How To Cut Stainless Steel?

This article aims to provide you adequate steps that will help you to cut stainless steel. In any familiar steel industry, it is a must skill to know the proper cutting of steel. We cannot mess up our project by not knowing the whole procedure of doing that. Steel is the most common material that is being used in the industry for a long time.

It comprises many good physical and chemical properties that make it the right choice for many industries. It is resistant to corrosion. It is robust and durable. If you know how to handle your stainless steel material, then it will be beneficial for you.

There are many methods that you can use to cut stainless steel material. In the upcoming writings, we will help you in the same. We will provide you detailed procedure on how to cut stainless steel.

Contents

How To Cut Stainless Steel- Step By Step Guide

Yeah, you have made your mind to proceed further in the steps. Here, we will give you the best overview. We are breaking the whole process of cutting stainless steel using more than one method into small little chunks. You can call them as modules. It will guide you throughout the process stepwise. You can choose any method out of them. Choose the method with which you are more comfortable. So, let’s dive into the article without much delay!

The steps are mentioned below, and you can follow them along with us:

It will guide you throughout the process stepwise. You can choose any method out of them. Choose the method with which you are more comfortable. So, let’s dive into the article without much delay!
The steps are mentioned below, and you can follow them along with us:

Total Time: 1 Hour

Step 1: Preparation Of The Workspace

Your cutting process starts with this step. All you have to do in the beginning is this. Create a perfect workspace for your procedure. The accuracy of your steel cutting process depends on the workspace to a great extent.

You can look for a nice sturdy workbench or a place where there is a proper space to work. If you do not find a suitable place, then get saw horses. This is a must to start this process. It will help you to concentrate on your work for a longer time. Otherwise, you will feel lethargic. A proper workbench will make to more stiff to work regularly.

You can place this workbench either inside or outside. If you are working with the saw and grinders, then go for outdoors. You can do it inside also but remove all the flammable objects from that place.

Step 2: Making The Measurements For Cutting

Now that you have arranged a proper workbench, we have come to this step. This step determines the precise dimension of the steel workpiece that you need. Take your time in this step. It is all about the correct measurements. Take the measurements with full attention. Do these measurements slowly. You can measure as many times as you want before cutting. Once you start cutting, you cannot change the measurements after that. So, please verify all the measurements that you have taken. Verify the measurements at least twice and mark them accordingly.

You can use a measuring tape for the measurement and a marker to mark all the measurements. Make sure that the tape starts with 0. Otherwise, it will create some errors that will act as a blunder. Any mistake in the measurement will lead to the wastage of the steel workpiece. It will also waste your whole time and hard work if you make the measurements carelessly.

Step 3: Cutting The Stainless Steel

After making the necessary measurements and marking, you are ready to start cutting your stainless steel workpiece. But before start cutting, choose the right tool for your workpiece. The tool that you will choose depends on the nature of your workpiece. In this step, we will tell you all the possibilities of selecting any tool. According to different workpieces we have mentioned the needed tool. Let’s have a look at all these tools. After reading this, choose the tool that you need.

1. Tin snips
If you are working with the thin stainless steel sheets, use Tin Snips. Tin snips are the best option to cut the thin metal sheets. It is not meant for any heavy-duty steel. Tin snips make the jobs very fast if it is related to thin metal sheets. As you are working with a fragile metal sheet, keep yourself safe. It is effortless to use tin snips. It is just like a pair of scissors. You can hold them as you do with your scissors. Use it at a slow pace. It has a very sharp cutting blade. Keep your hands safe. Make sure that your hands are not coming in between the tin snips.

2. Power Shears
Power shears are meant for heavy-duty steel workpieces. If you have thick pieces of metal, then power shears will be the best option. It works similar to the tin snips. It comprises a motor in addition to the features present in the tin snips. These will remove a small surface of the metal from the workpiece from its middle part. To cut stainless steel using it, place the sheet in the jaws. After this, you need to squeeze the jaws with little pressure. Now start cutting with a slow space with care.

3. Circular Saw
Circular saws are used for stainless steel tubes. It is meant for thick tubes. It is also used for the workpieces that cannot be cut using power shears or tin snips. So, it works as an all-rounder. For this saw, you require a proper metal blade for cutting. The blade should be perfectly sharp. While working, it is better if you wear full clothes. This will prevent you from any metal splinters to harm you. Now, switch on the saw. Wait till it reaches to its maximum RPM. After this, lower the saw to the workpiece. Cut the workpiece slowly with care.

