How to cut a circle out of sheet metal

How to cut a round hole in metal with an angle grinder

Greetings, friends. Angle grinder, as we used to call it in everyday speech, is one of the most useful and necessary tools in the arsenal of any handy man. And today we will look at such an interesting topic, and how to cut a round hole in the metal with an angle grinder. For the example we will take a piece of 12 channel and a piece of sheet metal, 2 mm thick.

Nailed, and with the help of a caliper marked two circles, diameter 80mm. The photo measuring caliper, they do not want to draw on the metal, for this there are special calipers and simply a pair of compasses on metal. But once every five years they can mark something, it will not fade, by the way this picture will be 15-20 years old, and still fit, although occasionally do them marking. Our task will be to cut the round billet from a sheet of metal, but in the base of the channel on the contrary we will make a round hole. The thickness of the base of the sheller is 5 mm.

For this we need to pick up on an angular grinder already washed off a disk of as small a diameter as possible. We select and place it on the angle grinder.

Then we as carefully as possible make a shallow saw cut with this disc along the already marked circle on the channel and the sheet metal. At the same time we try to saw, driving the angle grinder with the same speed and constantly turning it in the direction of the circle.

Then we do this kind of manipulation. In a sheet of metal cut a piece with our circle and make a few cuts through, from the edge and to cut the circle itself. A channel on the contrary, we cut a window in the center of the circle and also full cuts and go to the circle itself, you get here are such segments.I will say right away that in a thick metal, it is better to make cuts for the segments more often, it will be easier to remove them. I made too big segments on the channel, but I have a crocodile attachment to help me swing them out and break them off.

Beginning to remove the unwanted segments of the metal on a sheet of 2mm we use pliers, you do not have much of a problem, everything is easy to remove. a few times I bend up and down and that’s it. But there is more work to be done with thick channel metal. Break off unwanted segments with a hammer and in my case a crocodile tool. So it is better to saw these segments small, so you can only use a hammer, but it is better to use two. one you set and another you hit on it.

That’s how we achieved our goal. Cut out a circle of metal in 2 mm, and cut a circle in the metal 5 mm.

But there’s another way, without cutting out these small unnecessary segments.

We also take a piece of thick metal, 5mm. We mark out a circle with a caliper and, as in the first case, make a neat notch with a small disc. Then along this notch simply continue round after round to make a kerf angle grinder, trying to move at the same speed and constantly turn the angle grinder in the direction of the circle. And so we cut a circle of metal to the end.

Here are ways to cut a round hole in the metal with an angle grinder. What happens to the dimensions we originally set with these cutting methods?

When you cut a circle of metal as in the first case, then this circle will not particularly depart from the size of the markings, well, maybe a couple of millimeters. But if you cut as in the last photo, that way the file will take a lot of metal, and if you want to make a more accurate size of this pancake, it is safe to add when marking the desired diameter of 6-8 mm.

HOMEMADE DIY Circle Cutter for Metal out of an old file and vice grips

How to cut a circular hole in metal with an angle grinder or welding.

Locksmiths and craftsmen of other profiles are often faced with the need to cut a circle in metal. This can be done in a variety of ways. About them we will tell in this article.

For example, you can cut a circle in a sheet of metal using:

Next, we’ll cover the operations and consider the specifics of cutting thin and thick sheet metal. Let’s start with the peculiarities of marking.

How to quickly cut a perfect circle with an angle grinder

There is hardly a better way for the home handyman than this, to make a round hole in metal or other parts. Angle grinder will help make an even cut and the hole will turn out almost perfect, even in thick steel billet. As an option. the use of drilling on a circle, but it’s pretty humdrum operation and is suitable if you do not have at home angular grinder. Gas cutter or welding machine will not provide a neat even edge, and it is better to leave them for when you need a rough job. There are a couple of tricks on how to make a smooth cut. About this step by step below.

Browse our products for the inventor. Store link.

Classification of drills for square openings

The name “square drill bit” comes from what shape of hole the nozzle is able to drill. Externally, such drills have a triangular shape (tip), but with their help it is possible to obtain openings with a square shape. The nozzles in question are classified according to a number of the following characteristics:

• Type of working material. it can be wood, metal or plastic
• The material from which the nozzle is made. Depending on what material you need to get a square cut in, nozzles are made of alloy steel, carbon steel, or high-speed steel
• Type of nozzles production. they come in two kinds: solid and compound type. Compound nozzles have an articulated (gimbal) shank, through which the load on the tool chuck is reduced. Gimbal nozzles are extremely rare today

Square drill bits of domestic production are produced in compliance with the standards GOST 886-77, GOST 4010-77 and GOST 10902-77. However, foreign-made drills, which are made in compliance with the relevant standards, are very popular. The marking is indicated on the tail of the cutter, which provides information such as diameter, material of manufacture and company name.

Main steps of the work

The first thing to do is to make a mount for the angle grinder. To do this, the author cuts two metal plates, drills holes in them and uses bolts to attach them to the gear housing.

