This is the tip of the year I reckon-tearing corr. iron

[mic-d]

Some time ago I was chatting to the BIL whose in the army and somehow we got onto the topic of cutting corrogated iron... as you do. He mentioned that they use a fair bit of corro on temp structures they build out bush and to cut to size they simply rip it!
What says I!? You mean hook it up to the 4x4 or something??!
No, just knick it with tinsnips, lie it on the ground, stand on one side and pull up the other.
But, but says I flabergasted, how many people do you use and how do you get it to rip straight??
Oh, just one, and it rips straight.

Conversation filed away...

Last couple of days I've been reroofing a shed at our pony club (no power onsite) and I mentioned this conversation to my offsider (one of the pony club mums). We were both hoping it would work, but neither of us expected it to. Well, did it ever - so fast and virtually square - maybe 5-10mm runout! After ripping one or two, I climbed on the roof and handed ripping duties over to said offsider who also found it no trouble to do (welding gauntlets or gloves highly recommended!). Once the newer zincalume was exhausted we had several long lengths of older heavier corro, which she also ripped with slightly more effort. I can't imagine how long it would have taken with tinsnips!
Best tip I've ever been given I think, so thought I'd pass it around.

CHeers
Michael

[Paul H]

Love It!

[durwood]

I was shown that method over 30 years ago when doing the roof of my house, you forgot to mention that the edge is not exactly straight. Thats straight vertically through the sheet not at right angles to an edge. It helps if you stand directly over the sheet and put straight up.

It goes in and out as it rises and falls in the corrogations so is best put up under the flashing though

[mic-d]

I was shown that method over 30 years ago when doing the roof of my house, you forgot to mention that the edge is not exactly straight. Thats straight vertically through the sheet not at right angles to an edge. It helps if you stand directly over the sheet and put straight up.

It goes in and out as it rises and falls in the corrogations so is best put up under the flashing though
Yes, I expect it was first used shortly after the invention of corro. :D
I did notice that in ripped in a kind of a fluted pattern like you said, so we left that exposed to give people something to think about!;)

Cheers
Michael

[channa]

I saw a bloke score a line down a sheet with a box cutter then rip it along the line - looked too easy to be true. Guess he didn't need the box cutter! Can't wait to give it a try now.http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon14.gif

[Shedhand]

This is an old but goody. I've never cut sheets to length, always ripped them. It works best if you plant your foot close to the line you want and after you've torn about 12" - wearing suitable gloves of course - grab the waste piece in both hands so that the tearing stays parallel. I can even tear zincalume siding at a 15 degree angle to match roof pitch.
Cheers

[Cliff Rogers]

tearific idea.:D

[Christopha]

Ripper!

[Rossluck]

It sounds OK, but whenever I've had to cut the stuff I've just placed it flat on the ground, drawn a line with a texta and run through it with a circular saw with a metal blade. The saw hides the sparks and the line is straight. I dunno.

[Shedhand]

Cutting with a high speed blade is not recommended as the heat created at the cut surface causes oxidisation which allows corrosion to occur (rapidly) under the coating.

[Rossluck]

Cutting with a high speed blade is not recommended as the heat created at the cut surface causes oxidisation which allows corrosion to occur (rapidly) under the coating.

I didn't say that I do a good job.

[CameronPotter]

I didn't say that I do a good job.

LOL. :D

[fred.n]

Went around to a friends place today, and he was "cutting" some roofing iron for a pidgeon cage. I thought I'd have a go.....:D :D

you know it's a GREAT idea when all he could say was

%$## ME ..thats a *^**ing beauty:eek: :eek: :eek:

Say no more:)

[Barry_White]

To cut custom orb hi tensile length ways you score it down one of the corrugates with a tungsten scriber and then bend it away from the scored line and it will just snap in half.

[Shannon Nash]

Question.

Does it work for both 'Ripping' (along the length) and 'cross cutting' across the sheet?

SN

[Barry_White]

Question.

Does it work for both 'Ripping' (along the length) and 'cross cutting' across the sheet?

SN

Shannon

Ripping only works across the sheet. For cutting lengthwise see my post above.

[soundman]

SSSSSHHHH don't sperad it arround tooo much.

Thats a great party trick.

I recon you could winn a few beers with that one.

I bet yo 50 bucks my misus could rip a sheet of corro right down the middle!
:D :D

[Lignum]

I bet yo 50 bucks my misus could rip a sheet of corro right down the middle!
:D :D

Ill have 50 on that;) Maybe across in half but not sure about down the middle ( unless shes Xena on the juice:cool: )

[soundman]

OK smartie:p ... across the middle... but you get the idea.

[watson]

I use the scoring method for along the length cuts with a bend and flex etc, but for cross cuts I do the first couple of inches with an old cleaver (just a wack at the right place) and then the rip method described above. The only difference is the I stand on a bit of wood that is lined up with the cleaver cut, across the width, and then grab and rip.
Only works before you put it up on the roof.....yeas I know, but I actually tried it up on a roof!!....smirk!
Noel

[Clinton1]

we rip it down the length of the sheet by laying the sheet over a piece of wire. One end of the wire is tied off at ground level to a star picket (driven into the ground), the other end of the wire is hitched to a bit of stick.
Line the sheet up over the wire, and pull the wire up and back. Its pretty neat when you get the right 'speed' happening.
Can be used for cutting across the corrugations as well, if you want.
When I first saw it I thought the bloke telling me was being a smartar$e... till I saw it.

[scooter]

Sounds interesting Clinton

[Waldo]

G'day Mic-D,

Great struff. I'll file that one away and give FIL a run for his money, if ever the chance arises to use it, and knock the socks off him.

