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What should I cut this brass sheet with?

S

SteveMP

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Steve
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Want to make a small try square. Picked up this bit of brass sheet in the scrap bin of my local metal store for cheap. Its about 1.13 mm, i think that would be 18 gauge according to google? I have a dremel with cutoff wheels, a hack saw, and an angle geinder with cutoff wheels an other types of grinding wheels . Also have an assortment of files. I do have tin snips but mine tend to “curl” sheet metal as i cut. Best way to cut a parallel strip off this?

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There are several ways to do it with limited tools but it's thin so you risk deforming it. Personally for what it is I'd clamp a bit of ply accurately alaong the cut line on both sides and cut it by hand with a hacksaw keeping as many of the teeth in contact with the flat surface as possible. Make it a tadge oversize then use a flat file to finish.
I have in the past successfully snapped thin brass by doing a similar thing but scoring it fairly deeply both sided but it's as quick to use a hacksaw. A jigsaw would cerainly work but by hand is more controllable.
 
Lons said:
There are several ways to do it with limited tools but it's thin so you risk deforming it. Personally for what it is I'd clamp a bit of ply accurately alaong the cut line on both sides and cut it by hand with a hacksaw keeping as many of the teeth in contact with the flat surface as possible. Make it a tadge oversize then use a flat file to finish.
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Agreed, that's how I'd do it†. Hold the saw at an acute angle to the face of the brass sheet so that the cut, once established, is as long as possible.

† Not strictly true: I'd use my metal cutting circular saw, but if I didn't have that, then it's how I'd do it.
 
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Scoring and snapping is probably critically dependent on the grade of brass. Most sheet brass is a fairly malleable type that will bend; bar stock is often a more brittle grade that is more suited to machining or hot work.

I too would use the hacksaw. With a fairly fresh blade if available.
 
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