What tool to cut corrugated Iron

I have some corrugated iron to cut to length and am wondering which options people have used. It is not a big job so whatever I use may be used again but not much if it is only for the job at hand.

I have been looking at nibblers, cutting discs on a 9" grinder, similar discs fitted to a skill saw, Metal cutting blade on the skill saw or power shears and have dismissed the jigsaw.
Blackridge Air Nibbler - Supercheap Auto

I have never used a nibbler. they look easy but I figure if they were that good surely I would see more of them in use.
I also looked at a dual saw but while they look like they are the tool for the job, are they gimmicky or even suitable?
https://www.bunnings.co.nz/ozito-125...tter_p06290499


My grinding is not flash so if I am to use cutting discs I am leaning towards the skill saw option. But how much cut will I get with a disc? I have to cut about 16 sheets so if I will use a lot of discs would it be better to pay the extra and get a diamond blade instead?

The power shears look like they would be the better idea, but they look like they are for flat metal rather than corrugated, and I would never be likely to use them again.

The nibbler looks to be the easiest.

Cheers

Nibblers make a hell of a mess, I'd go the wheel. Are you cutting against the corrogations or with them?

I just use a large pair of tinsnips, clean cut. If cutting along the iron scribe it and you can tear it along the scribe

Unless the iron is held firmly and cant vibrate expect to go through a lot of cutting discs. Tinsnips or nibbler do a good job and leave a tidy edge that wont rust but a grinder can burn the zinc back.

Gilbrow tin snips .

+1 on the gilbow snips then the nibbler

Tin snips work great. Try tearing the iron (if cutting across the corrugations) as you cut it makes the job a bit easier. You can also get specific skillsaw blades that will do the job.

A skillsaw blade in backwards works. Best if you've got an old one without tungsten tips.

Snips or a skily

Gilbow Tin snips ,if used correctly give a better edge , Kind of rolls the edges inwards . Important if edge is going to be exposed . Don't use a grinder the fine swarf that comes off them f&*ks the Iron , will rust .

nibblers are piece of cake to use....just get the one that takes 3mm section out NOT the one that cuts out little half moons that stick through bike tyres and completely shag you best pairs of crocs!!!!

I just use tin snips, might be called aviation shears or something, mine are Stanley fat max ones but a builder had some really ancient ones that worked way better, just marke a straight line, cut both ends and you can rip it, wear thick leather gloves that you don't care about though...

+1 for tin snips and ripping it with gloves

Tinsnips

I put a roof on our house a year or so ago.

Do they have to be perfectly straight edges? If they're covered ph a flashing or capping then the easiest and quickest way is to snip in a ridge or two then stand in one edge and pull the other edge up, it tears very easily but isn't perfectly straight.

Otherwise tinsnips, I've got an almost new pair of large Gilbows that you can borrow, provided I get them back. Other wise get a red and green handled pair.

I used a bubbler for a while but unless they're angled cuts then they're not needed, hard to cut straight with too.

No experience with power shears. All of the roofers I spoke to either use snips or tear it.

Do not use a angle grinder, as said above, it stuffs it.

LIke @Munsey said good pair of Gilbows will be your best bet. Gives good clean edge and saws will swarf with the hot bits wreaking your finish. @Savage1 Red and Green Avi shears and Left and Right cutting. Yellow are straight cut aviation shears.

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Originally Posted by Savage1

I put a roof on our house a year or so ago.

Do they have to be perfectly straight edges? If they're covered ph a flashing or capping then the easiest and quickest way is to snip in a ridge or two then stand in one edge and pull the other edge up, it tears very easily but isn't perfectly straight.

Otherwise tinsnips, I've got an almost new pair of large Gilbows that you can borrow, provided I get them back. Other wise get a red and green handled pair.

I used a bubbler for a while but unless they're angled cuts then they're not needed, hard to cut straight with too.

No experience with power shears. All of the roofers I spoke to either use snips or tear it.

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Hi

Thank you for the offer. Seing as so many suggest the Gilbows and looking at the hardware stores these dont seem to be expensive, I might just get a pair of those for myself. Thank you all.

Next question is where is the best value in Chch for these? And are ther any that I should avoid?

I am making a garden shed so flashing use will be minimal but its going to be a dam good shed. I will post images up when I have them of a progress in a new thread....in case anyone decides they like the idea of what I have done....

Here is an old carpenters trick for cutting corrugated iron lengthwise. Determine where the cut is to be made and make sure you turn the sheet over if required to get the cut in the bottom of a corrugation. Take a sharp cross-cut saw and hold it backwards (front of blade towards your body) and position the last tooth at the edge of the iron. Lift the front of the blade a couple of inches and hold it firmly (a bit of rag helps protect your hand), push firmly down on the top of the saw handle and drag the tooth down the full length of the corrugation. The tooth should make a deep scratch and it is important to keep it as one continuous gouge down the centre of the corrugation. Turn the sheet over and fold it back along the groove a couple of times and it will fracture neatly. Caution; the edges will be sharp! This is miles quicker and much safer than trying to use tin snips.

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Originally Posted by gundoc

Here is an old carpenters trick for cutting corrugated iron lengthwise. Determine where the cut is to be made and make sure you turn the sheet over if required to get the cut in the bottom of a corrugation. Take a sharp cross-cut saw and hold it backwards (front of blade towards your body) and position the last tooth at the edge of the iron. Lift the front of the blade a couple of inches and hold it firmly (a bit of rag helps protect your hand), push firmly down on the top of the saw handle and drag the tooth down the full length of the corrugation. The tooth should make a deep scratch and it is important to keep it as one continuous gouge down the centre of the corrugation. Turn the sheet over and fold it back along the groove a couple of times and it will fracture neatly. Caution; the edges will be sharp! This is miles quicker and much safer than trying to use tin snips.

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I will give that a try too. Thanks Gundoc. I have a few sheets I will need to rim lenghth ways...

i go ta metal guarded skilsaw and put an 8"metal cutting disc in it .iron was nailed on so just marked the cut then went for it -no wuckin furries!make sure youre wearin full protective gear though .Have used jigsaw as well but its a tad slow!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gundoc

Here is an old carpenters trick for cutting corrugated iron lengthwise. Determine where the cut is to be made and make sure you turn the sheet over if required to get the cut in the bottom of a corrugation. Take a sharp cross-cut saw and hold it backwards (front of blade towards your body) and position the last tooth at the edge of the iron. Lift the front of the blade a couple of inches and hold it firmly (a bit of rag helps protect your hand), push firmly down on the top of the saw handle and drag the tooth down the full length of the corrugation. The tooth should make a deep scratch and it is important to keep it as one continuous gouge down the centre of the corrugation. Turn the sheet over and fold it back along the groove a couple of times and it will fracture neatly. Caution; the edges will be sharp! This is miles quicker and much safer than trying to use tin snips.

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Still done today but an easier way to do it is use a Stanly knife , brake the tip off (3mm) . It's easier to hold and controll & really tears into the iron . Roofers use the battery power sheers now .

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

14'' Gilbows

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Originally Posted by 2Quack

+1 for tin snips and ripping it with gloves

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Your onto it 2quack + a boot on it for across corros easy n fast

Got a roofing mate. As Munsey said, a cutoff wheel is a big no no

Same as you use for A-cat safes.

i find this a quick method of cutting corrugated iron, takes a while to file the edges clean thoughAttachment 74886