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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    772

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

    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

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Perth, WA
    Age
    57
    Posts
    1

    Default

    Love It!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    kiama
    Posts
    390

    Default

    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

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    772

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 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
    Yes, I expect it was first used shortly after the invention of corro.
    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

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    New Zealand
    Age
    58
    Posts
    5

    Default

    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.
    Judge not lest you're judging yourself

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    West Gippsland, Vic
    Age
    72
    Posts
    394

    Default

    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
    If you never made a mistake, you never made anything!


  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2002
    Location
    Minbun, FNQ, Australia
    Age
    66
    Posts
    1

    Thumbs up What a ripper

    tearific idea.
    Cliff.
    If you find a post of mine that is missing a pic that you'd like to see, let me know & I'll see if I can find a copy.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Beachport, South Oz, the best little town on the planet.
    Age
    73
    Posts
    776

    Default

    Ripper!

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Gold Coast
    Age
    67
    Posts
    239

    Default

    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.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    West Gippsland, Vic
    Age
    72
    Posts
    394

    Default

    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.
    If you never made a mistake, you never made anything!


  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Gold Coast
    Age
    67
    Posts
    239

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 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.
    I didn't say that I do a good job.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Hobart
    Age
    44
    Posts
    0

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Rossluck
    I didn't say that I do a good job.
    LOL.
    <Insert witty remark here>

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Left of the middle
    Age
    63
    Posts
    232

    Default

    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.....

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

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

    Say no more
    100% of all non-smokers die

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Kentucky NSW near Tamworth, Australia
    Age
    86
    Posts
    1,067

    Default

    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.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    5

    Default

    Question.

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

    SN

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