Will this cut sheet metal?

http://www.harborfreight.com/electric-cutout-tool-42831.html

As in.... fenders? Even if it dies after one car?

"Even if it dies after one car" is a horrible way to look at purchases. "It worked for a little while! Yeah! Now I get to buy another one!"

No way. The bit just isn't designed for it. You would be better off with a 4" angle grinder with a cutting wheel for $25.

pinchvalve wrote: No way. The bit just isn't designed for it. You would be better off with a 4" angle grinder with a cutting wheel for $25.

There's other bits available.....

pres589 wrote: "Even if it dies after one car" is a horrible way to look at purchases. "It worked for a little while! Yeah! Now I get to buy another one!"

Good point... luckily, i only have one car that i'm planning on cutting up anytime in the next decade or so.

Ok, so obviously the masses say "no."

What's the term/name of what i'm looking for?

I want THAT, but able to cut through a car body. I do not want a cutoff wheel, i have that. I want this tool, but works.

That thing is for dry wall and plywood, not metal. I doubt if you would cut 6" before the "Blade" is shot. They have nibblers that would do OK. Angle grinder would not be my first choice, but will work, just wear welding gloves while you do it, or share pics of your wounds afterwards. A good saber saw is better, but sawzall is best if you have room for it. Plasma cutter is the ultimate for sheet metal. HF 16ga air nibbler- 24.99

Sawzall aka reciprocating saw is what I've used in the past for this. Its fun, and you can't feel your arms afterward.

I have a sawzall, used it extensively, but i really don't see how i could possibly make any body work done with it look REMOTELY good.

cwh wrote: That thing is for dry wall and plywood, not metal. I doubt if you would cut 6" before the "Blade" is shot. They have nibblers that would do OK. Angle grinder would not be my first choice, but will work, just wear welding gloves while you do it, or share pics of your wounds afterwards. A good saber saw is better, but sawzall is best if you have room for it. Plasma cutter is the ultimate for sheet metal. HF 16ga air nibbler- 24.99

http://www.harborfreight.com/16-gauge-air-nibbler-46061.html

This thing?

I'm looking for a somewhat clean cut, merely because i'm a bit anal retentive about stuff like that.

I can't even wrap my head around how that thing works. Off to youtube!

It'd help if you told us what you were trying to do. Cut a car in half to send to a yard? Make something pretty? Different tools, different jobs.

You need a friend with a plasma torch!

Cutting fenders for flares, sorry.

pres589 wrote: It'd help if you told us what you were trying to do. Cut a car in half to send to a yard? Make something pretty? Different tools, different jobs.

Exactly. Hence my Sawzall comment.

In reply to 92CelicaHalfTrac:

Well, I dont know about Harbor Freight spiral cutters but Roto-Zip sells a bit for theirs to do this:

http://www.amazon.com/Rotozip-XB-MC1-Metal-Cutting-XBIT/dp/B000CEQEZ4

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Cutting fenders for flares, sorry.

Nibbler would be the cleanest option. It's basically an air powered 1 hole punch. It takes a little bit longer, but the results are hard to argue.

http://www.amazon.com/Ingersoll-Rand-429-Heavy-Reciprocating/dp/B00004XOT3/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1326835289&sr=8-1

That's what I would use.

disposable version:

http://www.amazon.com/Reciprocating-Cut-off-Sheet-Metal-Body/dp/B0013WEAO6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1326835289&sr=8-3

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: http://www.harborfreight.com/16-gauge-air-nibbler-46061.html This thing?

This is what I was going to recommend . It fails at creases, folds or swage lines but does a damn nice job. It shoots little crescent moons out that are a nightmare to clean up.

overall what you are looking for is a body saw and HF has electric and pneumatic versions for cheap. Blades aren't the cheapest though.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: http://www.harborfreight.com/16-gauge-air-nibbler-46061.html This thing? I'm looking for a somewhat clean cut, merely because i'm a bit anal retentive about stuff like that. I can't even wrap my head around how that thing works. Off to youtube!

Holy crap! Did you notice the suggested air requirements for that thing? 17.5 cfm @ 90 psi????

Use a cutoff wheel. You will get a cleaner cut than any other method.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/big-tires-little-car/7442/page1/

dremel ?

thats what i use for tight radius cuts that are one offs and limited in number

Might try an air chisel panel cutter. I’ve used one to remove quarter panels.

Depending on how much sheet metal you need to chew through:

A decent set of aviation snips belongs in every tool box

I have a plasma cutter and the problem is that you need to make a guide template for anything other than straight lines and round holes. Plus the burnt edge of the cut is as hard as diamond. "But you're supposed to be able to freehand with a plasma cutter!" I'm great with the free-form removal of metal with all manner of tools. I've achieved some level of artistry w/ the angle and die grinders. I am an art school graduate and have drawn for decades - old school, with pencils and brushes and whatnot - but I cannot, for example, follow a Sharpie line around a wheel arch in one single clean seamless arc. And I've tried, god help me walnuts, I've tried.

motomoron wrote: Depending on how much sheet metal you need to chew through: A decent set of aviation snips belongs in every tool box I have a plasma cutter and the problem is that you need to make a guide template for anything other than straight lines and round holes. Plus the burnt edge of the cut is as hard as diamond. "But you're supposed to be able to freehand with a plasma cutter!" I'm great with the free-form removal of metal with all manner of tools. I've achieved some level of artistry w/ the angle and die grinders. I am an art school graduate and have drawn for decades - old school, with pencils and brushes and whatnot - but I cannot, for example, follow a Sharpie line around a wheel arch in one single clean seamless arc. And I've tried, god help me walnuts, I've tried.

Amen.

I heart my plasma cutter but it's best for rough cuts, too. It has no equal for rapid shaping of thicker metal, such as making engine mount brackets or roll bar landing pads from .120 to .240 steel plate. It's also good for rough cutting roll bar tubing at weird angles.

My favorite for clean cuts:

http://www.harborfreight.com/14-gauge-swivel-head-shear-68199.html

But it uses 110v. In the boneyard, I'd say a rough cut with a battery powered recip saw, cut it bigger than you need and trim it to size when you get home. This doohickey: can be used with a cordless drill. It stamps out metal chips (which are SHARP!!!!) and with a little practice makes a pretty nice cut.