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I have a "chop saw", with an abrasive disc, for cutting metal but, I need something more accurate. Has anyone used one of these? I want to cut up to 4x6 aluminum stock perfectly square. Thanks
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It sound kinda scary, but you can get accurate cuts on a table saw with a metal cutting blade and the proper lubricant grease. I'm not sure how accrurate you can be with an inexpensive saw. The more expensive horizontal bandsaws will do pretty good, but I always cut oversize and then square it up in the mill. If you are needing a lot of same size pieces you can order them cut to size from the suppliers. DeWalt and several others have a 14" metal cutting chop saw (non-abrasive) that works quite well...
-------------------- Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain ! Jim Moser Design 13342 C Grass Valley Ave. Grass Valley, Ca. 95945 530-273-7615 jwmoser@att.net Posts: 488 | From: Grass Valley, Ca. | Registered: May 2006
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The pieces I have are 10 to 12' long and would be hard to crosscut on the table saw. I could probably just take them to a local machine shop to get them cut.
Thanks!
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7404 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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for aluminum I use my miter saw with carbide blade. For steel the bandsaw is the way to go. Thats a pretty cheap model but unless your cutting alot its probably fine. You can set it up and let it drop ice and slow all on its own.
-------------------- Brian Stoddard Northwest Wholesale Signs
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A band saw is not the way to cut aluminum, because it fills in the teeth fast also blade is to thin so wobbles as it cuts for steel be great cause it's slow
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I use a carbide blade in my mitre saw and it works quite well. Eye and ear protection and a long sleeve shirt is a must when cutting aluminum extrusion.
Sometimes, the saw blade will pull the material in as it is cutting, causing the extrusion to slightly slide sideways along the fence, making the cut not exactly square. If I can't hold it tight enough by hand to keep that from happening, I set up a C clamp to hold the extrusion down when cutting--a quick turn on the clamp keeps the saw blade from pulling the material in and cutting out of square.
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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quote:Originally posted by Wayne Webb: The pieces I have are 10 to 12' long and would be hard to crosscut on the table saw. I could probably just take them to a local machine shop to get them cut.
Thanks!
For long pieces the chop saw with carbide blade ( the more teeth the better ) is the way to go....
-------------------- Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain ! Jim Moser Design 13342 C Grass Valley Ave. Grass Valley, Ca. 95945 530-273-7615 jwmoser@att.net Posts: 488 | From: Grass Valley, Ca. | Registered: May 2006
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Whatever you do, DO NOT use Dan Sawatzky's table saw to cut these. If he'd have invested a few hundred bucks on a new table saw a decade ago, he'd never have discovered the advantages of "wiggly".
-------------------- David Harding A Sign of Excellence Carrollton, TX Posts: 5084 | From: Carrollton, TX, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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You might check around, Wayne, and I apologize for not knowing the answer; but a few months ago, I was watching Hot Rod TV, and they were using a new type of saw to cut metal for a project they were working on.
I came in on the show late and didn't hear what the name of it was, but it looked like a chop saw, but turned at a slow rate of speed. It didn't use oil or water, and threw off no sparks. It was quick, slick and clean.
I made a mental note to check it out further, but my mental notes get lost faster and faster these days. Anyway, it might be something worth checking into. Maybe if you'd email Hot Rod TV, someone there might remember the show.
Late note;;;;; I found something. Go to Toolfetch.com and do a search for metal cutting saws. There will be a listing for Evolution saws that says "they cut without lubricant, heat or sparks.... That might be the one.
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Hi,is the material you are cutting hollow section? with wall thickness down to 1/16" we cut lot of extrusions with our DeWalt mitre saw. You must get the right blade, with negative rake teeth, and NEVER use the sliding action on the saw. it must be locked firmly in to position. using the chop action only, we have tried this with cheap saws, but this is a waste of time, a good mitre saw, and a VERY good blade with negative rake is what works for us. Regards Tim
-------------------- T.J.BARKER ARTLINE SIGNS PLOT 2 PRIORS LEAZE LANE HAMBROOK WEST SUSSEX UK 01243 572769 BARKERARTLINE@AOL.COM Posts: 80 | From: CHICHESTER WEST SUSSEX U.K. | Registered: Oct 2003
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Your miter saw should cut extruded aluminum like that as long as you get a good non ferrous blade installed on it. You don't need a sliding miter and the fixed ones work better in my opinion!
I used the same set up to cut aluminum art frame extrusion material a hundred times. As long as you get a quality blade, it shoulc cut real nice and straight. Watch out for the shower of chips...they are a might warm!
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