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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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#1
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Can I do this with a nibbler?
I have never used a nibbler, or even seen one used, but I think it
might be just the tool for this job. I am using some aluminum j-channel, satin anodized, to finish the top edge of some wall panelling. The customer wants the j-channel bent, not mitered, at outside corners, since the mitered corners are too sharp. The long (wall) leg of the channel is about 1 1/4 inch high, the top is about 1/2 inch, and the front vertical part is about 1/2 inch. I need to remove a section of the wall leg, about 3 inches long, so I can use a hand notcher I bought to cut out a "vee" in the top leg and then make the bend. The aluminum is about 1/16 inch thick, and the hand notcher can just make the cut I need, but I am having trouble removing that 3 inch back section. I've tried making a couple of cuts with Wiss-type hand shears and bending up the back leg til it breaks off, but it distorts the channel and stills needs filing to remove 100% of the leg. Would an air or electric nibbler be able to cut right up to the under side of the top leg? I suspect that there would be some interference with the front leg, since the channel is only about 3/8 inch deep, front to back. I've also seen a hand powered nibbler in pictures, but would prefer a power tool. Any suggestions? Gary |
#2
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Can I do this with a nibbler?
.... would prefer a power tool. Any suggestions? Gary My nibbler will only come within 3/4" of an edge like you describe. The die plate gets in the way. If I understand you correctly, a radial arm saw would make quick work of this. AL cuts easily with a carbide tip blade. Karl |
#3
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Can I do this with a nibbler?
Nibblers make a big mess- and they wont cut right up against the edge,
as noted. What you need to do is saw it- I used to do a lot of work with this stuff, and i used to use an XACTO miter box with minature backsaw. The miter box is just a little piece of aluminum channel with cuts in it, and the saw has very fine teeth- perfect for aluminum. https://www.quicktechhobby.com/Airpl...ries/xacto.htm shows the miter box, 3 different size saw blades, and big red handles to hold em, about 15 bucks for the lot. Easy to saw right up to a sharp pencil line, then you might want to file it a bit with a smooth file to get rid of any burr. Sometimes I also use a bandsaw for this- its quicker, but requires a more steady hand. |
#5
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Can I do this with a nibbler?
Another possibility is an *aluminum* cut-off blade in an angle grinder.
E.g., McMaster-Carr #4535A53. Cheap if you have the angle grinder. Does take a steady hand. Bob |
#6
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Can I do this with a nibbler?
Bob Engelhardt
Dec 17, 6:34 pm show options Newsgroups: rec.crafts.metalworking From: Bob Engelhardt - Find messages by this author Date: Sat, 17 Dec 2005 21:34:00 -0500 Subject: Can I do this with a nibbler? Reply | Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse Another possibility is an *aluminum* cut-off blade in an angle grinder. E.g., McMaster-Carr #4535A53. Cheap if you have the angle grinder. Does take a steady hand. Bob Thanks for the excellent suggestion, Bob. I bolted an angle grinder upside down to a piece of plywood and devised a table parallel to the disc, and just slightly below it. I can feed the aluminum j-channel into the blade until it hits a stop, then slide it along the stop to make the cut I need. Now that I have a notcher, the rest is easy. Gary |
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