissors for metal, see the following video:
The advantages of both simple and electric shears for cutting corrugated board are fast, easy and high-quality cutting of thin and even strips, as well as cutting across the wave without damage.
The disadvantages of scissors for cutting profiled sheets are uneven and rough edges of the cut. In addition, the low flexibility in the longitudinal direction makes it very difficult to cut the corrugated board lengthwise.
How to bend corrugated board?
In addition to cutting, the corrugated board can be bent, which allows you to significantly expand the possibilities of creating bent products for decorating wall corners, cornices and roof ridge.
To obtain a transversely bent profile, the corrugated board must be bent at right angles to the profile direction, and if a bending industrial unit is used for this when organizing serial production, then for a small-scale production process it will be enough to purchase a simple manual bending machine.
The most common design of this tool is considered to be a rotary one with a bending beam, and if you wish, you can complete this device with any additional functions that allow you not only to bend the corrugated board, but also, for example, cut it.
Cutting corrugated board - how to cut a corrugated sheet so as not to spoil the material - Useful tips
How to properly cut corrugated board, what tools are used for this and how to handle the cut in order to avoid corrosion, is described in this article. - Helpful tips