Plasma cut stainless steel gutter guards?

[Joe Jones]

I am getting a new roof after a wind storm tore my old roof up.

I figure, NOW is the time to cut custom 18 gauge stainless steel gutter guards to lay down beneath the first row of shingles! I can fit them to the existing gutters, of course, and they will keep the leaves and critters out of my gutters. What think ye?

Joe

GUTTER GUARDS.jpg

[martyy]

Depending upon what kind of trees you have around your place gutter guards can be a waste of money. Many times the debris, especially needles just stick on top of the guards and start grabbing other debris. Then the water has trouble entering the gutter easily and runs off the roof. The larger dry leaves dont stick as much especially with higher winds like in the midwest. The good thing if you do this, is that you can do it much cheaper and probably have a little fun doing it.

[Joe Jones]

I am in Kentucky. I have nine huge oak trees on my property, and all of the leaves are the size of the palm of my hand. So I believe gutter guards would work very well here.

I also want to put them onto my FrankenBarn this time. I cannot count the number of stupid birds I have rescued, by dismantling the downspouts to allow the critters to fly away. HOW does a bird manage to fall down a downspout? I guess I should climb up there and put screens at the top openings. The roofer can do this when he comes to seal the shop roofs. The FrankenBarn gutters are 23 feet above the ground.

The roofer responded and thought that making gutter guards on my plasma table would be a good idea. I can measure the lengths of the gutters, and custom make the pieces to fit perfectly, including at the inner and outer corners.

Joe

[weldguy]

Looking good Joe. Some of the prices for gutter guards that I have seen are ridiculously expensive, making your own could definitely be worth the time. post pics of your finished pieces if you can. Curious to see them.

[Joe Jones]

I am guessing that I can measure the lengths of the various edges, and custom make segments that will overlap by 1/4" at the joints, and 3/4" at the inside and outside corners. With stainless, I should never need to clean out the gutters again, and there will be no rust stains or similar issues. On a sunny day, you should be able to see my home from outer space

Joe

GUTTER GUARD JPG.jpg

[weldguy]

Nice Joe, looks great and will be a perfect fit for your roofline.

[Joe Jones]

Wouldn't THAT be something, to have my gutter guards be the cause of an alien invasion

Joe

[rdj357]

Do you plan to passivate the areas where you've plasma cut the stainless to prevent rusting? It's usually not too bad on an outline cut but with these exposed to the weather year-round and with so many cuts, I just wondered.

[Joe Jones]

Do you plan to passivate the areas where you've plasma cut the stainless to prevent rusting? It's usually not too bad on an outline cut but with these exposed to the weather year-round and with so many cuts, I just wondered.

Stainless steel?

Joe

[SegoMan DeSigns]

Yes stainless steel rusts when plasma cut, why waste expensive stainless steel on this project. buy pre-built plastic or aluminum and save the S.S. for a paying job.

[rdj357]

Yes stainless steel rusts when plasma cut, why waste expensive stainless steel on this project. buy pre-built plastic or aluminum and save the S.S. for a paying job.

Exactly. They actually even have stainless mesh guards pre-done ready made for the application and installation.

Otherwise, here's a good discussion on the topic over at the AWS. https://app.aws.org/forum/topic_show.pl?tid=3270

[Joe Jones]

Call me crazy, but I think I can create better gutter guards than the cheap MADE IN CHINA CR*P that the big box store sell. What if I were to make them out of 16 ga. or 14 ga. stainless steel? They would be indestructible, and not flap up in the wind like the cheap CHINESE gutter guards I currently have installed all around my home.

Also, I could design the front edge to provide pre-formed hangers for strings of Christmas lights! Those c*mmie b*stards never thought of that!

A stronger, stiffer gutter guard would allow me to place a ladder against it, without worrying about popping it out of place, bending it, or crushing the gutter.

Besides ... I just like the idea of DIY projects!

Joe

[DieselFumes]

I would expect to see some surface rust appear after being plasma cut however It won't go beyond that. They will still last forever and no one will ever see them. Seems like a lot of work and expense but if money can be saved and a better result accomplished than why not.

[rdj357]

Call me crazy, but I think I can create better gutter guards than the cheap MADE IN CHINA CR*P that the big box store sell.

............
Joe

So the stainless steel gutter guards (micromesh) that Lowe's sells are Atlas Gutter Guard by Gutterglove who proudly displays their Designed, Assembled, and Packaged in the USA credentials. I'm sure some raw materials come from China but I'm sure that's true of that new truck of yours as well.

Anyway, my point wasn't to talk you out of making them - just that to do it right you'd be best off to passivate the parts you cut considering the amount of cutting so you could positively avoid those 'rust streaks' you mentioned in a previous post.

[Joe Jones]

I would expect to see some surface rust appear after being plasma cut however It won't go beyond that. They will still last forever and no one will ever see them.

Heck, I won't last forever!

Joe

[Joe Jones]

So the stainless steel gutter guards (micromesh) that Lowe's sells are Atlas Gutter Guard by Gutterglove who proudly displays their Designed, Assembled, and Packaged in the USA credentials. I'm sure some raw materials come from China but I'm sure that's true of that new truck of yours as well.

Anyway, my point wasn't to talk you out of making them - just that to do it right you'd be best off to passivate the parts you cut considering the amount of cutting so you could positively avoid those 'rust streaks' you mentioned in a previous post.

Thanks. Understood. I am toying with gutter guards that have built in mounts for Christmas lights and hanging decorative designs from them for Christmas, Thanksgiving, the 4th of July, etc. If the gutter guard slips beneath the first row of shingles, and the far end folds over the edge of the gutters where it is screwed or pop riveted into place, then hanging things like snowflakes or other designs from the lower hanging eyelets designed into the front lower edges of the gutter guards would be very easy. I know what is available from the big box stores. I want to improve on the design.

Joe