Cutting Galvanized Sheet Metal With Plasma

Cnc plasma cutting sheet metal 50 amps duration.

Cutting galvanized sheet metal with plasma.

Arrange the teeth of your tin snips over the marked line on your sheet metal. Average size of the part is about 12 x6 with various cut outs and holes if i could use the plasma to cut these parts out it would save a lot of time. I have an application that would lend itself to a plasma cutter i think. The zinc in galvanized steel can react with moisture from the scrap metal creating a highly flammable stream of hydrogen that shoots out when the outer layer of galvanized steel is cut.

The process of using tin snips is very similar to using scissors. Use 1 hand to lift 1 half of the sheet metal while using your opposite hand to cut along your pre marked line with slow gradual cuts. Jigsaws and metal cutting band saws are more work but can make most cuts in light to medium sheet metal. A handheld cutting tool fitted with a metal cut off wheel will easily cut through sheet.

We cut galvanized steel ranging from 20 to 10 ga. Prevent an explosion from such a reaction by treating such cutting as if high pressure gas is inside the compartment when you start cutting.