Cutting Galvanized Sheet Metal With Plasma

How to join galvanized metal without melting the galvanized coating duration.

Cutting galvanized sheet metal with plasma.

The zinc in galvanized steel can react with moisture from the scrap metal creating a highly flammable stream of hydrogen that shoots out when the outer layer of galvanized steel is cut. I have an application that would lend itself to a plasma cutter i think. A handheld cutting tool fitted with a metal cut off wheel will easily cut through sheet. Cnc plasma cutting sheet metal 50 amps duration.

Cut along your measured line with tin snips. We cut galvanized steel ranging from 20 to 10 ga. Presently we shear and punch parts from a 4x12 sheet. The process of using tin snips is very similar to using scissors.

Prevent an explosion from such a reaction by treating such cutting as if high pressure gas is inside the compartment when you start cutting. Jigsaws and metal cutting band saws are more work but can make most cuts in light to medium sheet metal.