Cutting Aluminum Sheet with Carbide Blade?
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Cutting Aluminum Sheet with Carbide Blade?
Any metal workers out there?
I need to cut some sheet aluminum which is 0.066 inches thick (slightly thicker than 1/16th). It is too wide to be done on the band saw. Cuts need to be straight.
I'd like to do this on the table saw using an older Shopsmith carbide combination blade which I no longer use. Any thoughts on whether this is possible? Any speed suggestions?
I need to cut some sheet aluminum which is 0.066 inches thick (slightly thicker than 1/16th). It is too wide to be done on the band saw. Cuts need to be straight.
I'd like to do this on the table saw using an older Shopsmith carbide combination blade which I no longer use. Any thoughts on whether this is possible? Any speed suggestions?
Gale's Law: The bigger the woodworking project, the less the mistakes show in any photo taken far enough away to show the entire project!
- BuckeyeDennis
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Re: Cutting Aluminum Sheet with Carbide Blade?
I've cut aluminum with a chop saw on several occasions, with no problems. Lately, I've seen non-ferrous metal cutting capability claimed by a number of saw manufacturers. A specialized triple-chip grind blade might give you a nicer edge, but I've done it with ordinary carbide woodworking blades.
As for speed, my chop saw doesn't have adjustable speed, and the normal speed worked fine. I do cut slowly, however.
For cutting 0.066" sheet aluminum, I'd probably use a sacrificial backer board to keep it from bending. Scrap plywood or MDF, etc.
Cleaning up all those aluminum chips is a PITA.
As for speed, my chop saw doesn't have adjustable speed, and the normal speed worked fine. I do cut slowly, however.
For cutting 0.066" sheet aluminum, I'd probably use a sacrificial backer board to keep it from bending. Scrap plywood or MDF, etc.
Cleaning up all those aluminum chips is a PITA.
Re: Cutting Aluminum Sheet with Carbide Blade?
Yep, worked like a charm! The tip about the sacrificial plywood was a good one. Also sprayed blade with WD40 which was recommended on the interwebs.
Also, use the upper and lower blade guard. I connected a hose to the lower guard but left the other end on the floor. Got most of the chips in an area where they can be swept up.
Recommend full face shield and an apron.
Also, use the upper and lower blade guard. I connected a hose to the lower guard but left the other end on the floor. Got most of the chips in an area where they can be swept up.
Recommend full face shield and an apron.
Last edited by algale on Fri Aug 31, 2018 8:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Gale's Law: The bigger the woodworking project, the less the mistakes show in any photo taken far enough away to show the entire project!
Re: Cutting Aluminum Sheet with Carbide Blade?
Neat to hear about this....
I also saw on another venue lately, some guys putting chamfers on aluminum blocks, using small woodworking block planes !
Chris
I also saw on another venue lately, some guys putting chamfers on aluminum blocks, using small woodworking block planes !
Chris
Re: Cutting Aluminum Sheet with Carbide Blade?
Did you turn the blade to run backwards ?
I have a steel door to shorten and it was recommended to run a plywood blade backwards ?
I have a steel door to shorten and it was recommended to run a plywood blade backwards ?
Hobbyman2 Favorite Quote: "If a man does his best, what else is there?"
- General George S. Patton (1885-1945)
- General George S. Patton (1885-1945)
Re: Cutting Aluminum Sheet with Carbide Blade?
I read about running the blade backwards but that was for steel blades. This was carbide tipped and the advice I read was to run it normally. For what it is worth, it worked very well. A few more cuts to make but I am very pleased.Hobbyman2 wrote:Did you turn the blade to run backwards ?
I have a steel door to shorten and it was recommended to run a plywood blade backwards ?
Gale's Law: The bigger the woodworking project, the less the mistakes show in any photo taken far enough away to show the entire project!
- dusty
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Re: Cutting Aluminum Sheet with Carbide Blade?
I know you can cut non-ferrous metals this way BUT steel doors???
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Dusty
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Dusty
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Re: Cutting Aluminum Sheet with Carbide Blade?
dusty wrote:I know you can cut non-ferrous metals this way BUT steel doors???
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It is my understanding you just cut deep enough to cut the steel
Hobbyman2 Favorite Quote: "If a man does his best, what else is there?"
- General George S. Patton (1885-1945)
- General George S. Patton (1885-1945)
Re: Cutting Aluminum Sheet with Carbide Blade?
Do we not cut steel with carbide cutters? There are circular saw blades made to cut ferrous metals. That is not to say I would probably use a wood cutting saw blade to cut ferrous metal unless it was one I was not going to use on wood again. The carbide may be different on a metal cutting blade and they frequently have a triple chip grind which is probably not too common with wood workers although they are available on wood working blades.dusty wrote:I know you can cut non-ferrous metals this way BUT steel doors???
Here is a link to such a blade...
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools ... mUQAvD_BwE
And no Dusty this is not spam. You asked the question.
John & Mary Burger
Eagle's Lair Woodshop
Hooper, UT
Eagle's Lair Woodshop
Hooper, UT
- JPG
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Re: Cutting Aluminum Sheet with Carbide Blade?
I would consider an abrasive cutoff wheel for steel. Yes it is messy!!!!
'Non ferrous' is fraught with misapplication. Tungsten is 'nonferrous'. Carbide is 'nonferrous'.
Usually nonferrous means brass or aluminum or other fairly soft metals.
Glad it worked Mr Gale.
'Non ferrous' is fraught with misapplication. Tungsten is 'nonferrous'. Carbide is 'nonferrous'.
Usually nonferrous means brass or aluminum or other fairly soft metals.
Glad it worked Mr Gale.
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Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
╟JPG ╢
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Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange