Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Tools needed to punch metal shapes from sheet metal?

Like I said before, make a pattern and use a 700.00 plasma cutter. Once you figure out the settings you will have baby butt smooth edges and be able to make any adjustments to your pattern anytime you want.

As for putting multiple pieces together use a good quality double stick tape. I used to do this with wood pieces that needed to be identical. A good brand for this is 3m, you will need to wipe the metal off with brake clean before applying the tape.

We were installing several miles of 60” reinforced concrete pipe and I was getting prices. One sales rep told me this. I told him to just keep sending it until it was free. He backed away from that estimate.

Have you inquired at a local tool and did shop?

Try calling A1 Jet in Sioux Falls. I've made lots dies and purchased many punch presses and the size of these fish decoys would require quite a bit of press tonnage. With your volumes it would not pay. Give A1 a call and just visit with them about your needs.

Thanks for the tip, I might try that with my band saw.

Thanks for the other tips and ideas, keep em coming if you have any

I'd create cad files for each size you need and have someone with an abrasive water jet cut them for you. I suspect they have nesting software to fill out the stock area.

Just a thought, having been an offshore fisherman for many years, i often used what are referred to as (birds) when trolling, especially for tuna.
They come in various shapes and sizes and resemble fish more so than birds.
Im thinking that plastic might be the best choice for the entire thing, and then painted.
Molds for the whole thing then pouring them as a unit might be a good way to go.

I'm familiar with them, not really looking to invent a new way to make decoys though. I just need a more efficient way to cut the fins. I had considered your idea at one point, but it seems the traditional method is most popular and easiest to make.

Not sure if anyone looked at the fins on the pics posted but they aren't very thick, a tin snips cuts them easy enough but the consistent of curves and size is the time consuming part. I'm thinking a plasma cutter or water jet is way overkill.

Just depends on what it's worth to ya, how many you need and how fast you gotta have them.

A programmable plasma cutter could be set to repetitivly cut the same pattern out of a single sheet, one could probably cut out 100 small fins without touching it in the time it'd take you to have lunch. But it comes at a price.

I think I'm gonna try 24ga 1.5" duct banding and cut the ends to a curve with a tin snips. It'll greatly cut down on time and waste material. Plus it's only about twenty bucks for 80' on Amazon.

https://m.facebook.com/marketplace/item/258439016575986/

Popped up on marketplace, thought of this thread. Maybe they make a desktop version?

https://images.thdstatic.com/produc...vn/ryobi-nibblers-shears-p591-64_600.jpg


Electric tin snips might speed up the process enough to meet your needs. Several manufacturers with prices from $50-$250 depending on quality.

air nibbler