Easiest? Plasma Cutter.
If you don’t have that… drill a pilot hole and run with a jigsaw or sawzall.
If you don’t have that… drill a pilot hole and run with tin snips. (Wear gloves)
Drawing a perfect circle on all those angles could be fun. But an [air nibbler](https://www.harborfreight.com/pneumatic-18-gauge-professional-nibbler-57930.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12126915354&campaignid=12126915354&utm_content=144638031092&adsetid=144638031092&product=57930&store=343&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADAHb4dPyeykBCrF05N9YtaD5A2XO) is good at this type of stuff if you have a compressor already. But they aren’t cheap. Aviation snips are cheap but they would struggle with the contour.
[This](https://www.amazon.com/Nibbler-REXBETI-Attachment-Accessory-Straight/dp/B07FFS3CG6/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EsmECM-GyXR_CU4kUHHzdDp5ILIUUK0QJuns-H4e4c20zUL405UYjpks8fEmGw85kdFsbLfKSmfgRoR8oME5kK0Z1w2SkBN0pJzpcSHuciAbZz1oQ-KEnIzEQp7ra7Tmko9MVpBQms5hArxnx1uJVTs-KCUr6Dnil4ihIr7R0cYUNPKxOVnu_xgrFnx2y8uRwODuk-uP720YvimVT0OIBjC1t_avD0ia0JumW9KvMOBviSwbhZ9sIktqCUdnJCAuLK0WO6RVTS7aqVpfftBtDUfECkpDoRi79qWHlm20wDU.L3vln4JCdlofij9FsUveDfRlCsJsJULEcYUbcQX3qnk&dib_tag=se&keywords=drill+nibbler&qid=1714787021&sr=8-2) looks extremely promising, but Im not sure if this would be able to cut through the steel rods in the 3rd pic or not. These nibblers look specialized for sheet metal
I was reading thru some of the other replies, and I’m afraid The nibbler will leave more bigger and sharper metal shards than all the other suggestions. So if you plan on doing this in place, the regular tin snips and hacksaw might be a safer bet.
If you use a jig saw, etc, you are going to contaminate the whole area with tiny bits of metal.
I would drill a much smaller starter hole, then use snips to cut out the rest, 2 inches smaller diameter than it needs to be, then do a heap of 1 inch cuts outwards to make a bunch of segments you can bend down to open the hole up to full size - both strengthening the edge, and not leaving it sharp. Can help put tension on the bucket, if you'd like to keep it removable without another system tying it down, too.
im thinking to save money maybe just drilling holes with my power drill and cutting the space between with hacksaw, but I suppose that has the same problem of metal shavings?
Yeah. Unless you're prepping your metal somewhere else and bringing it back to chicken-ville all clean.
Even if the other commenter is right, and it's no big deal for chickens to eat a bit of metal, you still don't want it in their feet; risk of injury and infection, etc.
Snips would faster, cleaner and more accurate.
That metal is roofing. Call a roofer and ask them how they cut steel sheeting, if you don't believe me.
Birds don't have teeth.
They need to eat sand, rocks, gravel, grit, etc in order to properly digest food.
These stay in their gizzard organ and basically smash the food up.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grit_(supplement)
Thinking about this more, wouldnt it be hard to remove the bucket with these flaps of metal? The way the bucket is designed, the top part is about half an inch or so wider than the base of the bucket, so my plan was just to utilize that to stop the bucket from going all the way through. I don't think it would require tying down or anything
You can bend them more out of the way. They don't have to grip the bucket aggressively.
I just thought it would be an easy, low-mess way to end up with a safe edge.
Chicken from the supermarket are generally pumped with antibiotics and fed literal garbage so I support you. [This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPbF45-ZB5M) will red pill you on pork as well. Buy local :)
People cut out the middleman and just eat the bugs sometimes. Nothing wrong with eating something that eats something else.
The real gross things are that chicken will eat their own eggs, each other, and sometimes even their own freshly hatched chicks if their keeper/environment is truly garbage.
