Cost of sheet metal cuts

**TheEntertainer** · 30th October 2018, 12:07 PM

Hi all,

Hope you are having a great Tuesday.

I'm in the planning phase building a BBQ, ZA style. see attached pc.
BBQ V0003.PNG
For this I'm planning (and open to suggestions) 2mm mild steel plate. I'll need about 15 cuts (have not drawn it all yet) out of 1 1200x2400 sheet.

Any advice on the cost of these cuts in and around west Ryde sydney? The biggest cuts will be 850x600

Thanks all

J

**weeds** · 30th October 2018, 12:13 PM

Call a couple of laser cutting joints......i get it done up here in Brisbane from time to time but never take notice of the price.

**Don 130** · 30th October 2018, 03:16 PM

Buttsworths out at South Windsor will cut and or fold it for you. Send your drawings for a price. They're very good and worth the trip. The bloke in the sheetmetal shops a sheetie, so he can give you advice on your project.

Steel Supplies, Power Tools, Fasteners Gas Industrial

Don.

**loanrangie** · 30th October 2018, 04:19 PM

Can you reduce any of the cuts by folding ?

**TheEntertainer** · 30th October 2018, 04:35 PM

If the can fold the angle then it could be possible to bend a long thin sheet 5 times so that it will join back, or parts there of. The bend will only save a 3-4 cuts.

**Homestar** · 30th October 2018, 07:44 PM

Just a thought bubble - have you thought about buying the whole sheet, taking it home in one piece (if you can move it easily enough) and hiring a plasma cutter for the day? Only a thought and I’m assuming a lot like if you can get the sheet home, have the space, a compressor, etc.

**Slunnie** · 30th October 2018, 11:20 PM

Allow about $4ish every time the blade comes down.

**TheEntertainer** · 31st October 2018, 07:30 AM

Would love to hire the plasma and cut them all but that would just take to much time.
If I have them all cut I can just weld them together, trim and paint.

$4 a cut via blade is not that bad, I'll get a quote from the place in windsor and report back

**Rick1970** · 31st October 2018, 12:29 PM

Or the home bootyfab method, 5” grinder with cutoff disc, straight edge as a guide, cut half way through and fold, weld joint. With a bit of practice you can end up with reasonable folds/joints.
Proper machines are obviously better, but sometimes you just have to use what you have available....

**Toxic_Avenger** · 31st October 2018, 01:44 PM

^^^What rick said.
I don't think a Laser company would not look at you for a one-off. Or if they did, slug you for the drawings and a premium on the time.
Sometimes you can find backyard CNC plasma people out there, but many of these people are limited by the sheet size.
Freehand plasma, or plasma with a guide kit can be done, but again, hire $$, air compressor hire or purchase or running... adds up.
Most fab shops / sheeties will have a 'gillo' (Guillotine), but most are limited to one cut for the length of the blade... so you cannot cut to length as easily (and as such will need more sheet if this causes wastage. Folding is an operation they could also do for you, if the plans allow 3 (or 5) sides to be made from one length of sheet.

If you are welding yourself, then you'd own a grinder. Spend $30 bucks on some 1mm cutoff discs, and go to town. Mark lines, straight edge, ear and eye protection, and you'll git'er'done.
You can also get metal blades for circular saws, but bank on about 100 clams to purchase this.

Side note:
I'm going thru the planning stages of a cross flow smoker build. What software are you using for the drawings?

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