Best Way To Cut Thin Copper Sheet

How to cut thin sheet metal and keep it flat.

Best way to cut thin copper sheet. Draw your shapes you want to cut onto copper with pencil or a sharpie marker. To make detailed cuts in sheet metal use a dremel blade. This foil will work well with many mixed media backgrounds. For thin sheets of metal you can use tin snips to cut through it.

Begin cut with metal cutting sheer. If you use metal shears to cut thin sheet metal such as duct metal it curls and can be difficult to flaten properly. The illustrations are for a small bracket but i have cut 3 foot. You can also use golden gac 200 and the paint will adhere to the copper foil better.

Measure the dimensions needed with tape measure. You can cut this thickness with a pair of scissors or even tear it with your hands. Mark the required dimensions on the surface of the sheet using marking tool and straightedge. Elevate and support one edge of sheet with free hand allowing entry point for cut enough clearance for metal cutting sheer to proceed.

You can use barkeepers powdered cleaner bon ami is similar or if you want to go all natural baking soda lemon juice and dish liquid work pretty good. Clamp the sheet metal to a work table and press the dremel blade against it. Before you start cutting i would recommend taping couple of your major fingers. The 1 mil copper sheet will not hold its own shape without something behind it to reinforce it.

Tin snips are perhaps the most popular and affordable but there are also heavier duty versions available designed for cutting thicker sheets.