After that it is necessary to cut one more plate and weld it to the first two plates.

Tip: How to make a cart for a welding semiautomatic machine

Next, the author welds a steel strip to the resulting mount, the end of which is fixed to the body of the angle grinder with a clamp.

To the mount of the angle grinder (in the center of the top plate) it will be necessary to weld a bolt.

In the next step the author cuts off a piece of round tube. On the tube you need to put the sleeve (from a pipe of larger diameter) with a fixing bolt, and to the ends of the nuts should be welded. The author welds two pieces of tubing to the sleeve.

Next, it is necessary to make another bushing with a locking device. It should be welded to the round magnet (you can take it off the old speaker).

Then you can begin assembling the fixture. For convenience, the author screws the handle from the angle grinder into the tube. We set the stand on a sheet of metal, set the desired size and you can cut out a circle.

How to cut a circle in metal with a welder

Please note! Welding machine with a maximum current of 150 amperes can cut sheet metal up to 4 mm thick. To work with thicker workpieces, you will need a power tool with increased capacity.

Thin electrodes are used to cut circles in metal with a welder. This saves time. But you have to change the fine jigsaws frequently. This necessitates heating the metal after installing new consumables.

Pictured : powerful domestic welder (max amperage 400A)

You can use the jigsaw to cut a circle in a sheet of metal of small to medium thickness. The process looks like this.

• Consider the thickness of the metal, choose a suitable blade for the jigsaw.
• Fit the electric tool with a jig.
• Before you cut a circle in a sheet of metal, mark the workpiece.
• Drill a hole with an electric drill where you begin to cut the circle.
• Turn on the jigsaw and get to work. Cut a circle in the metal strictly on the contour.

Important! Consider the following features of jigsaws for cutting circles in metal.

• The fewer the teeth on the blades, the better. The line of the cut will be more accurate.
• Cutting circles in metal sheets with a jigsaw is done in a reciprocating motion.
• Control the angle of the blade carefully to avoid mistakes and inaccuracies.
• When cutting a circle in metal, the probability of blade breakage increases significantly. Just in case, buy some cutting tools.

Picture : cutting a circle in metal with a jigsaw blade

One more thing! Do not forget about the need to use a cooling lubricant.

How to cut a circle in metal: best practices and valuable tips

Any construction, whether in your home, or in production, involves working with metal.

Often, during the operation of this material, the question may arise: how to cut a circle in metal?

It deserves attention, because of the choice of the right tool and the technology depends directly on the labor intensity of the process of implementation of the work and the quality of its result.

Metal marking

The metal should be marked with the contour of the hole to be cut. Cutting a round hole in metal is not as difficult as drilling a hole in glass, but it is more complicated. Marking is carried out using a marker, ruler, not a marking compass. For a hole made up of straight lines, use a ruler not a marker to mark out the hole. To mark a circular hole, use a compass marker. To make it more visible, it is marked with a marker.

Jigsaw use

If you need a perfectly straight circle, you can use an electric jigsaw to cut it.

• First determines the thickness of the metal and selects the appropriate saw blade for the jigsaw.
• Before you cut a circle in the metal with a jigsaw, the contour of the circle to be cut out is outlined on the working plane.
• Using a drill and drill bit (with a diameter of eight to ten millimeters) cut a hole, which will begin the work.
• The saw blade of the jigsaw is placed in the resulting slot and the cutting continues according to the outlined drawing.

Cutting out with this tool is quick and easy. over, using a jigsaw, you can get a circle with perfect edges. But only for metal of minimal to medium thickness (e.g., 2 to 3 mm).

How to make a scratching post from wood with his own hands

What is needed

• Sisal rope or jute;
• liquid fabric dye. optional;
• a wooden bar;
• round wooden workpiece;
• felt-tip pen, pencil, or pen;
• drill;
• wood dye. optional; liquid fabric dye. optional; wood dye. optional;
• Brush. optional;
• screws;
• hot gun;
• construction stapler;
• pompoms and yarn. optional;
• Bar top. optional.

How to make a scratching post

If desired, give the rope a different color, using the instructions on the dye package. In this master class, the pieces of rope are painted in three different shades.

Place the bar in the center of the round workpiece and trace.

Divide the rectangle thus drawn with two perpendicular lines. Inside you will have four identical smaller figures. Divide them with diagonals. at the intersection of the lines will be the points where the screws need to be screwed in. Place the same marks on the base of the bar.

At these points, drill four holes in each piece.

The round base can be painted without affecting the center of the workpiece.

Screw the bar to the round piece with screws on the back side.

Place the future scratching post on the base. Glue a sisal rope or jute to the bottom and secure the end with a stapler. You can screw in a screw instead.

Wrap the cording around the bar by gluing it to the wood on all sides. If you change colored sections, use stapler to fix the end of each section additionally.

When the surface for sharpening is done, you can still attach pom-poms on strings and a beautiful top.

What other options are available

This cat scratcher is similar to the previous one. Only the base is additionally finished with a cloth, and a simple house of a small shelf is installed on top: