Nibbler for my 30 ton excavator - need to cut long sheets of steel

**md00738** · 04-18-2018, 08:35 PM

I need a hydraulic nibbler than can cut up to 1/2 thick steel (galvanized actually). I have to cut the pieces in half, some of the cuts are 40 ft long. Maybe there is a better way? Some sort of rotary sheer or walking nibbler is my thought. Way too much to torch.

**Patriot76** · 04-20-2018, 08:34 PM

If I understand correctly your situation, I would recommend a regular shear over a nibbler. A nibbler takes smaller bites out of metal which results in more time for operating the hydraulics and it tends to hang up on the metal more. Cutting 40 ft. of metal would require much more labor than a shear and the shear will not hang up in the metal as much. If you are interested in some ideas on how to get the use of a shear for low cost, let me know.

I an glad you are not going to try to torch the galvanized metal. Galvanized metal gives off cyanide gas and without proper knowledge and ventilation is very toxic. This type of poisoning cannot be cleaned from the lungs and each time you are exposed adds another layer to the lungs.

**miked** · 04-21-2018, 07:56 AM

Another great post by Patriot76. He really has the background for this type of information. Mike

**btkr** · 04-21-2018, 05:05 PM

Scrapyards use shear attachments on their excavators. They cut I beams like nothing. As much as I said is as much as I know re: heavy equipment attachments.

Patriot has this wisdom.