Snips?
SNIPS?
I think not, Mr. Sleepy Guy. If I'd used snips, I'd still be cutting those sheets, four days after starting, and cursing like a drunken sailor the whole time.
Clearly, this callow young man did not know about Girl Empowerment Tools. To wit: my trusty, much-used reciprocating saw* with a fresh 18 tpi metal-cutting blade, shown here, shortly after making a cut:
Using boards as battens, clamp the metal down tightly on either side to a bench or horse so that it doesn't rattle and jump like a banshee on crack, and use one of the boards as a straight edge to guide the cut. Make sure you are also using the handy tools shown below, since we are, after all, cutting noisy, sharp metal:
Snips, indeed.
I am Woman. Watch me roar.
*Going on a dozen years in use and the best Christmas present ever from Walu.
Obviously that Home Depot guy didn't think you could handle a POWER tool. When are they going to get over it??
ReplyDeleteAnon--Egg-zackly.
ReplyDelete1. Dr. T, you angry=hilarious.
ReplyDelete2. banshee on crack? I about fell out of my chair.
3. I will pray for the man who gives you an answer like that again. But if it does happen, I selfishly hope you'll write about it.
Box stores are not a fountain of information. At the warehouse store an employee told my husband that a TV he was considering was not made in China. When DH pointed out 'made in China' on the box, the guy said that meant the BOX was made in China.
ReplyDeleteEvery girl needs a reciprocating saw. I use one to cut my cedar limbs during improvisational carpentry.
I can just imagine the noise despite the roofing being clamped to boards.
Great post, Susan. Next time try cutting metal roofing/ siding material with a circular saw with a carbide tipped blade. It cuts easily and cleanly, no clamps neccessary just wear eye and hearing protetction. Not to say using a reciprocating saw is not fun.
ReplyDeleteEilleen--Me? Angry? Never!
ReplyDeleteNell Jean--That is hysterical. The box is made in China. Where do they find these guys?
David--I thought about going that route, but those carbide tipped-saw blades are not cheap. So I decided to use what I had on hand. Worked like a dream.
snips? what a jerk. Yes, that's the only way. Could you imagine using snips to roof a whole house!
ReplyDeleteOh, goody. Now if I can just get my hands on some cedar poles and corrugated sheet metal, we can put up my dream ramada when you visit. (kidding!)
ReplyDeleteOh, goody. Now if I can just get my hands on some cedar poles and corrugated sheet metal, we can put up my dream ramada when you visit. (kidding!)
ReplyDeleteI wonder how Mr. SnipIt would have dealt if you'd asked him to cut it to size before you took it home. You'd be able to pick it up, oh, sometime next week? Honestly...makes you wonder how some people get and hold a job, doesn't it? :)
ReplyDeleteSnips? Oh, what an aching hand you'd have had. Your sawing story was fantastic! I've got to get me one of those. Is it cheaper to buy a reciprocating saw & blade or outfit existing circular saw with proper blade, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteMichelle--good point!
ReplyDeletePamela--Have saw, will travel.
Pam--I think it might be cheaper to get the carbide-tipped blade if you don't already own a recip saw. OTOH, a recip saw hase gotten me out of a jam more times around the house and garden than I can count, and is well worth the investment. Plus, I think they are a little easier to handle than a circular saw...
Nancy--I was laughing about your comment all the way on my walk in to school. Indeed, he would have taken that long to cut them...NOT.
ReplyDeleteHome depot is infuriating!
ReplyDeleteYou could always use a snip attachment for your power drill. Seriously though, this is hilarious. The BOX was made in China. Somebody get me oxygen, I can't breathe.
ReplyDeleteDGG--Well, Home Depot has its uses. Information is not always one of them...
ReplyDeleteStealth--I know. I am still laughing about the box being made in China. Well done, Nell Jean!
I am covering an existing shed, with help. I had planned to use corrugated sheet metal also. I like the way it looks. This has been helpful and hilarious. Maybe I'll try another big box store and see if their knowledge of boxes and sheet metal is any better. I think I have met some banshees on crack, in fact, there maybe more than we want to imagine.
ReplyDeleteAnt--I'm going to do a follow-up post on how to attach the sheets to the roof. It was actually pretty easy.
ReplyDeletePS Ant--if you need to borrow the recip saw, just let me know.
ReplyDeleteThe banshee on crack has me laughing still as I type this! Susan~Thanks I was wondering myself how to tackle this job...I want to use the CSM as fencing. gail word verification actup!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic post. Snips?Banshee on crack - this is one I will never forget:-D
ReplyDeleteAnd then there is the box made in China :-D This all sounds way too much like a few of my 10 year old
4th graders as well as their parents.
You really should write a book - perhaps one based on power tools for women.
Lindy in AZ
This is fantastic, even though I am late to the party. I am putting a roof on a little wellhouse we are building. Just what I needed to know! I myself have had a sleepy-guy experience at Home Depot -- a pack of sandpaper that rang up at $92.00. "Well," says Sleepy, "it's multi-grade!" For that, I could pay someone to sand for me, if I had a mind to! Thanks Susan for the great tips!
ReplyDeleteOk this is like the best post ever! :) I just built myself a woodshed and was wondering how on earth to roof it. Lots of not-so-helpful posts out there... and then I stumbled across your blog! I'm only two posts in but I'm loving you so far! :D
ReplyDeleteDarn it, I just left you a long comment about how helpful and entertaining I'm finding your roofing posts, and it got magically disappeared into the interwebs. :( See, I just built a woodshed and I was having trouble finding a how-to on installing corrugated roofing... Bike Garden to the rescue! Thanks! :D
ReplyDeleteHi- The reason for snips (hand or power) is to seal the galvi or factory paint over the cut. If you put the factory-edge in the weather, and the new cut edge under cover, all should be well. I use a 4" angle grinder, then some cold-galvicon paint (no sniffing), then expose only factory edges to view and weather.
ReplyDeleteSensation this is a good giveaway for cutting sheet metal. I so necessitate this lol. What an enormous awareness you have provided here. If you need is a metal shear you can use 14 inch band saw and can get a shear, it will cut the metal in thin strips and has an adjustment for what ever the width you want and cut it straight. Gratitude for this well-informed post.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this post Bicycle Garden! We were inspired to create garden planters (via Sunset magazine) out of corrugated sheet metal and could not figure out how to cut it. Half a dozen companies (including Home Depot said they wouldn't cut it but no one offered any options.) We went out and bought a reticulating saw thanks to you and using it today was the one of my highlights. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteGlad y'all are finding this helpful!
ReplyDelete