What Tool Should I Use To Cut Metal Roofing? (Explained)

The durability and eco-friendliness of metal roofing sheets make them top choices for modern roofing buildings. However, cutting these metal roofing panels for installation on roofs requires special tools.

So, what tools should you use to cut metal roofing sheets before you use them on your building?

To cut your metal roofing sheets, you should use metal cutting tools that do the job appropriately. These tools include the hacksaw, tin snips, nibbler, circular saw, angle grinder, jigsaw, and electric shears. You can also use tools for metal roof cutting, are metal-air shears, cold saw, and oxy-acetylene torch.

What Is the Best Thing to Cut Metal Roofing With?

Certain variables determine the best choice of metal cutting tools. These factors include the type and quantity of the material and the level of experience of the person doing the cutting. 

Some metal roofing sheets like steel are more complicated than others made of aluminum, tin, and zinc. To cut through the rigid sheets, you may find it best to use more powerful tools like the angle grinder.

However, standard tools like tin snips, shears, and even the hacksaw will do for soft sheets.

Some metal cutting tools can cut just a single sheet, while others can easily slice through bulks of sheets. Simple tools like hacksaws and shears are suitable for less quantity of metal sheets.

On the other hand, devices like the oxy-acetylene torch and even the circular saw and jigsaw with the right blade can cut metals in bulk.

Metal cutting tools are sharp and fast and can cause serious injury if you do not take caution. To prevent accidents and minimize waste, you should use tools following your level of expertise.

For amateurs, simple tools are the best options, while professionals can use the more powerful tools depending on the work.

What Is the Best Way to Cut Corrugated Metal Roofing?

The best way to cut corrugated metal roofing involves following the proper steps to achieve the best cut at the end.

These include choosing the right tools for different amounts, positioning the material, and safety precautions.

The guidelines below will help you achieve the best amount for corrugated metal roofing:

#1. Safety Comes First

Before carrying out metal cutting, always adopt safety measures to prevent severe injuries to yourself and others.

These tactics include donning safety goggles and gloves to protect the eyes and hands, which are more vulnerable to injuries.

Working with some tools and heights above the ground may also require safety harnesses. 

#2. Select the Right Tools

In cutting corrugated metal roofing, you will, at some points, need to work with different tools. You will need power tools to cut large pieces of metal and smaller devices like the snips for small parts.

You have to select the right tools beforehand, depending on the cuts you will make.

#3. Position Your Corrugated Metal

The position of your metal roofing on your work surface will significantly influence your success. You will need sawhorses or sawing tables to hold the metal in place while you cut.

Whatever support you use, make sure it doesn’t disrupt the working of the cutting tool.

#4. The Actual Cutting

The primary cutting depends on the tool you are employing at different points during the cutting.

Various tools cut corrugated metal differently, and you may need to use more than one tool when cutting. You can check how to cut corrugated metal to see how to use the different tools.

What Blade do You Use to Cut Metal Roofing?

Metal cutting tools have blades adapted for cutting metals, and those are the ones you should use for cutting metal roofing.

Some blades are multipurpose, and one can use them for cutting a variety of materials like wood, metal, and plastic. Others are specially made for cutting metal sheets and are of materials like steel and carbide.

Some blades are for specific metal types. For example, some blades are to cut steel, aluminum, or any other metal, while others are general in action. For corrugated metal roofing sheets, broad metal blades are okay.

The type of cut you want also influences the type of blade you should use. The teeth and thickness of an edge for a particular cut may be inadequate for a different kind of cut.

In general, there are two types of blades for cutting metal roofing; ferrous and non-ferrous metal cutting blades.

Ferrous blades fit for cutting sheets made of solid metals like iron and steel. For cutting sheets made of softer metals like aluminum, tin, and copper, non-ferrous blades are ideal. 

Aside from metal blades, you can also use diamond blades to cut metal roofing sheets. These blades are stiffer and more robust and make clean cuts while lasting longer than metal blades.

However, diamond blades are more expensive and may prove costly for some people.

Some metal cutting tools have specific blades for metals which you can fix when you want to cut metal roofing.

For example, the circular saw uses blades like the IRWIN 7-1/4” metal cutting blade and Lenox 433-21881 7-1/4-Inch blade for cutting metals.

Whatever tool you use, you should ensure that the edge is for cutting metals.

Can You Cut Metal Roofing With an Angle Grinder?

Yes, you can cut metal roofing sheets with an angle grinder. It is a good substitute for the circular saw for use by amateurs.

In addition, the angle grinder could come in handy when you need to cut rigid metal roofing sheets.

The versatility of the angle grinder makes it relevant to many points of application. It can cut stones, concrete, mortar, and metals of different types like aluminum and steel.

However, it requires a change of cutting wheel to convert an anger grinder to a metal roofing cutting tool.

However, the angle grinder is not the best tool for cutting metal roofing materials.

Safer tools like the nibbler and shears do neater jobs than the grinder, which leaves the sheet with rough edges. Furthermore, the hero gives out sparks that can spoil the sheet’s paint finish.

Can You Cut Metal Roofing With a Jigsaw?

The jigsaw is to cut sheet metals, so you can use it to cut metal roofing sheets. With enough expertise, one can overcome the challenges of using jigsaw to cut metal roofing sheets.

To use this tool for metal roof cutting, however, you need to know some things that guarantee a perfect job.

First, the type of metal you want to cut determines the kind of jigsaw. For example, heavy-gauge metal roofing sheets require powerful jigsaws to cut them efficiently.

The speed setting of the saw should also be ideal for cutting metals.

Also, the blade fitted on the jigsaw determines if it can cut a metal roofing sheet or not. The smoothness of the cut depends on the teeth count, and 24 teeth per inch give the smoothest of cuts.

Jigsaw blades are of different varieties, and other edges are available for various metal types.

Furthermore, cutting metal roofing with the jigsaw requires supports for the metal. For this purpose, sawhorses are very relevant when cutting metal with the saw.

Support in this context also includes lubricating oil to facilitate easier cutting and prolong blade life.

You can’t accurately cut metal roofing without measurements and markings, and this extends to works done with the jigsaw.

Therefore, you will need measuring tools like tape, straightedges, and markers. Other necessities include paints or sealers to ensure that the cut end of the metal doesn’t undergo corrosion.

Importantly, you should only attempt to use the jigsaw with complete safety gears and every other cutting tool.

In addition, you should don safety goggles to protect the eyes from flying metal shards and gloves to protect the hands.

Conclusion

You can use many tools to cut metal roofing, depending on the type of metal. Among these tools are the angle grinder and jigsaw, whose metal cutting ability depends on some factors.

The best among these tools for your work depends on your material and your experience level in metal roofing cutting.