ni metal shear- plans or ideas

[Aquarius21]

Greetings, while racing to launch an old fiberglass Aquarius 21 sailboat this year after 6 years of tinkering metal work has been set aside except tor the re machining of two pulleys to take a larger diameter rope. However, I was wondering as I view the beautiful work possible with brass if anyone knows of a nice clean way to slice thin brass sheet to dimension without the distortion tin snips cause. Are there any inexpensive mini metal shears or plans?
thanks, Quincy

 

[Lakc]

If it absolutely, positively, has to be distortion free, you can always place it between two pieces of plywood and jig saw it.

I use a paper cutter or tin snips and just hammer it back flat with a rawhide hammer.

Not sure how well a laser or plasma cutter would work on brass, possibly not at all.

 

[Blogwitch]

I use el cheapo pneumatic shears and nibbler, they will both cut curves and straights, with the nibbler being able to contour fairly intricate shapes in a variety of metals of different thickness up to about a max of 1.5mm thick. Neither give any distortion, but don't expect perfectly straight lines as you would get with a guillotine, but the shear has a damned good go at achieving it.

http://rdgtools.co.uk/acatalog/AIR_SHEARS_AND_CUTTING_TOOLS.html

Bogs

 

[Tin Falcon]

I have one of these

More info here http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-Sheet-Metal-Machine/T21320

More machines shears breaks etc here http://www.grizzly.com/products/category.aspx?key=520010
Tin

 

[Aquarius21]

My thanks again, Quincy