Can you cut a 55 gallon drum with a jigsaw?

11-06-2011, 03:43 PM	#1
tibberous Member   Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 368	Can you cut a 55 gallon drum with a jigsaw? I want to make a woodburner out of a 55 gallon drum. They sell kits, but the kit needs several rounded holes cut, so I can use a diamond bladed circular saw like I wanted. Will a jigsaw work? Everyone said my last wood burner was a huge fire hazard, trying to get something decent in before winter.

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11-06-2011, 04:37 PM	#2
AndyGump Residential Designer     Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Orange County CA. Posts: 1,150	Can you cut a 55 gallon drum with a jigsaw? Yes you can use a jig-saw to cut metal. I did it all the time when working sheet metal. You need to get the right blades though, wood blades from the depot will not do it. By the way, I hope you were not serious about using a diamond blade on steel. Andy.

11-06-2011, 04:46 PM	#3
tibberous Member   Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 368	Can you cut a 55 gallon drum with a jigsaw? Quote: Originally Posted by AndyGump Yes you can use a jig-saw to cut metal. I did it all the time when working sheet metal. You need to get the right blades though, wood blades from the depot will not do it. By the way, I hope you were not serious about using a diamond blade on steel. Andy. Yeah - aren't you supposed to? That's what I normally use to cut steel, it works perfect. I've used it to cut brick / concrete too - I think that is actually what it's made for.

11-06-2011, 04:50 PM	#4
woodworkbykirk journeyman carpenter     Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: nova scotia canada Posts: 2,164	Can you cut a 55 gallon drum with a jigsaw? a 55 gallon drum is made of pretty heavy gauge metal... not sure how well a jigsaw blade would hold up.. why not use a mini grinder

11-06-2011, 05:19 PM	#5
ddawg16 JOATMON     Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: S. California Posts: 4,145	Can you cut a 55 gallon drum with a jigsaw? Good excuse to go out and buy that Sawzall you wanted. I didn't realize how useful it was until I got one....works great for cutting limbs on trees as well. __________________ Common Sense is like Deodorant. Those that need it the most don't use it. My To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ... To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. and To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

11-06-2011, 05:47 PM	#6
joed Member     Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Welland, Ontario Posts: 6,037	Can you cut a 55 gallon drum with a jigsaw? Jig saws will cut a barrel. I have done it in the past. __________________ Do not PM with questions that can be asked in a forum. I will not respond.

11-06-2011, 06:07 PM	#7
rustyjames Member   Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 187	Can you cut a 55 gallon drum with a jigsaw? Before you go cutting into that drum you should make sure that what was in it wasn't flammable.

11-07-2011, 12:50 AM	#8
danieldot Danieldot   Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 2	Can you cut a 55 gallon drum with a jigsaw? yes you can use jigsaw to cut the drum, all u wanted to do is use coolant to get a perfect finishing.

11-07-2011, 07:21 AM	#9
KevinACrider Developer by Day   Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 33	Can you cut a 55 gallon drum with a jigsaw? Quote: Originally Posted by ddawg16 Good excuse to go out and buy that Sawzall you wanted. I didn't realize how useful it was until I got one....works great for cutting limbs on trees as well. Nobody realizes how useful a Sawzall is until they buy one. I picked mine up 3 years ago and cannot count the uses I have found for it.

11-07-2011, 07:48 AM	#10
Maintenance 6 gravity always wins   Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 2,387	Can you cut a 55 gallon drum with a jigsaw? Use a fine toothed metal cutting blade in your jigsaw and it will work fine. Sawzall blades are usually too broad to make tight turns. Go slow and expect to break a couple of blades. Drill a starter hole for the jigsaw blade to start.