cutting vents, sheet metal/wood

[TheAfficianado]

Howdy,
I am in the middle of building something which needs to be ventilated, and the ventilation needs to be put through some 1.5 wood and some sheet metal. I plan to use a jigsaw to cut the holes.

I have no worries about the wood, but some about the sheet metal, even though it is thin and about the thickness of a file cabinet wall.

I have read that you can buy waxed saw blades, add water as you cut, etc.

I have also seen power drill attachments called "hole cutters" that look like PVC pipe with saw teeth on one side that you attach to the drill, but the teeth do not look strong enough to cut butter, let alone sheet rock.

So before I go spend money on a bunch of stuff, I thought I would ask here first:

Can a basic $39 Black and Decker jigsaw do the job to cut through the sheet metal of the described thinness, and would I be able to use regular blades or do I have to by special blades?

I have a very small dremmel I thought I would use to grind and sand the hole after it was cut to avoid injury, but I have idea at all about the power necessary to cut these holes.

Thanks,
The Drunken Afficianado
former OGer

 

[Albert Hofmann]

You should be able to find a blade that will cut metal at the hardware store

 

[TheAfficianado]

Well... yes.... I should be able to find a blade at the hardware store.....

In fact, I spent all of yesterday afternoon at several hardware stores looking at jigsaws... I saw (no pun intended) any number of various blades and ways to go about the task.

But there have always been extremely handy types of folks on these boards who have, shall we say, a "love" of home improvement and hand powertools.

And I don't know if you have noticed lately, but the quality of assistance one gets at Lowe's or Home de Pot has decreased right along with the price of their publicly traded shares. So none of the people I spoke with-- AT the hardware stores-- could be specific as to whether or not a low powered, relatively inexpensive jigsaw was up to the task at hand.

This is why I posted my specific question in the equipment section....

Because I required a more specific answer as to the best way to cut a basic hole in sheet metal as I had never done it before.

Say, you don't work for a mega hardware retailer do you, Hofmann?

I probably caught you at a bad time.... while you were riding your bike home.... unwittiingly having only have applied the tiniest of dosages subcutaneously.....



However thanks for your prompt reply.
The Drunken Afficianado

 

[Albert Hofmann]

Well, how bout this...locate and trace the shape that you would like to cut out. Drill a starter hole inside your cutout. Then, using tin snips start at the hole and cut out your shape. Of course you will neen a tin snips (should be able to get a pair for $15 or so) and a drill bit for metal (or any way you can punch a hole big enough to get started will work)

 

[Guest]

I have been a carpenter for 20 years now and I think a good bi-metal blade fro the jigsaw will do the trick? If you need a longer blade to cut threw the wood and the metal at the same time use a long metal cutting blade.

What size hole do you want to cut? They also sale hole saws up to 6 inches in diameter.

I think yopu are over thinking a little too much? Just cut the hole already.

GCG

 

[Guest]

Go by one of the thrift stores, Salvation Army, St Vincent dePaul, second hand stores and hock shops. They usually have power tools, especially hock shops. Plug it in, if it sounds like it is falling apart, It Is. Buy a smooth operating saw. Regular metal (fine tooth) blades will do the job. Drill a pilot hole for starters. Use a fine tip felt marker to layout the cut, (pencil rubs off), or scribe it with a pointed instrument.

Support the work on a piece of wood close to the cut so the saw doesn't jump all over the place.

Be damned careful with cut sheet metal, file down the edges right a way or stand the chance of a deep and painful cut that bleeds like a stuck pig.

2nd hand prices, $10 and up. Skil, Porter-Cable, Milwaukee, Bosch, Makita, Ryobi and the like are upper end quality and will cost a bit more used than most.

Unlike tin snips, (straight, left hand and right hand, take your choice), the saw will have other uses around the house/shop.

GoFerIt------Ty-Stik

 

[Blue_adept]

if you dont own a jig saw already get one, best tool EVER! lol. but back to your question, any metal blade will cut through wood, i would suggest having the metal side of your wood/metal sandwich towards the saw. Take it slow and you can make really nice cuts.

BlueAdept

 

[wsp]

Drill holes in each corner use a bi metal blade start cutting. Don't force the blade let the saw do the work. If the sheet metal starts to bounce with the blade, slow down or attach the sheet metal to the wood with long screws.

 

[TheAfficianado]

I appreciate all the advice, especially Ty-Stik. I think enough said.

I basically didn't want to buy an inexpensive jig-saw just for this one project only to find out it couldn't cut the mustard and I had wasted my money. I also feared a bloody accident.

I will go the stencil tracing, drill-a-hole, use hole to start jigsaw path route, as I still do not understand the principle of the "hole saw" kit that was offered with a drill.

Thanks all.

 

[Guest]

Afficianado, Thank You for the kind words.

The hole saw kits work best on wood, plastics 2nd and metal last. If when using on metal, unless the work is secured and the cutting teeth very sharp, the damned thing will crawl all over the place. We use them for cutouts on fiberglass tub-shower units ( the valve openings).

Respectfully,

Ty-Stik

 

[yts farmer]

if you by the black and decker jigsaw like you mentioned it should come with a couple of wood blades and a couple of metal blades to get you started.