Cutting Aluminum Sheet with Carbide Blade?

[JPG]

Short lipped 90° bends are the most difficult to clamp. The holddown is critical. A piece of angle iron(a guess re HF) will not get it. Cast iron is preferable! The voice of he who has attempted to make a small brake with questionable success.

Hence the earlier 2x4 post. Rubber mallet is inadequate. Greater force over greater area works better.

We all 'learn' from our attempts.

BTW I hope that was 'soft' aluminum.

[algale]

The HF brake came with a big, heavy hunk of cast iron, not angle iron. Still inadequate.

Soft aluminum? I don't know. 5052 was the alloy number. 0.063" thick, but actually measured a little over (possible edge effect from cutting at factory?).

[JPG]

You get the $65 one? It appears the work piece is inserted from the back bottom, clamped to something(that cast iron?) then the bend is created by pulling the handles forward? It appears it is not adjustable to control bend radius.

IIUC how this thing is supposed to 'work', I am surprised you were as successful as you were.

[algale]

Picture incomplete and misleading. Handles lowered to create a flat surface. Work piece is laid across both surfaces with the bend lined up over gap between fixed and hinged surfaces. Large hunk of metal not shown which has beveled edge is laid on top and lined up and clamped (clamps not included -- but I have a ton of C-clamps from building the Slow Boat). Handles then lifted to create up to a 90 bend. In theory.

[JPG]

Picture incomplete and misleading. Handles lowered to create a flat surface. Work piece is laid across both surfaces with the bend lined up over gap between fixed and hinged surfaces. Large hunk of metal not shown which has beveled edge is laid on top and lined up and clamped (clamps not included -- but I have a ton of C-clamps from building the Slow Boat). Handles then lifted to create up to a 90 bend. In theory.

That makes more sense and is more 'typical'.

I am guessing c clamps were simply ineffective especially near the center.

[algale]

Incidentally, the reflector oven worked. Had blueberry muffins two days and biscuits another. Here blueberry muffins are cooking in front of the fire.

fullsizeoutput_b61.jpeg (710 KiB) Viewed 13911 times

[DanaWhite]

Future notes.
So much chatter about should I or shouldn't I cut aluminum with a carbide tipped blade. Here I show you how to it safely using a 12 inch mitre box.
Not recommended for aluminum over 1/4 inch thick and not deeper than your table of the mite box. You really don't want to make two passes.
Fasten work to wood that is a larger than width of the metal.
Move into the metal slowly with a single pass.
Cleaning machine

[dusty]

Cutting aluminum may be done without problems arising BUT when done cutting make certain that you clean up. Those tiny bits of aluminum debris tend to get where you don't want them; places like within the locking mechanisms or on the tubes where the carriage and headstock slide.

Based on experience, I strongly suggest cleanup BEFORE you move the carriage or headstock even a lttle bit.

Yes, the carbide will win over the aluminum but I still use other than my better carbide blades to cut aluminum.

[algale]

I still use other than my better carbide blades to cut aluminum.

I used an older Shopsmith combo blade that had lost a tooth and it worked great.

I wore a full a face shield, used upper and lower guards with a hose from the lower guard to an empty trash barrel. Still made a mess.

[nuhobby]

Interesting aside:

My brother and I howl with laughter when we remember my Dad talking about "roasting biscuits" instead of "baking biscuits." The comment took place in the house, but his mind may have been elsewhere on the Old Trail...

Then I had read a book about Axes, and just a few weeks ago read this... "Alder sticks have been called biscuit wood for instance, because their quick blaze 'lasts only for a batch of biscuits'..." .

Nice project!

Chris