How To Cut Aluminum Gutters With Tin Snips

Although there are many methods of cutting the aluminum gutter the simplest method is to use pattern shears.

How to cut aluminum gutters with tin snips.

The blade on a hacksaw is interchangeable which means you can switch it out depending on whether you are cutting through plastic or metal. This method doesn t produce the cleanest results. Set up a work table. Pull the tape measure along the length of metal gutter and mark the length you need to cut the gutter with the carpenter s pencil.

How to cut metal gutters hunker. Then work the tin snips through the downspout and cut along the line until you ve completely cut through the downspout. An important part of the aluminum gutter is cutting the pieces of gutter to length. Measure the length that you need to cut and make a pencil mark on the bottom of the gutter.

Steps for how to cut gutters. Rest the base of the carpenter s square against the top edge of the metal gutter and align the blade of the square. Punch a starter hole for a circular cutout with a straight blade screwdriver. Cut a two inch long notch in the front lip of the gutter with tin snips to join a rain gutter section with an inside or outside corner piece.

If you re using tin snips you ll want to use one of shears to poke a hole in the downspout along the line you ve marked when you measured. Making a circular cutout in a duct is simple using the techniques shown in photos 5 and 6. Pattern shears tin snips work table. Pound on the back of the screwdriver with a hammer to puncture the metal and create an opening for the tin snips.

Cut a four inch long notch to overlap and splice together gutter sections. Use a carpenter s square to get around to the bottom. Flip a section of aluminum gutter upside down and set it on the table. Pattern shears are tin snips that have long handles and long narrow jaws that reduce the amount of distortion caused to the cut end of the aluminum gutter.

Use the old adage measure twice and cut once then turn the gutter upside down on the table and mark it all the way around. Laying your gutter on the workbench measure off the amount of gutter you want to cut and mark it with a pencil.