Hatz Biplane Association

Hatzers,
I am having the 0.090" and thicker material cut by a water-jet shop, but can I use aviation snips on 0.050" and thinner sheet?
if not, what did you use for cutting the thin (0.050, 0.032, 0.025) sheet material?
Thanks!

I didn't have much luck with tin snips no matter what the thickness unless it was just snipping a corner or slight trim.
Most of the time I used the band saw and a file. If you know someone with a shear, you can cut strips and go from there.

Jeff Moore

I bought a cheapie air powered 3" cut off tool from Harbor freight, about 12 bucks, and cut all my steel with it, then work down with a file or on my belt sander.. The cut off wheels are pretty thin so not much metal is wasted. Just use eye protection!

Thanks for the ideas. I do have a cheapo air die-grinder from HF. I'll try that. What do you think about a shear, like this one:
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PART ... A=130-5710

I bought a plate shear like the one shown. I've cut .125" with it. I has a short throat and strips tend to curl. Works good to make a rough cut just outside your lines then file, grind or sand. Once CAD drawings became available I had many pieces laser cut. What a time saver and not that expensive. But I digress. The plate shear saved me a lot of time fabricating tabss and brackets not shown in the plans.

I bought a Lenox 52 tooth titanium tipped steep cutting blade for my table saw and have no problem cutting 0.090 4130 sheet. I move slow and lube the blade with Boelube, but I am very happy with the results.

If you buy a good Beverly shears like the one shown you will never regret it.

Thanks for the suggestion, Clifford. I'll look when I'm at OSH.