This is the tip of the year I reckon-tearing corr. iron

**mic-d** · 18th May 2006, 02:18 PM

Some time ago I was chatting to the BIL whose in the army and somehow we got onto the topic of cutting corrogated iron... as you do. He mentioned that they use a fair bit of corro on temp structures they build out bush and to cut to size they simply rip it!
What says I!? You mean hook it up to the 4x4 or something??!
No, just knick it with tinsnips, lie it on the ground, stand on one side and pull up the other.
But, but says I flabergasted, how many people do you use and how do you get it to rip straight??
Oh, just one, and it rips straight.

Conversation filed away...

Last couple of days I've been reroofing a shed at our pony club (no power onsite) and I mentioned this conversation to my offsider (one of the pony club mums). We were both hoping it would work, but neither of us expected it to. Well, did it ever - so fast and virtually square - maybe 5-10mm runout! After ripping one or two, I climbed on the roof and handed ripping duties over to said offsider who also found it no trouble to do (welding gauntlets or gloves highly recommended!). Once the newer zincalume was exhausted we had several long lengths of older heavier corro, which she also ripped with slightly more effort. I can't imagine how long it would have taken with tinsnips!
Best tip I've ever been given I think, so thought I'd pass it around.

CHeers
Michael

**Paul H** · 18th May 2006, 03:29 PM

Love It!

**durwood** · 18th May 2006, 05:34 PM

I was shown that method over 30 years ago when doing the roof of my house, you forgot to mention that the edge is not exactly straight. Thats straight vertically through the sheet not at right angles to an edge. It helps if you stand directly over the sheet and put straight up.

It goes in and out as it rises and falls in the corrogations so is best put up under the flashing though

**mic-d** · 18th May 2006, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by durwood

I was shown that method over 30 years ago when doing the roof of my house, you forgot to mention that the edge is not exactly straight. Thats straight vertically through the sheet not at right angles to an edge. It helps if you stand directly over the sheet and put straight up.

It goes in and out as it rises and falls in the corrogations so is best put up under the flashing though

Yes, I expect it was first used shortly after the invention of corro.

I did notice that in ripped in a kind of a fluted pattern like you said, so we left that exposed to give people something to think about!

Cheers
Michael

**channa** · 18th May 2006, 08:02 PM

I saw a bloke score a line down a sheet with a box cutter then rip it along the line - looked too easy to be true. Guess he didn't need the box cutter! Can't wait to give it a try now.

**Shedhand** · 18th May 2006, 08:24 PM

This is an old but goody. I've never cut sheets to length, always ripped them. It works best if you plant your foot close to the line you want and after you've torn about 12" - wearing suitable gloves of course - grab the waste piece in both hands so that the tearing stays parallel. I can even tear zincalume siding at a 15 degree angle to match roof pitch.
Cheers

**Cliff Rogers** · 18th May 2006, 09:31 PM

tearific idea.

**Christopha** · 18th May 2006, 11:29 PM

Ripper!

**Rossluck** · 19th May 2006, 06:36 AM

It sounds OK, but whenever I've had to cut the stuff I've just placed it flat on the ground, drawn a line with a texta and run through it with a circular saw with a metal blade. The saw hides the sparks and the line is straight. I dunno.

**Shedhand** · 19th May 2006, 12:48 PM

Cutting with a high speed blade is not recommended as the heat created at the cut surface causes oxidisation which allows corrosion to occur (rapidly) under the coating.

**Rossluck** · 19th May 2006, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Shedhand

Cutting with a high speed blade is not recommended as the heat created at the cut surface causes oxidisation which allows corrosion to occur (rapidly) under the coating.

I didn't say that I do a good job.

**CameronPotter** · 19th May 2006, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Rossluck

I didn't say that I do a good job.

LOL.

**fred.n** · 19th May 2006, 08:18 PM

Went around to a friends place today, and he was "cutting" some roofing iron for a pidgeon cage. I thought I'd have a go.....

you know it's a GREAT idea when all he could say was

%$## ME ..thats a *^**ing beauty:eek: :eek: :eek:

Say no more

**Barry_White** · 19th May 2006, 09:14 PM

To cut custom orb hi tensile length ways you score it down one of the corrugates with a tungsten scriber and then bend it away from the scored line and it will just snap in half.

**Shannon Nash** · 20th May 2006, 11:01 AM

Question.

Does it work for both 'Ripping' (along the length) and 'cross cutting' across the sheet?

SN

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This is the tip of the year I reckon-tearing corr. iron

What a ripper

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