Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
    3,718

    Default Cutting thin brass sheet

    Hi

    I have a length 200mm wide brass sheet which is .6mm thick. I need to cut the sheet down to precise sizes , 80mm x 80mm. Can't use snips as this will distort the edges. Somebody suggested scribing a deep line and then bending the line until it snaps. Maybe a thin cutoff wheel ,but I would need a accurate guide. The brass is to be etched, made into data plates for a old vehicle.

  2. #2
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    Glue it to a piece of 12 mm MDF and cut it with a high tooth count blade - negative raked teeth if you can.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Wodonga Vic
    Age
    38
    Posts
    633

    Default

    Maybe a hand nibbler if you can afford the waste material and it's a small, one off job

    https://www.justtools.com.au/kincrom...nibbler-04080/

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,439

    Default

    Hi Morrisman, Guys,

    I have an old fashioned paper guillotine that I use for thin non ferrous metal sheet. It easily cuts 1 mm alloy and I've cut 0.5 mm brass sheet with it. The frame edges ensure that I get a 90 degree cut with it. But it does curl the offcut edge somewhat.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    My opinion go with what BobL said the nibbler will not produce the edge you you want, A bench shear would be better, by far the best solution would be to find someone with a Guillotine.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Ipswich QLD
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,996

    Default

    Fine tooth scroll saw with plate stuck to timber

    Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Mallacoota,VIC,Australia
    Age
    53
    Posts
    1,010

    Default

    After seeing BaronJ's suggestion I found this on eBay https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/27436440...frcectupt=true it says it can cut 12 sheets so i would think it should be capable, obviously though it's not intended for brass. Another option https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/33413396...8AAOSwXOFhMFec but the paper guillotine is a lot cheaper though and might provide a bit more accuracy.
    All The Best steran50 Stewart

    The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at once.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,439

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by steran50 View Post
    After seeing BaronJ's suggestion I found this on eBay https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/27436440...frcectupt=true it says it can cut 12 sheets so i would think it should be capable, obviously though it's not intended for brass. Another option https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/33413396...8AAOSwXOFhMFec but the paper guillotine is a lot cheaper though and might provide a bit more accuracy.
    Hi Stewart,

    That is almost identical to mine ! I put a piece of particle board under the base glued in with EvoStik, on mine. The base is only thin pressed steel and it flexed unless you had it on a flat surface. Plus the board allowed it to be clamped down without damaging the painted surface.

    I don't use the moving guide unless I'm cutting several pieces the same width. If you ever need to sharpen the blade, only stone the narrow face.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Brisbane
    Age
    74
    Posts
    9

    Post

    I would avoid any guillotine with a shearing action, as it would curl the edges as BaronJ said in his post. A true printer's guillotine should cut the sheet without causing any distortion. These bring the knife down onto a solid but resilient block, and cut the material with a parallelogram action that ends at the bottom of the cut. I had a hand-operated one that could cut a ream (500 sheets) of A3 paper like butter, as long as the knife was sharp, but now long gone.

    If any are still in business, a local printer would probably have a powered one of these, and accurate guides that would cut your shapes in a second. Whether he would risk his newly-sharpened knife on your hard brass is a different question. SO I would agree with BobL's suggestion of mounting the brass on a carrier and cutting with a fine toothed saw. A cut done that way is easy to clean up later with fine file or emery if your sawing is not too straight.

    How will you do the pattern and the etching? I am a complete novice at that, but may have some plates to do shortly.

    Cheers

    Al

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
    3,718

    Default Thanks

    Quote Originally Posted by Alh01 View Post
    I would avoid any guillotine with a shearing action, as it would curl the edges as BaronJ said in his post. A true printer's guillotine should cut the sheet without causing any distortion. These bring the knife down onto a solid but resilient block, and cut the material with a parallelogram action that ends at the bottom of the cut. I had a hand-operated one that could cut a ream (500 sheets) of A3 paper like butter, as long as the knife was sharp, but now long gone.

    If any are still in business, a local printer would probably have a powered one of these, and accurate guides that would cut your shapes in a second. Whether he would risk his newly-sharpened knife on your hard brass is a different question. SO I would agree with BobL's suggestion of mounting the brass on a carrier and cutting with a fine toothed saw. A cut done that way is easy to clean up later with fine file or emery if your sawing is not too straight.

    How will you do the pattern and the etching? I am a complete novice at that, but may have some plates to do shortly.

    Cheers

    Al
    Yes, some kind of backing and a high count multi toothed saw is what I am leaning towards.

    This is a good write up on the etching process https://metalworkforums.com/f65/t205...ne-plates-mine

    Instead of using the expensive PnP stuff, some have had success with Silicon coated paper, apparently it is used as a backing paper for stickers.

    Some brands of laser printers work better than others , just do some experimenting. Most of the retail copy places don't like the PnP stuff because it can jam their expensive equipment.

    I was going to ask the local library but I don't think they would risk damage to their printer

    https://metalwerx.com/articles/dont-throw-out-extra-pnp

Similar Threads

  1. what rods for thin brass to brass ??
    By Mathuranatha in forum WELDING
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 23rd Nov 2020, 08:17 PM
  2. How To Best Work Thin Galvanised Sheet Met al?
    By abrogard in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 4th Aug 2020, 10:05 PM
  3. Replies: 7
    Last Post: 25th Jun 2016, 03:46 PM
  4. VICTORIA Brass Flat Bar Assorted Sizes & 1/4" SWB Threaded Rod & 260 Carbide Brass Sheet
    By thumbsucker in forum METALWORK - Machinery, Equipment, MARKET
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 18th Mar 2013, 03:36 PM
  5. Where to buy very thin sheet steel
    By springwater in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 20th Dec 2012, 07:41 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •