Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [metal-cutting]

84 questions
19
votes
5 answers

How do I optimally cut a bolt to length?

Once in a while I need a bolt of exactly the right length and it is not one of the lengths available in stores. So I get a longer bolt and cut it to length. Here's the procedure I follow. I screw one or several nuts onto the bolt so that they are…
sharptooth
  • 9,497
  • 19
  • 61
  • 85
12
votes
5 answers

What tool should I use to cut metal roofing?

I'm getting ready to install metal roofing on my building project. Wee! But I'm not sure how I should cut it. The roof is a simple gable, 20ft long, with 8ft rafters. The roofing I'm using is 3ft wide, and length is in 1ft increments. I'll need to…
Jay Bazuzi
  • 11,658
  • 32
  • 94
  • 143
11
votes
2 answers

Why is it so difficult to cut through cast iron?

Recently, I was observing someone cut through a cast iron pipe and a cast iron radiator and even using a very powerful reciprocating saw, the cut was very slow. I have also previously had discussions with contractors who have also said that cutting…
Ian Turner
  • 1,052
  • 2
  • 10
  • 16
11
votes
6 answers

How to cut pipe squarely using an angle grinder

I am trying to build a simple bench using wood and steel for the frame. The frame is made of square steel tube (25 mm, 1.5 mm wall thickness) which has to be cut to length. I have recently purchased an angle grinder (meaning I am a complete beginner…
Andrew Doble
  • 113
  • 1
  • 1
  • 5
9
votes
9 answers

How can I cut off the rusted closet bolts holding my toilet?

I need to change the wax ring on my toilet. The closet bolts that hold it in place are rusted so I need to cut them in order to remove the nuts. I thought of trying bolt cutters. The bolt cutters I have are, I believe, 24 inches, but they are too…
Mowzer
  • 325
  • 2
  • 6
  • 16
8
votes
4 answers

Best tool & method for cutting steel tubes (table legs)?

I have a table that I want to cut the hollow steel legs down to coffee table height. These are the table legs I have: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70217973/ What's the best tool and method to do this simply? A hack saw? Some special…
danlatorre
  • 81
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
6
votes
6 answers

Can/Should I use an angle grinder with a blade for metals on PVC coated metal?

I have a large door frame that I want to break into smaller pieces so I can fit it into my car and take it to the dump. The frame is PVC, but has steel on the inside. I've been trying to avoid an angle grinder because of everything I've been reading…
Ratler
  • 241
  • 4
  • 7
6
votes
6 answers

How can I shorten a reciprocating saw blade?

This rather dated article recommends using a shortened reciprocating saw blade to punch through drywall. I have an old blade (intended to be used to cut wood, as far as I can tell) that I'm happy to cut short for this purpose, but the page's…
intuited
  • 355
  • 1
  • 2
  • 10
6
votes
3 answers

How do I get this rusted screw out?

Possible Duplicate: How can I remove a really stuck screw? I have to return my license plates to DMV by Friday (they expire!), and am finding it next-to-impossible to get them off my car! First I tried unscrewing them with a solid/thick flathead…
bfodder
  • 571
  • 6
  • 11
  • 19
6
votes
2 answers

Where can I purchase a block of aluminium?

I'm need a 5" x 5" x 1" block of aluminium. Is this something I can buy online and are there different types of aluminum to consider? Will I have to buy a bigger piece and cut the aluminum down to my specific size? I need a solid base that I can…
trying_hal9000
  • 331
  • 2
  • 3
  • 7
5
votes
2 answers

What is the best way to cut metal siding for soffit vents accurately?

I need to add a bunch of soffit vents to my eves, and I have (decorative?) metal siding such as in the picture. I need to do this quickly in the next few weeks before winter. What's the best way to make these metal cuts accurately and screen the…
Stay-at-home-dad
  • 717
  • 1
  • 9
  • 19
5
votes
6 answers

Cutting structural steel

I have a few 8-9m lengths of 200x100 rectangular hollow section (5mm) and 150x150 equal angle (10mm) sitting outside. These are to be used to maintain the strength of a brick wall which is having openings cut in it. (The steel has been specified by…
jbg
  • 339
  • 1
  • 5
  • 10
5
votes
3 answers

Can a freestanding pool's poles be cut to accommodate sloped concrete?

We have a "Bestway 24' x 12' x 52" Power Steel Frame Above Ground Rectangular Swimming Pool". We placed it on a slab and it is slanted away from the house. Can the pool's poles be cut to level the pool out?
Elizabeth Christmankolari
  • 51
  • 1
  • 2
5
votes
4 answers

What's the best way to cut a circular porthole window into the sheet metal of a van?

I want to cut a 12" diameter circle into the side of my van to install a window. My current plan is cut it by taking a sufficiently sized drill bit, drilling a hole near the inside edge of the circle, and using a jigsaw to cut the rest with a fine…
ijustlovemath
  • 153
  • 3
5
votes
1 answer

Which cutting style aviation snips do I choose if I have to choose just one?

Aviation shears (aka compound-action snips or tin snips) come in three cutting styles - straight cutting, left cutting and right cutting. I plan to work with roofing corrugated steel and have no idea in advance what cuts exactly I'll have to do.…
sharptooth
  • 9,497
  • 19
  • 61
  • 85
1
2 3 4 5 6