Do you guys make scribe lines for open butt welds?

[tech69]

Or do you use a sharpie? If you use a scribe do you cut it a little away from the line or on the safe side? I usually use markers but am scared of using a scribe for an open butt weld.

[MARTINSR]

Or do you use a sharpie? If you use a scribe do you cut it a little away from the line or on the safe side? I usually use markers but am scared of using a scribe for an open butt weld.

There is no way I am going to use a Sharpie for a but weld scribe line, I use a sharp awl. I mark it RIGHT ON THE LINE then cut the panel off a little away from it. Then come back with offset tin snips and cut RIGHT ON THE LINE to make a perfect butt seam.

Brian

[tech69]

Thanks Martin. I scribed a line and cut a hair below it. The small gap was perfect for even hot welds. Worked great. Think I'll do it that way for now on but not too sure of the results til I throw it on the car but I think it will be fine. Thanks. Your way sounds good but I don't really like how the snips slightly damage the metal. Maybe I need some ones.

[MARTINSR]

Quality, sharp, offset tin snips don't damage the metal. http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Pr...l/Step-By-Step

Brian

[tech69]

thanks for that. I thought there was straight and the left and right ones and that's it. I guess they're color coded. That looks a little different. Would love to get a pair that actually cut really nice.

[MARTINSR]

thanks for that. I thought there was straight and the left and right ones and that's it. I guess they're color coded. That looks a little different. Would love to get a pair that actually cut really nice.

With Offset tin snips you could cut a 4x8 sheet of 20 gauge with darn near zero damage.

Brian

[tech69]

Since it's made for curves the blades stay out of the way then? Since I'm a lefty which ones should I get? What color?

[MARTINSR]

Since it's made for curves the blades stay out of the way then? Since I'm a lefty which ones should I get? What color?

They really aren't made for curves, I use them for straight lines all the time. And you want both left and right. They aren't made for left or right handed users. They are for left or right handed cuts. Believe me, you get both and you will see real fast why you need both.

Brian

[Roger J.]

On bare metal, I find it's easier to see the scribe line if I go over the area with a marker (I use the jumbo permanent markers), and after it dries, make my scribe line. It helps a lot when you don't have that great of lighting around you.

[Mooch]

Tech you want Aviation snips . They all will cut straight . I have all three color codes .

Yellow for straight and combo curves . Red for left hand and green for right hand curves .

The hand refers to the side of the blade the waste material will fall to . They all will cut straight though .

Don't buy cheap ones period . Harbor freight are not any good . Midwest makes a good one if they are still around .

Mooch

[another2centsworth]

Tech you want Aviation snips . They all will cut straight . I have all three color codes .

Yellow for straight and combo curves . Red for left hand and green for right hand curves .

The hand refers to the side of the blade the waste material will fall to . They all will cut straight though .

Don't buy cheap ones period . Harbor freight are not any good . Midwest makes a good one if they are still around .



Mooch

Amen thats old school knowledge tech69....thought you went to school....elementary.........

[mobilemike]

I just didn't think I needed any more. I've gotten away with the yellow ones for a while. I would never buy HF snips. My snips are wiss.

I did go to a body school. It only contributed in cutting down time in learning something. Still didn't know crap til I actually became the whipping boy.

[another2centsworth]

Amen thats old school knowledge tech69....thought you went to school....elementary.........

I mean 1982 back in my day of sheet metal trade school.....

[Len]

On bare metal, I find it's easier to see the scribe line if I go over the area with a marker (I use the jumbo permanent markers), and after it dries, make my scribe line. It helps a lot when you don't have that great of lighting around you.

You really need to be careful when using permanent marker because it will bleed through a hundred coats of paint and you'll still see it in the top coat. I had one problem with it and never used it again.

[tech69]

I mean 1982 back in my day of sheet metal trade school.....

that's pretty smart to go to a sheet metal trade school. I imagine they teach a lot of general metal fab like for elbows/ducts. I saw a video on that and was amazed how easily they did it. Cut once and done....I'd be sitting there with a file and grinder lagging behind.