How to cut SS sheet with a large curve


 
DanHoo

DanHoo

TVWBB Olympian
I'd like to use this dishwasher front panel and make a SS table for my one touch platinum, yet I'm not sure how to cut the large radius curve.

I've got the other details worked out, so if anyone has suggestions I'd love to hear them.

Cut will be on this line.



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And I know it's a little narrower than the OTP frame but I have plans to handle that.


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I have a stainless top performer that's gotta go if you'd rather just use an original?

Otherwise, I'm all thumbs with this stuff, so I've got no idea! :)

R
 
A First Gen performer would be nice, but the gas to get there and back, not so much.

I've got a couple of ideas, but they don't seem Ike good ideas.
 
I second the jigsaw with metal blade. Metal cuts at a slower motor speed than wood. Back it with scrap plywood and clamp together. Touch it up with a rotary attachment in a Dremel or similar. If I had a bandsaw, I would try that first.
 
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DanHoo said:
I'd like to use this dishwasher front panel and make a SS table for my one touch platinum, yet I'm not sure how to cut the large radius curve.

I've got the other details worked out, so if anyone has suggestions I'd love to hear them.

Cut will be on this line.



View attachment 47932

And I know it's a little narrower than the OTP frame but I have plans to handle that.


View attachment 47933
Click to expand...
Probably the best thing would be a small electric jig saw. Most come with 2 or 3 blades and usually one of them is for metal.
 
Ingenious, but...

if I were the wife I'd suddenly worry about my husband's plans for other household items with his Weber hobby :)
 
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I also wonder if a grinding wheel on a bench grinder would help smooth things up. Bigger would be better. Take off all the safety guards and work it along your cut.
 
I'll do a test cut with a jigsaw. Maybe clamp the original table on also to use as a fence.

I need to find the jigsaw. It's been 20 years since I last used it.
 
Timothy makes an excellent suggestion, those things “Nibble” through, several members have used them for sheet metal projects and claimed great results.
 
Se if you can find blades for cutting SS.
Regular metal cutting blades wear out pretty fast on SS.
Use low RPM and use some cutting wax or oil.
I cut circles with a circular saw but for SS you need a special blade.
 
Depending on how thick that material is, a jigsaw may not be your best bet. The rule of thumb is keeping 3 teeth in the metal (2 teeth is pushing it) so a 36TPI wavy set blade would be appropriate for 14ga. (0.083") or greater. You are probably talking about 18ga or thinner so you might be better off with a shear or with a grinder and cut-off wheel. How thick is your material?

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EDIT: the other thing would be the chromium content of your material. Is it magnetic? At least you have plenty of waste material to practice on!
 
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One other thing to consider is a grit-edge blade. They aren't cheap but work well for materials that are difficult to cut.
 
JSaus said:
Perhaps a metal cutting bit in a Rotozip, if you can keep it on the line.
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Don't try it. Those things trying to cut metal are beyond hazardous. Ask me how I know. Damn near lost an eye (yes even with safety goggles). Honestly I would use an angle grinder very gingerly. I was watching this guy on TV making custom car mods (chops and the like) and he was using a good Harbor Freight angle grinder (the good $9.95 one).
 
You might get some burning or bluing with a angle grinder on SS. That goes with blade choice and not having a variable speed.
If appearance is not a issue then go for it.
 
timothy said:
You might get some burning or bluing with a angle grinder on SS. That goes with blade choice and not having a variable speed.
If appearance is not a issue then go for it.
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I kind of doubt it. Especially since you would have to take such a light touch with it. Or if you have a good air compressor a small variable speed die grinder works great as well like this one https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-professional-mini-air-angle-die-grinder-64869.html or a small air powered saber type saw https://www.harborfreight.com/high-speed-metal-saw-91753.html I have one of these as well and it does a nice job on thin metal plus is pretty easy to control
 
LMichaels said:
I kind of doubt it. Especially since you would have to take such a light touch with it. Or if you have a good air compressor a small variable speed die grinder works great as well like this one https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-professional-mini-air-angle-die-grinder-64869.html or a small air powered saber type saw https://www.harborfreight.com/high-speed-metal-saw-91753.html I have one of these as well and it does a nice job on thin metal plus is pretty easy to control
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Well that's why I said " might " ;)
I've seen guys go hard and fast on finished SS and totally ruin the look.
Key is to go slow and use the right RPM.
 
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