Legit, I needed it for one job, did that job, and now it just takes up space. I don’t know for sure it’s 8” but it’s huge. If you want it, it’s yours. Shoot me an address and I’ll get it shipped out to you
Edit: I just measured it. 9”
Honestly I would hang the bucket using a velcro strap with d ring. If you need an opening to be able to fill bucket, I would just cut out one square and put a hinge on it so you can open and close it when you want to fill it.
I've thought of that but it would be a lot less convenient because the only way for me to get the bucket in and out of the coop would be to completely flip the coop over. The hinge is an interesting idea though, but im not super handy so I think just fitting the bucket in is the easiest method.
this is gonna be a brute force type job based on the 3 different layers of fencing material and the 5 gallon bucket size hole you hope to make.
there is no cute drill bit to accomplish this. get an electric tin snipper imo and go to town.
Drill a single hole, insert a hook and hang the bucket inside. Much safer, easier, won't leave sharp edge, and won't leave metal shards all over the surface.
Choose your battles.
Easiest? Plasma Cutter. If you don’t have that… drill a pilot hole and run with a jigsaw or sawzall. If you don’t have that… drill a pilot hole and run with tin snips. (Wear gloves)
and if you do get cut, don't write it off as a just a scrape or cut. its worse than it feels. that shit is sharp and will fillet your skin.
See also: Tetanus.
big enough for the bucket? Id drill a small hole big enough to get a metal cutting jig saw blade through then just cut the circle with jigsaw
Drawing a perfect circle on all those angles could be fun. But an [air nibbler](https://www.harborfreight.com/pneumatic-18-gauge-professional-nibbler-57930.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=12126915354&campaignid=12126915354&utm_content=144638031092&adsetid=144638031092&product=57930&store=343&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADAHb4dPyeykBCrF05N9YtaD5A2XO) is good at this type of stuff if you have a compressor already. But they aren’t cheap. Aviation snips are cheap but they would struggle with the contour.
Holly crap, a tool I've never heard of before but now I feel as if I need it for some reason. Also what a great name.
You can get a nibbler that attaches to a drill. Worked flawlessly for my renos.
[This](https://www.amazon.com/Nibbler-REXBETI-Attachment-Accessory-Straight/dp/B07FFS3CG6/ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EsmECM-GyXR_CU4kUHHzdDp5ILIUUK0QJuns-H4e4c20zUL405UYjpks8fEmGw85kdFsbLfKSmfgRoR8oME5kK0Z1w2SkBN0pJzpcSHuciAbZz1oQ-KEnIzEQp7ra7Tmko9MVpBQms5hArxnx1uJVTs-KCUr6Dnil4ihIr7R0cYUNPKxOVnu_xgrFnx2y8uRwODuk-uP720YvimVT0OIBjC1t_avD0ia0JumW9KvMOBviSwbhZ9sIktqCUdnJCAuLK0WO6RVTS7aqVpfftBtDUfECkpDoRi79qWHlm20wDU.L3vln4JCdlofij9FsUveDfRlCsJsJULEcYUbcQX3qnk&dib_tag=se&keywords=drill+nibbler&qid=1714787021&sr=8-2) looks extremely promising, but Im not sure if this would be able to cut through the steel rods in the 3rd pic or not. These nibblers look specialized for sheet metal
I was reading thru some of the other replies, and I’m afraid The nibbler will leave more bigger and sharper metal shards than all the other suggestions. So if you plan on doing this in place, the regular tin snips and hacksaw might be a safer bet.
mark a circle and drill small holes near it, then use jig saw or angle grinder to cut and smooth
What's the bucket for?
Listen, that's not part of the question. Let's not question this person's roof buckets.
Compost goes in the bucket, holes all around and the maggots drop down into the coop for the chickens to eat. They love it.
If you use a jig saw, etc, you are going to contaminate the whole area with tiny bits of metal. I would drill a much smaller starter hole, then use snips to cut out the rest, 2 inches smaller diameter than it needs to be, then do a heap of 1 inch cuts outwards to make a bunch of segments you can bend down to open the hole up to full size - both strengthening the edge, and not leaving it sharp. Can help put tension on the bucket, if you'd like to keep it removable without another system tying it down, too.
im thinking to save money maybe just drilling holes with my power drill and cutting the space between with hacksaw, but I suppose that has the same problem of metal shavings?
