Bed Trimming Tool Recommendations

[Dave Bennett]

I am going to trim my rear quarters for clearance and my new wrap around rear bumper.

What is the best way to cut the sheet metal straight and clean?

 

[Spikepretorius]

I vote for a small angle grinder. (115mm disk, whatever 115mm is in Yankspeak)
Easiest to hold steady and get a straight cut.
I trimmed the back of my Ford like that.

 

[p1michaud]

Let the sparks fly!

I am going to trim my rear quarters for clearance and my new wrap around rear bumper.

What is the best way to cut the sheet metal straight and clean?

Tacodoc,
Based on the threads I've read, most people either used a 4 1/2" mini grinder with a cut off wheel or a reciprocating saw (sawz all). Either method would work, the key to a clean and straight cut is preparation and patience.

Make sure to tape the area up, helps prevent pain chips. Make a nice straigh line. I'd probably used duct tape as the base layer then put some Blue painter's tape on to mark on.

Make sure to remove both tail lights and any wiring that may be in the way so you don't cut them.

When you make the cut, take your time but don't stay in one area too long to heat up the metal and bubble up the paint . I'd use a mini grinder with a very thin cut off wheel similar to the Walter Zip Cut.

Good luck and steady hands!
Cheers :beer:,
P

 

[Rezarf <><]

I have used a high quality jig saw with great results. A sawz-all is kinda hard to control, but a cut off wheel with a steady hand can do a great job.

For me, a Bosch jig saw with a good blade and a little cutting oil made quick work of my fj40 sheet metal.

Just my .02

Drew

 

[Spikepretorius]

I used a Bosch jigsaw with a fine blade on my wheelarches and other twisty bits but found the grinder better for straight lines.

 

[BogusBlake]

I've bobbed a couple beds and cut a few fenders. I've found that any kind of reciprocating saw just yanks the sheet metal around and you get a wavy cut at best.

My best and straightest cuts were made using an .040 cutoff wheel in my 4.5" angle grinder. I sharpie a line with a straight edge then tape and cut. DON'T RUSH!

 

[Jeep]

Do the angle grinder/cut off disc. The thinner the disc the easier the cut and the cooler the cutting area so the paint won't blister, a little masking tape will help too. I use Walter Zip Cut wheels.

 

[p1michaud]

Bed trimming tools

I suggest you an "air chisel" (aka: air hammer) with a ripper tip.

I'm currious, do you mean this:

Air Shears

or

an Air Hammer with a Cutting Chisel (i.e. second one from the left in the picture)?


Cheers :beer:,
P

 

[DaveInDenver]

Air Shears

Those would be my first choice.

View attachment 12629

Second would be a jig saw with a fine blade (I have a Bosch).

 

[DaveInDenver]

Here is a picture of the cutter. Its cut is damn impressive.

Looks like it would work, just strikes me like it might be kinda brutal being on the other end of an air chisel. Doesn't wrinkle the sheet metal, then?

 

[DaveInDenver]

I was truely amazed at how well it cut. when I saw what he was about to do I freaked.

When I saw the quality of the cut...I was amazed!

Its hard to show an old metal hacker like me something new!

Well, there you go. I was skeptical, but coming from y'all guess I'll be a monkey's uncle.

 

[ntsqd]

I've used those too. Great tool. Will turn sharper than the aircraft metal shears mentioned earlier. Only trouble I've ever had is in a really long cut I have to stop & cut off the strip. It will only 'roll up' for so long and then it starts causing trouble. That's no big deal though.

The problem with saw blades is that they almost always fail the 3 teeth rule in sheet metal. Should never be fewer than 3 teeth engaged in the work piece at any one time. Follow that rule and you'll be amazed at how much better the cuts are, and when to look for some other method.

 

[david despain]

sounds like the perfect excuse to get that plasma cutter you've had your eye on

 

[devinsixtyseven]

I used a sawzall for one side, and the cutoff wheel after I found what the sawzall did .

Add a fine flap wheel to clean up any mess, some touchup paint and some door moulding and it'll look great.

 

[Dave Bennett]

Here is a picture of the cutter. Its cut is damn impressive.

Is this a type of tool a guy could rent here in SoCal? I hate to buy one for one time use...

Anyone have one I could borrow this weekend?

My bumper shipped today so it's almost time, I might even need a hand :Mechanic: