Straight snips have yellow handles and allow you to cut straight lines. Left-cut snips have red handles and allow you to cut counter clockwise curves. Right-cut snips have green handles and allow you to cut clockwise curves.

There are hand-operated, drill-powered, electric and pneumatic versions on the market. [2] X Research source Every time the nibbler makes a cut, it punches out a small piece of sheet metal. By the time you’re finished, you’ll have many tiny crescent-shaped steel pieces littered all over the floor. Definitely clean those up as soon as possible – otherwise, the sharp little edges can get embedded in the soles of shoes and cause injuries. [3] X Research source

Wear face protection, ear protection (it’s very loud) and thick work gloves when operating this tool. Sparks will fly when the blade touches the metal, so make sure there’s nothing flammable nearby. Make sure you read the instruction manual carefully and are using the correct blade for cutting steel.

Keep its blade in good condition by rubbing wax on it after each use. To get a cleaner cut, try using a strip of masking tape on the bottom and top of the sheet metal. This will prevent scratching. [5] X Research source

To operate, mark the cut line on the piece of sheet metal. Situate the metal under the blade and line the blade up with the cut line. Pull the handle down slowly with your hand and slice through the metal. [6] X Research source

Chop saws are high-powered. A great deal of heat is generated during the cut, making the steel extremely hot. Handle freshly cut steel with caution. Along with heavy-duty gloves and eye protection, you need to use ear protection when operating power saws. They are very loud and can damage hearing.

The blades get dull easily and need to be replaced to get proper accuracy. Band saws cut slowly and you may need to grind minor rough edges off after the cut is made. Band saws have a higher capacity than cold saws, but they don’t cut as accurately. [10] X Research source

The cold saw is circular and its blade has a lot of teeth. The blade itself spins very slowly, but the cut is made quickly. [11] X Research source A coolant is used with the cold saw to prevent the steel from heating up. The coolant should be immediately wiped off the steel after the cut is made.

Make sure you don’t have any loose clothing, and if you have long hair, have it up in a ponytail or a bun. Work in a well-ventilated room and, if necessary, wear a respirator. Make sure there’s nothing flammable in the immediate vicinity, since the sparks could ignite the material. [13] X Research source

A plasma torch can cut through any conductive material, not just steel. The oxy-fuel torch is only able to cut steel.

Do not use oxy-fuel torches around oil or grease. High-pressure oxygen tanks can react violently with them. Acetylene is also a dangerous gas to work with. It is unstable over 15 psi, so try to keep it around 5 psi during use. Always store these tanks upright. [17] X Research source