cutting 18 gauge steel

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i have some 18 gauge steel that i would like to cut into different shapes. some circles ovals and squares mostly. i cant seem to get it right with a cutting tip, maybe its too thin? is there any other way to cut it? for the square edges i can use a grinder with a cut off wheel but what about circles?may have posted this in the wrong section.
Reply:We'll flog you later for posting it in the wrong area. Circles and curves:I cut circles with a hole saw or a circle cutter in the drill press for small ones. Theres a special name for the circle cutter but I forget it. I've had limited luck cutting them without a center pilot bit however. Plasma would be perfect for this. I can blast thru thin material around a pattern in record time and get beautiful cuts. The faster I go the better the cut.  My torch cuts are kinda spotty in thin material. Speed and heat are key to getting good cuts. To much heat / too slow a speed = a poor cut.hand held or air Nibbler or air / electric shears.Routers on alum.Straight cuts:circular saw / table saw, plasma, torch (see above),  grinder, scribe and snap on really thin metals.
Reply:The nibbler sounds perfect, and I would probably grab it for this before the plasma.
Reply:DSW, I think what you are referring to is called a fly cutter. I don't have a plasma cutter, no need when your retired, so I grab my saber saw with a fine tooth metal blade on 18 ga.or thinner. 18 ga. is too thin for a cutting torch other than ripping a straight line where you can move FAST and it will still warp.
Reply:A big pair of bulldog tin snips...Bobhttp://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-WISS-TIN...QQcmdZViewItemLast edited by aametalmaster; 04-25-2008 at 03:58 PM.Bob WrightSalem, Ohio  Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drillhttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/southbend10k/http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/1999 Miller MM185 w/ Miller 185 Spoolmate spoolgun
Reply:I thought a fly cutter was for trimming down a flat surface with your mill.
Reply:Ok It annoyed me enough I had to find it.The name of the circle cutter is a trepanning tool. I also thouhgt a fly cutter was for milling flats. Same basic idea though.http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/N2DRVSH?PMSECT=2009599
Reply:Can either one of you post a picture? I would post one of the gadget I'm thinking of but I am computer illiterate and don't know how.
Reply:If you click on my link above and scroll down there are a bunch of trepanning tools shown. I think someone onthis site told me what they were called. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ght=trepanningHeres a good pict of a trepanning tool.http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...59532&PMT4NO=0Here's a fly cutter. It is not shown with the cutter in place. The cutter is attached to the angled face and is like a lathe bit. How far out you posittion the cutter determines the dia. of the area you finnish. Basically you end up with a very large single cutter end mill on the smaller ones.http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...MT4NO=41957015Edit:I went back and looked at the basic one that I started out with.http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/NNSRIT...MT4NO=41957060It does say fly/ circle cutter. I think that they mean that you can use it for both things. Lets be honnest this is a homeowner grade tool. If I told you to get a trepanning tool from HD do you really thing the sales man whould have any clue?Last edited by DSW; 04-25-2008 at 10:05 PM.
Reply:Thanks DSW. The one that is shown in your edit link was the one I was referring to. Yes they are light duty. They work great on wood and plastic, OK on aluminum and so-so on thin metal in my experience.I don't expect HD employees to know much of anything except when quitting time comes. I once asked one if they had any boomers and explained that they would probably be called load binders. He didn't know so went to find out. Came back and said they didn't have them. I showed him the box of load binders my wife found while I was talking to him.
Reply:Boomers .  I remember when they were called that.   Haven't heard that name in years.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:The choice of tools can depend on what part you are wanting to keep and what is considered the waste. Are you wanting to keep the donut or the hole? Also the deminsions make a big diff too. Are you cutting 3 inch circles or 10 inch circles?
Reply:The first time I ever saw one in the oil field it was called a boomer and they still are. The only way I found out they were load binders is because I saw them called that in the Harbor Freight catalog, LOL. Local names. What everyone on here calls a bung is a collar or thread-o-let to me.
Reply:Man they call all kinds of stuff by different names than what I know them by on here, lol. They are still called boomers down here as well.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.