Haven't tried anything yet but what would be the best way to cut 1.5-1.8mm sheet steel - like a computer case? I want to make a pair of hooks for the heater and don't think tin snips will cut it (pun intended)

_________________
David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

I'm just wondering that myself as I'm cutting the carb heat sheilds out soon , using 1.8mm thick mild steel and thinking it might have to be angle grinder . Knew I should have got a nibbler this morning ...

_________________

Angle grinder is fast and easy, but following will also work:

Jigsaw with metal cutting blade: slower progress but accurate.
Tinsnips: Very slow progress and the metal will curl up as it passes the shears.


For the heater box hooks I'd just bend up a big U shaped thing from flatbar and mount it to that. That's if I was doing another car. Last time I drilled the factory ones out of a scrap shell, welded the holes up and put new ones in to attach properly.

For that thickness

nibbler>jigsaw>grinder>snips

_________________
Too many cars, and too little time.

I bought a Falcon 'metal nibbler' on eBay for $60 or so. Attaches to a drill as the power source. Worked beautifully on corrugated roofing iron. I also want to cut a heat shield which is thicker but haven't tried it yet. Falcon seems to be the best quality brand of the non-powered versions and has replacement parts so if the cutter blunts all is not lost. There's also lots of powered nibblers (electric and air) on eBay but I doubt the quality of some.

Search eBay for 'nibbler'

if you go teh angle grinder route, get the thinnest disks you possible can, i think theyre less than half a millimeter, i swear by them, they actually give a clean cut, and take no time!

_________________
-jamie-
1963morris 850
1965 solid side van
1994 rover racecar

If you want something nice an manly, get a 14" diamond/steel bladed petrol powered angle grinder.

I've spent enough time with quickcut saws , normally knee deep in crud as well , I'll stick with a 4" angle grinder and wafer blade ...

_________________

I've looked at nibblers but was warned by someone that they punch out little cresent shaped pieces if metal that can end up all over the garage floor and if you are in the habit or even if ever walk around in bare feet - OUCH ! Also stick in your shoes and make a mess of polished floors. Just a thought.

Also hard to get a straight line - been thinking of pneumatic shears better for straight lines at least.

_________________
David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

I used a dremel to cut out the inner guards of my mini for the more complex parts. Worked brilliantly, just went through a few disks, but for what you want should be perfect. Easy to control and get nice shapes.

_________________

Starlet Conversion:
http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15484

Obvioulsy a prison issue plastic knife is pretty sharp - ask Ivan Millat - give that a go

I gave an air nibbler a go recently. I love it. It does leave a crescent shaped cut (like a fingernail cutting) but I never found it as annoying as all that to clean up. Very little effort, you only need to carry the weight of the tool, the tool does the work for you.

_________________
SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

My Falcon nibbler is great, even though it's second hand.

Easy to follow a straight line, but you MUST CLEAN UP PROPERLY!
Those "cresent shaped" punchings are like staples, and with bare feet they HURT

_________________
Too many cars, and too little time.

A cut-off disc in a small angle grinder works well, and one in a die grinder for smaller work. I have some power shears that are great for cutting a sheet and they don't leave waste.

Al

I use a "saber" saw or Reciculating saw, with a metal blade - its great.

_________________
speed costs....how fast do you want to go...