Slowly push the jigsaw forward following the cutting line.
1 8 metal sheets being cut by jig saw.
I was cutting 16ga with jig saw and had to clamp metal close to cut reducing vibration.
Place a piece of 3 4 inch thick plywood flat on the floor.
That s not a problem cutting 1 8 steel.
For cutting sheet metal choose a finer blade with 21 to 24 teeth per inch.
Set your store to see local availability view similar in stock.
The jigsaw works nicely for cutting the curved segments of stainless sheet for the wood fired pizza oven.
Make sure the plywood is larger than the steel plate you will be cutting.
Work slowly and methodically.
It may not be an obvious choice but fitted with the right blade a circular saw is a great metal cutting tool.
In our test it cut through rebar like a hot knife through butter.
Hot metal chips will fly.
Cutting sheet metal is slow work with a jigsaw and even more so if you are working with corrugated metal.
To reduce the heat buildup you need to use the proper jigsaw blade with minimal pressure and set your jigsaw to a slow cutting speed.
Reading hackspace rlab richard grant demonstrates how to cut 6mm plate steel easily and neatly using a jigsaw.
The cut can produce enough heat to melt the teeth from the edge of a jigsaw blade.
I have not noticed much difference using slow or fast speed other than cut speed.
I think it is because reciprocation dull blade on back motion.
You can cut mild steel up to about 3 8 in.
With the proper blade jigsaws can cut through wood with embedded nails 1 8 in.
18 tpi medium metal cutting jig saw blade bi metal u shank 5 pack model dw3724 5 14 97.
Set the steel plate on top of the plywood.
Thick using a ferrous metal cutting blade.
I 8 steel is about maxamum thickness i would cut with jig saw.
36 tpi sheet metal cutting jig saw blade bi metal u shank 5 pack model dw3728 5 11 37 11 37.
If you are making a long cut you may need to apply cutting oil to the blade of the jigsaw to keep the blade cool.
Stainless steel builds up heat quickly when you are cutting.