How to Cut Metal Deck: A Complete Guide To Cutting Steel Decking Includes Safety, Prep, Saw Handling

So you’re a contractor and you’re doing a small metal decking job. You have never installed metal decking and you have no idea how to cut metal decking. Don’t worry we have you covered. Our goal is to teach you the basics and walk you through the important safety precautions that you may have otherwise overlooked. We made a video that shows you a step by step guide to cutting metal decking.

Our staff at Metaldeck.com consists of iron workers who have worked in the field and cut metal decking. In addition, we sell and cut metal decking jobs to size for our customers on a daily basis. Time is money on a job site and we don’t want you wasting it by incorrectly cutting metal deck.

Avoid Job Delays And Get Your Metal Deck Today
Cutting metal decking can be difficult and dangerous. However, if you watched the video and read this blog then you will know ahead of time the correct and safe way to cut metal decking.

If you have not already purchased your metal decking let us give you a free quote. We have a huge selection of roof and floor deck, gauges, and sheet lengths.

Metal decking can be picked up or shipped within the same day or next day.
https://www.metaldeck.com/

How to cut metal deck 00:26
What are warnings for cutting metal deck 00:28
What are safety precautions for cutting metal deck 00:30
What are the safety procedures for cutting metal deck 00:32
Which safety gear do I need to cut metal deck 00:41
Do I need eye protection when cutting metal deck 00:44
Do I need ear protection when cutting metal deck 00:55
Do I need a respiratory mask to cut metal deck 01:04
Do I need a fire extinguisher when cutting metal deck 01:11
How do I prepare the saw and blade for cutting metal deck 01:15
What are the prep and layout precautions when cutting metal deck 01:38
Can I cut more than one sheet of metal deck at once 01:47
How do you measure metal deck when cutting 01:57
Example of how to cut metal deck 02:00
What is proper saw handling for cutting metal deck 02:56
Demonstration of proper saw cutting of metal deck 03:00
What is the proper standing position for cutting metal deck 03:11
What are the incorrect ways to cut metal deck 03:55
What are the correct methods for cutting metal deck 04:05
What is the correct angle to cut metal deck 04:13
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How do I cut metal deck to width 5:37
How do I cut metal deck on the low seam 5:47

How To Cut Metal Decking

Most of your metal deck cuts will be perpendicular. You will be cutting metal deck from it’s existing length to a shorter length. Here is a step by step guide to doing this correctly.

•Come prepared with a small gas container and saw oil. You will need it.

•Lay out the sheets in an area where it’s safe to cut. Pay close attention to the direction where the sparks will go while cutting. You do not want to cut and have the sparks hit somebody or create a fire.

•If you are cutting more than one sheet at a time you need to make sure that one of the bundle ends is square. Put the tape on the square side of the bundle for your measurement. If the sheets are not square at one end then all of the sheets will be cut to different lengths.

•Support both sides of the cut at both ends of the panel. You will need two pieces of dunnage per cut. If you don’t support both ends, the saw blade will bind and shatter. We typically use a 4 inch X 4 inch piece of wood dunnage. This size wood works well because it’s:
Longer than 36” and it will support the entire sheet of decking
Tall enough to lessen the chance of cutting what is beneath the decking
Readily available and quite often can be found lying around the jobsite
Inexpensive and can be reused

•Spread your legs apart. You want the sparks to go between your legs and not hitting your work boots, boot laces, and jeans. Metal sparks will destroy your work clothing and it can be painful if they get through your jeans. Your boot laces are the first things to go. If you have a lot of cutting I would recommend protecting the boot laces and possibly the boots. You could actually catch your clothing on fire after repeated exposure to the metal sparks.

•The saw blade needs to be straight and held at a ninety degree angle as you cut the metal decking. If the saw is not straight the cut will be bevelled. This will cause the decking to be cut at the incorrect sheet length.

•Cut the panel along the line that you have created. Always cut with the saw going in a forward motion. Cutting in a backwards motion is likely to result in the saw blade binding which will cause the blade to shatter.

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