Sheet Metal Shop Rag Box (reduce fire risk)

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Sheet Metal Shop Rag Box I have more things to do than I have time for so instead of doing the “real work” I played around and made this.The first 4 pictures are of cuts I made with my new sheet metal shears. The sheet metal is 18 gauge which is the tool’s limit. I’m satisfied with the cut quality. The toll is a $59 pneumatic shear from summit racing: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/wmr-m662I have never used shears before. This beats hell out of using a cut off wheel on an angle grinder. It’s quick and clean plus not pitching sparks all over my attached garage. The other pictures are of the build process. Picture 6 and 7 are using my homemade bender. Picture 8 is the forming of the box lid. I did not want to make another “top bar” for the break so I just used the old ugly method of clamping and slowly bending. There is some trial and error in making the lid. I measured everything thinking I made it large enough and it was too small so I went over board and made one too big. Attached ImagesDave ReberWadsworth Ohio
Reply:picture 5-8 Attached ImagesLast edited by Reebs; 07-18-2013 at 09:59 PM.Dave ReberWadsworth Ohio
Reply:last oneHey please give advice or pointers Attached ImagesDave ReberWadsworth Ohio
Reply:nice man good idea
Reply:Great idea.  A clean shop is a safe shop   They always seem to be laying around catching sparks....I like your bender, mine is homemade too - but mine is dirty and ugly Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Can't see the car, some metal box is blocking the view Bruce
Reply:Great thing to have, You'll use it forever.  Nice job.
Reply:All this time I thought you had a plasma cutter.  Shears seem to do a pretty good job though"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Thanks guysDo all shears leave a little wave to the panel? Note this is 18 gauge which is the limit for these shears?MinnesotaDaveIts funny I set a rag on fire awhile back. I new it was a rag burning some place in the shop, not a paper smell but a fabric smell. I was quite a distance from me, the grinding sparks fly all over the place.Dave ReberWadsworth Ohio
Reply:I have some electric shears and they don't leave wavey lines like that.  I and curious as to your hand movement during the cutting.  are you rocking the shears?  that would cause the wave.I love my shears.  I can the max is 18 ga, but I have cut thicker, but that is really working it.
Reply:OK thanks Scott, yes I was rocking it some. It seemed like I had to do the rocking motion or it would "hang up" and not move.Dave ReberWadsworth Ohio
Reply:I push my shear tight and have to back off if it jambs.  I have cut  unknown galv. steel that was slightly thicker that 18ga., but that was the limit.  I used it quite alot on 18 ga fenders and backs for trailers and such.  I have built a couple of boxes, but I haven't done it like yours.  I like yours and will copy it.  I stick welded all my boxes with 6011.  The fit-up had to be near perfect.  I like your lip style.  I was tight on material and it wouldn't have worked on the boxes I built.  I need to build some tool boxes when I get the time.
Reply:For what it is worth, in my very limited amateur experience (cutting lots of duct work on church building trips), I have found that the shears do not seem to hang as much if I have a slight upward bow to the material being cut.