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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: Mike on June 25, 2003, 02:52:45 pm

Title: Anyone know how to cut aluminum stock?(OSCAR?)
Post by: Mike on June 25, 2003, 02:52:45 pm

I have like 2 feet of aluminum that is about 1X2 inches I need to cut it into 12 2 inch pieces. Anyone have a clue how to do this? I have a grinder to clean up the edges so that isn't a concern. I used a steel cutting circular saw blade once when cutting steel shafts for a set of golf clubs didn't know if this was alright to use on aluminum. I'd really hate to have to do it with a hack saw.
 
I need it so I can add a support table to my table saw to cut larger pieces of wood for my new cocktail cab i'm starting.

Anyone got any ideas?

Title: Re:Anyone know how to cut aluminum stock?(OSCAR?)
Post by: AlanS17 on June 25, 2003, 03:35:33 pm

I bet you can find a blade for a jigsaw that can handle this. Of course... I'm no metal worker.

Title: Re:Anyone know how to cut aluminum stock?(OSCAR?)
Post by: OSCAR on June 25, 2003, 03:56:38 pm

I've cut aluminum stock on a tablesaw before.  You need a special blade, but it works great.  This is the type of blade you need:  http://www.mytoolstore.com/tenryu/alumic.html

I found a post in Google written by someone who knows what they are talking about, and explains it probably better than I could.  You should read this before trying to cut aluminum on your tablesaw.

Google post (http://groups.google.com/groups?q=cutting+aluminum+bar+on+tablesaw&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&selm=1f1cd3fa.0205151339.3c9b8cb0%40posting.google.com&rnum=1)

Title: Re:Anyone know how to cut aluminum stock?(OSCAR?)
Post by: TrickyFishy on June 25, 2003, 04:00:56 pm

I used to work in a machine shop.  You should be able to cut it with any fine to medium toothed saw like a jigsaw.

A hacksaw should go through it pretty fast.  Much faster than a piece of steel.

Title: Re:Anyone know how to cut aluminum stock?(OSCAR?)
Post by: Mike on June 25, 2003, 04:14:28 pm

Thanks for all your help. Yeah I used to be a tool and die apprentice(Also was an auto mechanic apprentice and a carpenter apprentice, took me a while to figure out what i wanted to do with my life, so now i'm a software developer) and we cut all our metal on a bandsaw. But the blade wasn't the same as my bandsaw blade for wood. I think i'm going to go the table saw router. I think i will end up buying more of this aluminum and need to cut it.

Title: Re:Anyone know how to cut aluminum stock?(OSCAR?)
Post by: locash on June 25, 2003, 04:14:51 pm

I spent some time in a machine shop as well.  We used to cut sheets of aluminum (1/4" thick) on a 8" table saw.  I don't think the blade was anything unusual, just carbide.  Made a hell of a lot of noise.  Given options this would not be my first choice, it just never felt quite right.

If I were cutting 1x2 stock as you describe, I would probably stick to a jig saw or band saw with a fine tooth bi-metal blade.

In truth a hacksaw shouldn't take too long.