DME72 Posted February 10, 2020 Report Share Posted February 10, 2020 does anyone on here use copper or aluminum sheet for earrings and small ornaments? i have made some metal earrings with both metals. glued between 1/8 baltic birch plywood. cuts pretty good. my problem is cutting down the sheets from hobby lobby. it is like 26 gauge copper about .018 thick. i have a good set of aviation snips, but the thin copper and aluminum bends to easy. thinking about getting a small shear but the reviews are all over the place unless you spend $800 or more. does anybody on here use a shear to cut copper aluminum or brass for that matter? doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted February 10, 2020 Report Share Posted February 10, 2020 Use an exacto knife. I use a utility knife many times and even bought some carbide blades for it and works great. Many times just scoring it will snap it. I cut brass much thicker than that on my scrollsaw but I make sure to use a backer on it because it will scratch the table. I have some copper lightning bolts sandwiched between a couple pieces of BB right now that I want for a pen project and it is about that thin. Should be easy to cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jollyred Posted February 10, 2020 Report Share Posted February 10, 2020 I have used scissors to cut aluminum sheet that thickness and have had good results. Might try that before spending on a metal shear. Why not cut the sheets to size on your scroll saw? Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockytime Posted February 10, 2020 Report Share Posted February 10, 2020 I also have used household scissors many times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rash_powder Posted February 10, 2020 Report Share Posted February 10, 2020 I'm not sure how thick a soda/beer can aluminum is, but a regular scissor will cut that fine all day long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DME72 Posted February 11, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 soda cans are very thin. the metal i am using is 26 gauge .018 thickness. some might be 24 gauge. i have tried a good pair of scissors, to thick to cut. thinking about picking up an old school paper cutter, the heavy duty ones that worked. may try and cut with that and see if i get good results. doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 http://www.whimsie.com/metalcrafttools.html#anchor1270336 I have bought alot of metals from here. They show what tools will work. I think you are wasting your time with a guillotine cutter like that. It will roll the metal. I could not even cut abalone strips with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadBob Posted February 11, 2020 Report Share Posted February 11, 2020 Sheet Metal Shears for Thin Metal Foils: are Harbor Freight Scissors. https://www.harborfreight.com/multipurpose-scissors-47877.html?_br_psugg_q=scissors These are great and cheap. I have a lot of them. They cut very well and hold there edge well. The plastic parts will sometimes break or chip off. I have never had them break, but I have lost a few. Wilson142 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DME72 Posted February 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2020 the harbor freight scissors dont work. i already tried them.really been looking on amazon because i have alot of gift cards.the kaka industrial 8 inch 3 in 1 machine has pretty good reviews. one by a guy that cuts 16-18 gauge copper for jewelry work. the copper i cut is 26 gauge, about the same for the aluminum. i may just get one to try it out. doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted February 15, 2020 Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 3 hours ago, DME72 said: the harbor freight scissors dont work. i already tried them.really been looking on amazon because i have alot of gift cards.the kaka industrial 8 inch 3 in 1 machine has pretty good reviews. one by a guy that cuts 16-18 gauge copper for jewelry work. the copper i cut is 26 gauge, about the same for the aluminum. i may just get one to try it out. doug Post a link to what you are looking at. Curious to see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DME72 Posted February 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 JT i do not know how to post a link. i would have to have my wife or kids do that. just look at amazon.com type kaka industrial. it is a 8 inch 3 in 1 machine sells for $269 the one guy reviewing it cuts like 16-18 gauge copper with it. let me know what you think doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wichman Posted February 15, 2020 Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 So... as an introduction I have been working at an art publishing business for 25 years. For 20 of those years we have used a laser to engrave our brass title plates in house. We use a laminated brass product that is designed to be lased. The product comes in 12 x 20 inch sheets and we have to size it down with a small hand shear (12" capacity): this one metal shear This not the same as a paper shear, the angle on the metal shear blades is far blunter than the steep angle of a paper shear. I've had both styles of blades for this shear and the difference is staggering. This shear has cut many many thousands of plates, yes it shows wear now but its been a tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DME72 Posted February 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 wichman, how hard is it to cut with that shear? i have also looked at those online. accucutter also sells a shear like that. i will not use everyday but i like good tools for my shop. i dont really have a use right now for a slip roll or brake. would only buy one for the shear. new hermes used to make a shear for cutting brass stock, but have not found one close to me.i am really wanting to know how much effort it takes to shear with that style cutter that wichman uses. doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wichman Posted February 15, 2020 Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 It cuts pretty easy, I've spent hours sizing down blanks for title plates without any soreness or blisters or... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted February 15, 2020 Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 I guess you are talking about a shear/brake like this. Seems overkill to me but will cut sheet metals for sure. https://www.amazon.com/KAKA-Mini-Shear-Brake-Combination/dp/B015R8IUPQ/ref=sr_1_12?keywords=kaka+industrial&qid=1581743551&sr=8-12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DME72 Posted February 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 not that one JT. the one that is $269 the 3 in 1 machine.. shear brake and roll combo machine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTTHECLOCKMAN Posted February 15, 2020 Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 25 minutes ago, DME72 said: not that one JT. the one that is $269 the 3 in 1 machine.. shear brake and roll combo machine. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015PBBXNG/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B015PBBXNG&pd_rd_w=e86Fj&pf_rd_p=45a72588-80f7-4414-9851-786f6c16d42b&pd_rd_wg=BIZ7k&pf_rd_r=Y8J3GRMPYYNJSV1PV6QH&pd_rd_r=c06cbeea-8c64-49df-aa58-da82e6a7399b&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyV1I3TkdOQjBZUEFEJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDA1NjExM0pFSE1WNEZXTFoxViZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDI1OTM0MVJYMUVPRzQwVTFUTSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DME72 Posted February 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted February 15, 2020 that is the one JT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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