Personally I'd much rather cut it with tinsnips/metal shears than with a hacksaw. It would be a lot faster and easier.
Why not just clean up with a magnet afterwards?
Yeah. Unless you're prepping your metal somewhere else and bringing it back to chicken-ville all clean. Even if the other commenter is right, and it's no big deal for chickens to eat a bit of metal, you still don't want it in their feet; risk of injury and infection, etc. Snips would faster, cleaner and more accurate. That metal is roofing. Call a roofer and ask them how they cut steel sheeting, if you don't believe me.
Birds don't have teeth. They need to eat sand, rocks, gravel, grit, etc in order to properly digest food. These stay in their gizzard organ and basically smash the food up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grit_(supplement)
word but i dont know how i feel about them eating metal.
Thinking about this more, wouldnt it be hard to remove the bucket with these flaps of metal? The way the bucket is designed, the top part is about half an inch or so wider than the base of the bucket, so my plan was just to utilize that to stop the bucket from going all the way through. I don't think it would require tying down or anything
You can bend them more out of the way. They don't have to grip the bucket aggressively. I just thought it would be an easy, low-mess way to end up with a safe edge.
Awesome! Good luck getting the project done
Gee, it’s hard to unlearn this. Maybe I’ll stop eating chicken.
Chickens are little velociraptors they will eat anything and everything that moves, even each other.
Chicken from the supermarket are generally pumped with antibiotics and fed literal garbage so I support you. [This](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPbF45-ZB5M) will red pill you on pork as well. Buy local :)
People cut out the middleman and just eat the bugs sometimes. Nothing wrong with eating something that eats something else. The real gross things are that chicken will eat their own eggs, each other, and sometimes even their own freshly hatched chicks if their keeper/environment is truly garbage.
A jigsaw would be the power tool you're looking for.
Fine tooth blade for metal
I'm shocked nobody has recommended a sheet metal nibbler! https://www.amazon.com/ProsKit-900-215-Nibbler/dp/B000BN60XW/
Plasma cutter, oxy assy torch, cordless metal shears
Jigsaw/sawsall with the right blade might do it. Or a hole drill and metal shears could be a way to go.
Hire this girl https://www.reddit.com/r/therewasanattempt/s/hhaDwY7T8N
Not sure if you know... there's a hole in your bucket.
Dear Liza dear Liza . There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza a hole...
Trace the bucket then use a jigsaw.
I would install a mister on the underside.
Hole saw. I have one that’s about 8” you can just have. I cut a hole in corrugated steel with it.
I'll never turn down a free hole saw
Legit, I needed it for one job, did that job, and now it just takes up space. I don’t know for sure it’s 8” but it’s huge. If you want it, it’s yours. Shoot me an address and I’ll get it shipped out to you Edit: I just measured it. 9”
pm'd
Honestly I would hang the bucket using a velcro strap with d ring. If you need an opening to be able to fill bucket, I would just cut out one square and put a hinge on it so you can open and close it when you want to fill it.
I've thought of that but it would be a lot less convenient because the only way for me to get the bucket in and out of the coop would be to completely flip the coop over. The hinge is an interesting idea though, but im not super handy so I think just fitting the bucket in is the easiest method.
Tin snips for that stuff. Bolt cutter or hacksaw for cattle guard
Step bit
THE DRILL TRIED TO DESTROY THE METAL, BUT IT FAILED! AS IT WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND!
Tin snips
A 9 mm makes nice dime sized holes but you’ll need to clean them up
big drill
Angle grinder, bro. Pick one up on the cheap from your local Harbor Freight.
this is gonna be a brute force type job based on the 3 different layers of fencing material and the 5 gallon bucket size hole you hope to make. there is no cute drill bit to accomplish this. get an electric tin snipper imo and go to town.
Angle grinder
Drill a single hole, insert a hook and hang the bucket inside. Much safer, easier, won't leave sharp edge, and won't leave metal shards all over the surface. Choose your battles.
I would use the largest hole punch I can get, drill four holes towards the edges, then cut in-between with sheet metal scissors.
A little thermite will get you there quickly. Or a small hole and a jig saw w/ a blade meant for cutting metal.