Best way to cut semi-rigid aluminum duct?

metazone · Dec 30, 2013

I need about 5 feet of 3" diameter, semi-rigid aluminum duct. I'm in the process of buying 8 ft. I'm assuming I can't just use the 8' uncompressed and will need to cut it?

For cutting it, I found the following steps on line and am wondering if these are in sync with what those with experience recommend:

1.Leather gloves and safety glasses.
2.Wide rubber band wrapped around the duct at the position you want to cut (a wide band stays in position better than a narrow one). Leave a little extra to allow for smoothing out any irregularities at the end.
3.Permanent marker to mark the line you'll be cutting along.
4.Hacksaw to start the cut. With the line marked, it's easier to keep the cut square, but you could also use a pair of tin snips to complete the cut.
5.File to smooth out the cut end and make it square if you've got any irregularities.

** In step 4, someone said they had better results with heavy-duty kitchen scissors. Another person said that cutting a straight line with tin snips (yellow handle) is difficult? And ... another person recommended to use a 'nibbler'.

Any thoughts?

Thanks --

yuri · Dec 30, 2013

3" is pretty small and a NEW high quality fine hacksaw blade should do the job easily. Larger pipe and I would use snips. Measure twice and cut once or you will end up like my motto below.:yes:

beenthere · Dec 30, 2013

I use regular snips. Of course, its not snapped together. If its already together. Then I use a left and right snip at the same time and cut it. You simply mark a line at teh dimension you want, and then another 1 1/2" further a way.

Best way to cut semi-rigid aluminum duct?

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