what gauge sheet metal? **** UPDATE***

[ValiantOne]

What gauge sheet metal are our cars made out of?

Got a set of electric sheet metal shears from Harbor Freight that are supposed to cut to 14 Ga. They worked great! For the first 18 inches

Then the anvil broke.

Thanks for any info.

Chris

[sunsetdart]

Most cars today are 20 gauge, older ones like the older muscle cars are 18. You're lucky you got that far trying to cut 14 ga. Most shears today I've seen cut up to 18ga. 14 gauge is pretty thick to cut even if they say it will., especially one from Harbor freight, they are made in China.

[ValiantOne]

I was cutting on a 74 duster fender, so I guess it was 18 ga. I was just trying to get a feel for the tool.

I exchanged it this morning. Sure hope this one lasts more than 18". That was a joke.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

[loiq]

I believe the unibody frame rails are 14 gauge.

[ValiantOne]

Replaced the shears at Harbor Frieght and tried 'em out last night.


This time they cut about 2.5 feet before breaking in the same place the first set did 

What the heck should I buy to cut this stuff that will last???

[doug 371]

sawsall

[sunsetdart]

Try using a wizzer(cutoff) wheel, use a piece of tape to make a line you can follow.

[ValiantOne]

Going to try the sawzall.

I have a whizzer wheel, but my compressor is only about 20 gal or so. Poor compressor gets HOT when I try and run that wheel for a long time.

Thanks guys.

C

[crvtec90]

4 some reason my boss had one in his tool box. it is a blue point sold by snap-on. works off of compressed air. its called a sheet metal nibbler. it is awesome. cuts through like butter. it cuts a much wider gap than a cut off wheel. i bought a bunch of cut off wheels from harbor freight and they dont last very long either.

[farmington]

Nibbler is definitely the way to go. 

[signet]

for chomping through old undercoated/rusty stuff,abrasive wheels or air chisles and reciprocating blades.

for clean material even a good set of Wiss hand tools will do 18 gauge mild steel.

but i think the undercoating ect. is the problem you are running into.

[eldubb440]

plasma cutter 

[jamesdart]

i dont like to shoot sparks inside my garage but my favorite cutoff tool is a 4 1/2" grinder with a cutoff wheel. i also have a set of IR shears, they work pretty good. im not a big horrible frieght fan.

[75Dart440]

plasma cutter 

   also my cutting tool of choice as well.

For more precise cuts I use the cutoff wheels with the 1/16" thick discs.

[loiq]

Plasma cutter is pretty dang nice.

[fourspeed]

A brand name sheet metal shears will last long enough that they get dull. IR makes an air-powered one. Dewalt, Milwaukee, and others make electric ones.

I would NOT get a shear though. Shears only cut straight lines, and they tend to screw up the edge by slightly bending the edge over.

I would get a nibbler. Those are also either air or electric. They're available from Milwaukee, Bosch, Makita, etc. Don't buy that "Chicago Electric" stuff if you want it to last. The guys who made that stuff can't even pronounce "Chicago". A nibbler will let you cut circular shapes.

[Ryan (Strange246)]

I prefer an air-powered body saw, like a sawzall but alot more precise...I went through a couple really cheap ones then bought an Ingersoll Rand and it's the sh!t!

Ryan