Cutting corrugated roofing

[Clint S]

Skill saw with fine tooth carbide tipped blade, and cut from back side....and GOGGLES UNDER FACE SHIELD and cover up really well..... Sounds extreme but the saw will spread the shards everywhere, its like beach sand gets in every crack or crevice.....Its no fun going to ophthalmologist to get metal shard removed for eyeball....

If you need saw guide lightly clamp a length of 2x4 on each side of panels and use bolts or threaded rods to secure....

Dale

I dont like carbide tipped blades for this I have seen the tips fly off when cutting metal. YMMV.

 

[yomax4]

I did several metal roofs on my buildings and started with a shear. It was neet but too slow for the amount I had to cut so I went with Plasma set at 20 amps with correct consumables was a breeze.

 

[radios1]

why cut the panels at all?. you can lay one panel over the other, making it double thick, but that should be no problem.

 

[LouNY]

I cut it with a woodblade turned backwards in a circular say. Wear hearing protection and eye protection. Clamp it down

We have always used a fine tooth preferably carbide tipped installed backwards, we cut just one at a time.
With a 12+12+3=27 on a 26 ft run is not much overlap, we have usually shot for at least a foot over lap at each joint, in your more moderate climate it may not be needed.

 

[the old grind]

Cut with this $20 drill-mounted or similar nibbler. "up to 14 Gs steel". Others may cut heavier gauges. (BigBarn's Makita?)
It will follow contour easily for crosscutting, and can be held vertically to let chips fall to floor.

https://www.amazon.com/Nibbler-Cutt...t=&hvlocphy=9017065&hvtargid=pla-795729708862

De-burr edges to suit with this $10 drill-mounted paint stripper or similar, 'Bright-Boy, etc.
Use a med speed drill, and not w/o the side handle if your touch is a bit rough. Finish with alkyd enamel or rattle can zinc coating.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Paint-Rus...ocphy=9017065&hvtargid=pla-323291404932&psc=1

 

[EddieWalker]

If it's just this one project, use your oldest, most worn out framing blade in your 7 1/4 inch saw with it installed backwards. It will cut the metal easily, but the noise will be horrific. I cut them upside down so the edge created by the cut is on the down side when you are done. Sometimes I'll run a file over the edge to clean it up, and sometimes I don't bother.

For bigger jobs, or where I'm really concerned about how it will look, I use my 4 1/2 grinder with a metal cutting wheel. It's harder to hold, but you get a cleaner cut.

 

[Handloader109]

it ain't gonna make the panels rust. just a lie to make you buy different more expensive panels.
circular saw blade backwards works just fine. done it numerous times. A cutoff wheel works fine also. really no difference. hand or pneumatic shear won't work across the corrugated sheet well. won't stay straight.
have fun. eye protection, glasses and cheap face shield is good. gloves and ear muffs

 

[chim]

I should be ordering metal panels this week for the new 14x28 shed. The supplier near me makes the panels to the length you order. When I asked how much lead time they need, he said "oh, a few hours for an order that size". The only field cuts necessary are for doors, windows or gable ends. In the installation manual they advise cleaning the panels of all debris from cutting. The concern seems to be that the metal shavings or dust will rust and transfer the rust stains to the panel.

Interesting short video of their facility:

Making the ABM Metal Roof Panel - YouTube

 

[sodamo]

why cut the panels at all?. you can lay one panel over the other, making it double thick, but that should be no problem.

Except for the extra $400, I like it.

 

[radios1]

Except for the extra $400, I like it.

how could that possibly cost more?. you are just overlapping the same amount and size of panels to fit the size you want..