(being one up on him is a great thing :cool: )

[echnidna]

Must try the wire trick Clinton, sounds interesting and faster than ripping

[spoinky]

I have ripped cor sheet by using good fencing wire. Nail the wire to a board and lay in a straight line under the sheet, with a nick cut into the sheet, then standing on the sheet, pull the wire and it cuts like a cheese slicer.

[Woodlee]

we rip it down the length of the sheet by laying the sheet over a piece of wire. One end of the wire is tied off at ground level to a star picket (driven into the ground), the other end of the wire is hitched to a bit of stick.
Line the sheet up over the wire, and pull the wire up and back. Its pretty neat when you get the right 'speed' happening.
Can be used for cutting across the corrugations as well, if you want.
When I first saw it I thought the bloke telling me was being a smartar$e... till I saw it.

Ive seen this done with piano wire with a clip on one end and a wooden stick handle on the other ,cut a small nick at each end of the sheet with snips ,place the clip over one nick with the wire in the nick, lay the sheet over the wire and line the wire on the other nick ,using the handle end pull up and back while standing on the sheet .Cuts like a hot knife thru butter.

[rsser]

Froot loops ... all those bloodied knuckles over the years, wasted.

[sprices]

My father in law (now long since retired builder) cuts corro by scoring the sheet with the heel of his hand saw (that is, the last tooth nearest the handle), and then folding it - an old brickies trick I think.
Steve

[Woodlee]

My father in law (now long since retired builder) cuts corro by scoring the sheet with the heel of his hand saw (that is, the last tooth nearest the handle), and then folding it - an old brickies trick I think.
Steve

Similar to what I do ,I use a long piece of angle iron as a straight edge and score the sheet with an old power hacksaw blade sharpened to a hook on one corner ,two or three runs then bend the sheet backwards ,and it snaps like fresh carrot.Works length ways ok on corrugated ,cutting a cross the sheet I use Wiess snips .
I cut all my sheet metal like this up to 1.6mm as I don't have a guillotine at home .

[Mirboo]

My father in law (now long since retired builder) cuts corro by scoring the sheet with the heel of his hand saw (that is, the last tooth nearest the handle), and then folding it - an old brickies trick I think.
Steve

Like this.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g190/mirboo/Woodworker%20Scans/th_WoodworkerAugust1957.jpg (http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g190/mirboo/Woodworker%20Scans/WoodworkerAugust1957.jpg)

From Woodworker Magazine, August 1957.

[Fat Chili]

Clintons method is what I was taught to use whilst wearing a green uniform for 12 years, works extremely well.

[Shedhand]

I used the snip and rip method on the cladding for a 9m x 6m shed a week ago. Ripped all the gable end sheets at the requisite 15 degrees no probs. Then drove a stake in the ground, drilled a 1/4 inch hole at ground level wrapped some tie wire around a bolt - the other end around a pine offcut, laid the sheets on the wide and ripped 4 sheets in half lengthwise real quick 'n' easy. The owner was fascinated to see the sheets cut like paper. Chuck the tin snips in the bin. :wink:

[Shedhand]

Clintons method is what I was taught to use whilst wearing a green uniform for 12 years, works extremely well. "Green uniform" :oo: Worried about that if it was surgery gown. :C If you were in the slammer I wouldn't want to have shared your cell mate...:~ If it was a tree huggers uniform you should have garotted yourself....:D

[tx4000]

I usually snip a start cut on either side of the cut line with tin snips, this makes a start rip easier and gives you something to "aim" for, and makes the rip end clean ;)

[Ray Wise]

:) Wow, old thread I know. But I was wondering today what was the best way to cut some corrug colourbond roofing to size to make a cover for our outdoor water pump. Stumbled across this thread and what do you know, it does work!.

Just made the 1st inch cut with tin snips and then tear away, didn't know you could do that to corrugated roofing. :doh:

Nice one, hoo roo :2tsup:

[Snowmans]

BE CAREFUL!

The first time I have seen this done the person was wearing jandels.
This made quite a mess when he kicked the corner and needed stiches on his big toe.

[Gordon1]

It's 6 years on and you guys ROCK! Great tip...this has been the simplest part of repairing the leaking bathroom roof under our deck. My eternal gratitude. and for those mentally challenged like me and can't work out how you stretch the extra 2 metres to bend the iron up to the required length!!!!:doh: You don't...you tear it sideways (or laterally). Yes I get that this is obvious, but there might be one other dill like me who did not not "get" Geometry at school. Can't believe it 4 mins for 2 sheets, most spent carrying the 6m lengths to a flat area. Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou.

[rsser]

LOL.

This is a blast from the past.

And I was thinking it was lengthways. Doh.

[robbygard]

we rip it down the length of the sheet by laying the sheet over a piece of wire. One end of the wire is tied off at ground level to a star picket (driven into the ground), the other end of the wire is hitched to a bit of stick.
Line the sheet up over the wire, and pull the wire up and back. Its pretty neat when you get the right 'speed' happening.
Can be used for cutting across the corrugations as well, if you want.
When I first saw it I thought the bloke telling me was being a smartar... till I saw it.


that's similar to how we did it when i was a kid (late 50's early 60's) ... except we put a small nick either end and had the wire tied around a couple of small sticks ... one was a good handle to pull the wire up and the other caught in the nick to give it purchase ... mkaes a nice straight cut


regards david

[Ironwood]

I read this post a couple of years back.
I have torn sheets in this manner a few times now, still cant believe how easy it is.

[munruben]

Still a great tip though.:2tsup: