Haynes Forums  

Go Back   Haynes Forums > Haynes Roadster Forums > General discussion
FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 18th December 2009, 07:37 PM
aerosam's Avatar
aerosam aerosam is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 466
Default Are these shears any good?

Guys, I'm thinking about starting to fabricate the ally paneling for my car and was wondering if the thses air powered shears are any good. Has anybody used them? Is there a better version out there?

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/pr...s-screwdrivers

Thanks and Merry Christmas to everyone!
__________________
Check out my Build Blog www.samsv8locost.blogspot.com

And here's all my build photo's on a picasa web album http://tinyurl.com/5tbtm46
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 18th December 2009, 07:53 PM
AshG's Avatar
AshG AshG is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Rochester
Posts: 1,882
Default

waste of time those. they just bend the ali. i did all of mine with 1mm makita ali cutting discs on the angle grinder. they are £15 a pack of 10 at screwfix which seems expensive but is actually pretty cheep as they last for ages. i only used two discs to cut every ali pannel on the car. they go through it like butter and can give a super super straight cut. you can also get round mild corners with them if you are gentle and take your time

i would assume you already have an angle grinder so £15 is pretty cheep compared to £52 for the airsheers that just wrinkle the edge of the ali
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 18th December 2009, 08:06 PM
Talonmotorsport's Avatar
Talonmotorsport Talonmotorsport is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southminster Essex
Posts: 1,323
Default

[quote=AshG;27309] i did all of mine with 1mm makita ali cutting discs on the angle grinder.

A word of warning here wear a dust mask when grinding or cutting ali as it is very hazardous to your long term health.
__________________
Website http://www.talonmotorfabrication.co.uk/

Direct email phil@talonmotorfabrication.co.uk

talonmotorfabrication@gmail.com

Mobile office hours 07514098334
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 19th December 2009, 12:51 AM
aerosam's Avatar
aerosam aerosam is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 466
Default

Well that sorts that one out then - thanks guys!
__________________
Check out my Build Blog www.samsv8locost.blogspot.com

And here's all my build photo's on a picasa web album http://tinyurl.com/5tbtm46
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 19th December 2009, 09:53 AM
TSM Locost's Avatar
TSM Locost TSM Locost is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Wisbech
Posts: 423
Default

Check out Fast tools on the bay. 20 x 115mm ( INOX ) stainless discs for £10.25 post free. Item number: 360182020111. I always use inox as they last longer and cut cleaner on ali.


Merry Christmas and good luck to all car builders
__________________
Be Lucky, Mike.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 19th December 2009, 06:48 PM
Bonzo's Avatar
Bonzo Bonzo is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 3,321
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by TSM Locost View Post
Check out Fast tools on the bay. 20 x 115mm ( INOX ) stainless discs for £10.25 post free. Item number: 360182020111. I always use inox as they last longer and cut cleaner on ali.


Merry Christmas and good luck to all car builders

Nice find was that, thanks.

Been paying nearly a quid each for those

I was down to my last one & now have some more on the way
__________________
I am not a complete idiot...........Some of the parts are missing !!
Ronnie

www.roadster-builders.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 19th December 2009, 07:55 PM
londonsean69 londonsean69 is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Surrey/South London Border
Posts: 453
Default

I once bought a pack of 100 INOX discs off the Bay. £50 inc P+P. Best bit was, they threw in a grinder!!

I cut thin ally with Aviation snips, anything thicker than 1mm I use a thin cutting disc.
__________________
Sean
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 21st December 2009, 04:04 AM
ACE HIGH ACE HIGH is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Mangawhai New Zealand
Posts: 69
Default

I have these shears myself and I find them first class,very neat cut,BUT they need a modification which is to remove the straight air connection at the bottom and replace it with a right angle air connection,this modification will make all the difference as it will allow a better "angle of attack" when cutting.Before I wrote this I thought I had better check them,they will cut 1.2 mm steel and easily cut 1mm half hard alloy sheet,they also cut hard alloy 1.6 mm diameter OK.
they need a big compressor say 12/15 cu feet at around 100 psi though.
For 1 mm alloy a good quality pair of hand shears will do it ok but at 1.6 mm hard alloy its tough going,not as neat as the air shears.
The best tool that I have found for cutting alloy is a Black and Decker carpet cutter,DN 250 electro 8,it does a first class job on 1 mm alloy,the specs say it cuts 1.2 mm alloy max,mine cut 1.6 mm hard alloy easily and neatly but I would not recommend it.It has a variable speed "wheel and flat plate"and it is highly neat and accurate.No matter what method you use for alloy you will need to tidy up the edges with a flat head panel beaters hammer and a smooth file{razor sharp edges}
I have no idea if this carpet cutter is still available(does a great job on carpets also!).
Makita and Hitachi and others probably have plate nibblers at 1.6 mm steel,I have a 3.2 mm version but they are not cheap tools.
Grinding/cutting alloy with discs in my view is dirty,dangerous, inaccurate sloppy workmanship,the edges need truing up and the alloy will heat and anneal and wrinkle.
David
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 21st December 2009, 05:08 AM
aerosam's Avatar
aerosam aerosam is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Wales, UK
Posts: 466
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ACE HIGH View Post
I have these shears myself and I find them first class,very neat cut,BUT they need a modification which is to remove the straight air connection at the bottom and replace it with a right angle air connection,this modification will make all the difference as it will allow a better "angle of attack" when cutting.Before I wrote this I thought I had better check them,they will cut 1.2 mm steel and easily cut 1mm half hard alloy sheet,they also cut hard alloy 1.6 mm diameter OK.
they need a big compressor say 12/15 cu feet at around 100 psi though.
For 1 mm alloy a good quality pair of hand shears will do it ok but at 1.6 mm hard alloy its tough going,not as neat as the air shears.
The best tool that I have found for cutting alloy is a Black and Decker carpet cutter,DN 250 electro 8,it does a first class job on 1 mm alloy,the specs say it cuts 1.2 mm alloy max,mine cut 1.6 mm hard alloy easily and neatly but I would not recommend it.It has a variable speed "wheel and flat plate"and it is highly neat and accurate.No matter what method you use for alloy you will need to tidy up the edges with a flat head panel beaters hammer and a smooth file{razor sharp edges}
I have no idea if this carpet cutter is still available(does a great job on carpets also!).
Makita and Hitachi and others probably have plate nibblers at 1.6 mm steel,I have a 3.2 mm version but they are not cheap tools.
Grinding/cutting alloy with discs in my view is dirty,dangerous, inaccurate sloppy workmanship,the edges need truing up and the alloy will heat and anneal and wrinkle.
David
Thanks ACE HIGH, I have ordered some of those cutting discs frome ebay that TSM suggested as they are the "locost" option. I have been a little concerned as I have always been trained that cutting ally with a solid disc is asking for trouble as the ally may clog the disc, expand and cause it to break - causing injury. However the guys here seem to be using them with no trouble. If they don't work, £10 isn't a big layout and I can always cut other things with them.

I would prefer a proper powered shears as i think it may be easier to cut straight lines with them. For the record I havent tried either method on sheet material yet. I'm hoping to use a big guillotine in work for the large pieces like the bonnet, rear panel etc. However after seeing AshG's work in CKC magazine I don't think I'd call it sloppy workmanship, and I'm not sure CKC would publish a work method that's unsafe.

I can't seem to find the carpet cutters you mention, do you have a link?

Thanks!

Sam
__________________
Check out my Build Blog www.samsv8locost.blogspot.com

And here's all my build photo's on a picasa web album http://tinyurl.com/5tbtm46
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 21st December 2009, 07:03 PM
AshG's Avatar
AshG AshG is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Rochester
Posts: 1,882
Default

i tried all sorts of cutting methods on my ali and cutting disc was percect for it. i used proper ali cutting discs not your normal every day ones. ali does tend to snatch a bit easier but if you go slow and let the blade do the work rather than pushing you can get some fantastic results. as for cutting lines straight i dont think you would find a better tool for doing it other than a gilotine or some kind of professional sheet metal work machine.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:11 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.