Where can I get metal cut?

[Adam B]

I have a metal strip which acts as a weight on a roman blind. Its too long and is scratching the wall so I need to trim a few inches of it and stitch up the fabric.

Its about 3mm thick so too much for any hand-held tools so does anyone know where I caught take it to get it cut?

[Hugo a Gogo]

really, a vice and a saw wouldn't sort it?

[Trevelyan]

Surely 3mm is fine for hand tools? I've gone through far thicker than that using a hacksaw. I've certainly cut through 10mm thick bar with no problems at all.

[mad4amanda]

Any proper hacksaw or an angle grinder will do it in seconds
Like this:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

[Yazza54]

3mm is cock all

[jas xjr]

Angle grinder, handsaw or even a jigsaw with the correct blade

[Wheelrepairit]

3mm, is that all, snap it with your teeth you pussy.

[Yazza54]

Wheelrepairit said:

3mm, is that all, snap it with your teeth you pussy.

+1

[Laurel Green]

A junior hacksaw will do that OK.

[corradoG60]

Wheelrepairit said:

3mm, is that all, snap it with your teeth you pussy.

OP are you serious? you could file that.

[Adam B]

mad4amanda said:

Any proper hacksaw or an angle grinder will do it in seconds
Like this:
http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

as you can tell i know f all about diy hence the basic question

when I say hand tools I was looking at metal cutters which did not seem to handle anything over 1mm, I guess they were for cutting sheet metal. I don't own a vice or angle grinder and don't want to shell out £30-40 for such tools which I am unlikely to need again.

its 3mm thick steel so imagine it will take longer than seconds, but if that £10 hacksaw will go through steel I will buy one and give it go

cheers

Edited by Adam B on Sunday 14th November 15:54

[eliot]

Yazza54 said:

Wheelrepairit said:

3mm, is that all, snap it with your teeth you pussy.

+1

+2

[jas xjr]

Will be easy to do with a hacksaw but if you can clamp it down it will be even easier

[Adam B]

jas xjr said:

Will be easy to do with a hacksaw but if you can clamp it down it will be even easier

thanks, obviously will use my teeth to clamp it

[jas xjr]

Depending on how soft the material is a plumbers pipe cutter might do it. The clamp type

[Globulator]

eliot said:

Yazza54 said:

Wheelrepairit said:

3mm, is that all, snap it with your teeth you pussy.

+1

+2

Yup, 3mm is a women's size of steel, I regularly snap 5mm bar with my bare hands.

BTW if you cut it too much it won't be any use as a weight.

[mr.man]

In about 8 hours time I will be messing about with steel bar 320 mm dia.

This thread makes me smile.

[AdeTuono]

Adam B said:

jas xjr said:

Will be easy to do with a hacksaw but if you can clamp it down it will be even easier

thanks, obviously will use my teeth to clamp it

Don't see any need for the 'rolleyes'. If you're thick enough to ask your initial question, I reckon you need all the help you can get. Don't forget to to put a blade in the frame (you do know it's directional, don't you?)

[andy43]

Easiest to hire one of these.
Saves messing about with unidirectional hacksaw blades.

[freecar]

OP.

A hacksaw will cut any thickness of metal depending whether you have the strength, time and patience.

The blade will need to be fitted with the teeth facing forwards (they are angled slightly and cut in only one direction) so that the cut is done on the forward stroke.

Mark where you want your cut made, place your thumb next to it as a guide (you can bend you thumb up so the knuckle is used as a rest) and pull gently backwards to create a small groove for the saw to ride in. Once "started" you can start pushing forwards, don't apply any pressure downwards, the weight of the tool and the momentum will do it all! Start slow and try to use the whole length of the blade, take it steady and you'll probably take about ten seconds to go through 3mm!

The hacksaw linked was a full size one, avoid the "junior" type of hacksaw as they are ste! When fitting the blade, tension is important, the blade should "ring" when struck with a metallic object, a taught blade will cut brilliantly!