Cutting Galvanized Sheet Metal With Plasma

Presently we shear and punch parts from a 4x12 sheet.

Cutting galvanized sheet metal with plasma.

The process of using tin snips is very similar to using scissors. We cut galvanized steel ranging from 20 to 10 ga. 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.

A handheld cutting tool fitted with a metal cut off wheel will easily cut through sheet. Arrange the teeth of your tin snips over the marked line on your sheet metal. 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. Average size of the part is about 12 x6 with various cut outs and holes if i could use the plasma to cut these parts out it would save a lot of time.

I have an application that would lend itself to a plasma cutter i think. How to join galvanized metal without melting the galvanized coating duration.