Cutting Brass Sheet

[Jake79]

Hi Guy's

Apart from using tin snips, are there any other good tools out there for cutting thin brass sheet. The sheet tends to curl up when cutting with snips..





Cheers


Jake

[BarryC]

I have found that thin sheet can be scored much like styrene and bent back and forth using a straight edge of PE folding tool until it breaks. Thicker sheet, either snips and then straightened out the curl or a bandsaw, scroll saw, hacksaw or coping saw, I have used them all.

Barry

[Jake79]

Hi Barry, the method you mention is probably the best way to go, I have a PE bending tool on order. A friend of mine mentioned using a piercing saw to cut the brass. I wanted to have a go at making some engine armour for my K/T quite simple really, so using the scores and bend method should do the trick for this jobby. Cheers jake

[jarndice]

Hi Jake, In my opinion PE Bending tools are worse than useless,
I gave up on mine a long time ago and now I rely on my "TAMIYA Bending Pliars" Brilliant and easy to use,
Shaun.

[PainlessWolf]

Good morning,
I'm with Jarndice on this. I did all of the PE for Mikes Tiger with a pair of Tamiya Bending Pliers. I liked them so much that I sprang for a Diamond File and Brass Cutting Scissors from Tamiya as well. They work wonderfully.
regards,
Painless

[SgtMalarky]

When making my Tiger 1 exhaust shrouds I ended up scoring and bending until it snapped. Brass work hardens and then becomes brittle so it snaps off without too much distortion.

[BarryC]

When making my Tiger 1 exhaust shrouds I ended up scoring and bending until it snapped. Brass work hardens and then becomes brittle so it snaps off without too much distortion.

And if used properly a folding tool will eliminate the distortion!

Folding pliers are very handy for smaller pieces but long straight bends are best accomplished using a folding tool, IMHO.

Barry

[dgsselkirk]

What Barry said...

For thin brass, a steel ruler and scalpel and gently etch the first line and then progressively more force to cut through. Seems to prevent a lot of roll up. If you do get some roll up that is where the bend tool comes in handy too. Put it in curl down, screw down the tool and it will flatten it nicely. For thicker pieces I actually use a cut wheel and slowly cut along mark. You get very little roll up and if you do repeat step previous...

[OnTrack]

Super helpful post, thank you! My brass work has been less than ideal and I now have some proper tools in route.

[Jake79]

Thanks chaps great tips