4. Angle Grinder
Angle grinders are very much similar to a circular saw. It has a different angle inclination. So, you can go for this tool in place of the circular saw. It works similar to it. You have to switch on the saw. Allow the saw to go to the maximum level of rpm speed. After this, lower the saw and place it on the workpiece. Make sure that you place it accurately. Then start cutting the steel sheet.

5. Plasma Cutter
It is a useful cutting tool that can be used for any cutting process. Even for stainless steel cutting, we can use it. To start with connecting the air compressor with your plasma cutter. Turn on the current and set the current. Place the ground clamp to the edge. Now turn on the machine and squeeze the compressor. After finishing the cutting, remove the air compressor and ground clamp.

Step 4: Cleaning All The Edges For Perfect Finishing

This is the last step. This is the most important thing for any cutting process. You should practice this regularly after you finish the cutting of your workpiece. After completion of the cutting process, you will find that many edges are rough and nasty. Many things happen in between the whole process. Because of many disturbances, we are not able to make the cuts entirely. But doing this work there will not be much efficient. You can do your work without seeing all these perfections. At this step, you can perform all the necessary perfections.

So, at last, you can make all the edges smooth with the help of a filer. You can also use deburring. You can remove all the rough surfaces using either of them. You have to apply a sufficient amount of pressure here.

Things You Would Need

There are many processes for cutting the steel piece. We have mentioned all these things keeping all the methods in mind. So, you can choose the tools among these that will be needed in your method.

Some tin snips for thin steel sheets
For thicker sheets, you need to have a power shear.
A circular saw. It should have a metal blade for cutting. It can also have a cut off wheel.
For thicker sheets or tubes, get an Angle Grinder with a cut off wheel.
If you have a thick sheet of solid steel tubes, then get a Plasma Cutter.
A full-face shield to cover your face while working.
A workbench.
A metal filer
A marker or a pen
Measuring Tape
Tube Cutter
A Drill and some extra sharp blades that will help in the replacement.
Hacksaw, Bandsaw, jigsaw, or a Chop saw.
Dremel
Hand gloves

Tips

Always wear safety goggles while working. To increase tour safety, you can also take a face shield.
Wear hand gloves during the cutting process. It will protect your hands from dangerous cuts.
Hold the cutting tool firmly and with a full grip. Never hold it loosely. Otherwise, it will be displaced from its place, and the workpiece will get wasted.
Prepare your workspace correctly.
Work in a place where proper lighting is available.
Place all the power cables at the corner or backside.
Cutting and Grinding should be done in proper ventilation. It will protect you from any fire hazard.
Be equipped with a fire extinguisher.
If you are wearing earphones or jewelry, then remove them while working.
Be fully aware of your surroundings.
Keep your feet protective.
Breathe carefully while working. Be aware of any harmful dust particle or gas.

FAQs

1. Should we wear hand gloves while working, will it not decrease our hand gripping?

You are working with a steel piece in this process. So, while the cutting process, you need to take care of your hands also. There may be a chance of any cuts or fire hazards. Hand gloves will provide better protection to your hand. Get such gloves that do not hinder your gripping with the tools.

2. Can we use a plasma cutter for thin metal sheets?

Plasma cutters are meant for the thicker sheets. They have dimensions and specifications according to the needs of thick sheets. If you use it for thin sheets, it will be an overkill for them. It will look like you are buying a plane to go to the market!

3. Which place will be better while doing the cutting process, indoor or outdoor?

As you are working with many electrical tools and devices, indoors will be the best option. It will prevent you from getting any shocks because of some moisture and other things. But you need to make sure that the place that you are working in should have proper ventilation. But if you are working with the grinders and saw, work outside. Or keep all the important stuff in a safer place.

4. What is the use of a circular saw?

A circular saw is useful when we want to cut through the thick sheets. If that cutting is not possible by a plasma cutter or a tin snip, then you should use a circular saw. It will help you there greatly.

5. Which is better while working, a face shield or safety goggles?

A face shield covers your face thoroughly. So, it is much safer compared to goggles. But if you do not feel easy and comfortable with that, then go for safety goggles. Just make sure you do not face anything directly. Your safety matters a lot.

Final Thoughts

Initially, you will think that the process of cutting any stainless steel material is not easy. But We hope that after following the steps given above, you will make it out as an easy process. We have provided all the necessary tips also that will help you to proceed in this task very fast. It will prevent you from struggling with your steel material. Every process needs some dedication. If you don’t understand the process entirely at starting, then try it out again. Never think that you cannot do it.

If you practice it many times before the actual cut, it will enhance your cutting skills. To improve it a little more, choose better tools for use. Never compromise with the quality of work. Try to do your work with full perfection. We hope you found this article useful. We will meet you again with the next article. Till then, think about this steel cutting process along with some good tutorials.