Aluminium cutting

[God mode restorations]

Evening everyone.
Just out of intrest guys what tools or machines do you use to cut aluminium sheet.I have some 3mm aluminium sheet I will need to cut .

 

[WorkshopChris]

In order of preference, depending on size and shape:-

Bandsaw
Jigsaw
Sheetsaw
Plasma
Hacksaw blade in a holder.

 

[langy]

Circular saw does a good job or plasma but you need to move fast

 

[skotl]

Not necessarily ideal for 3mm sheet (especially if it's a large sheet) but I used an Evo Rage chop saw to do an ally block and it went through it like a knife through butter. Well, butter that spat 18million tiny hot sharp slivers of butter at your head, but it got the job done!

 

[piman]

Hello Spencer,

I cut 100mm off the end of a 3000 x 1500 x 3 sheet this weekend quite easily with my portable circular saw with tungsten tipped blade.

Alec

 

[God mode restorations]

I have a bosch pro skill saw.it will look out for the correct blade. Don't like skills saws but if needs must lol.

 

[Mr shiney]

Not necessarily ideal for 3mm sheet (especially if it's a large sheet) but I used an Evo Rage chop saw to do an ally block and it went through it like a knife through butter. Well, butter that spat 18million tiny hot sharp slivers of butter at your head, but it got the job done!

lol, yep, I do the same but wear full body armour.

 

[God mode restorations]

OK cool.. do you get any kind of blade grabbing using the skill saw on aluminium. .

 

[hareng]

Have used a circular wood cutting saw carbide tipped to cut 6082 aluminium durbar and plates. On 3 to 6mm thick can walk as fast as it will go through so be careful.
Any picking up on the teeth will show up as it not cutting as well.
20mm plate still not a problem but will get hot quick, keep an eye on whats happening.

If cant bandsaw I would sooner use the repo saw over the jig saws.

 

[Pete.]

Circular saw (overalls, ear plugs and goggles) or 1mm cutting disc in a 5" grinder.

 

[God mode restorations]

Circular saw (overalls, ear plugs and goggles) or 1mm cutting disc in a 5" grinder.

I think you can get aluminium cutting discs.

 

[Pete.]

For circular saw or grinder?

 

[God mode restorations]

For circular saw or grinder?

For the grinder. I am sure I have come across them.

 

[Pete.]

You don't need them. Just use regular 1mm cutting discs. They leave a burr but you can nip that off with a file etc.

 

[God mode restorations]

You don't need them. Just use regular 1mm cutting discs. They leave a burr but you can nip that off with a file etc.

I think I will use that method. Really dislike skill saws.am sure they are fine but just don't like them.

 

[bigegg]

I think I will use that method. Really dislike skill saws.am sure they are fine but just don't like them.

If youre doing it regularly, Evolution do a "skilsaw" [other makes are available] for metal cutting.

 

[hotrodder]

Regular use and/or earning a living from it then shears are the way forward. Can get leccy shears that are rated* to 10swg/3.2mm mild steel, 2.5 stainless and 4mm ally, not cheap to buy but can pay for themselves pretty quickly... fast, cuts curves as well as straight lines, no mess to sweep up, no fumes/black snot to worry about, no HAZ or contamination from plasma/abrasive discs to deal with and virtually burr free. Manually operated bench versions are obviously slower and a PITA if you're along and need to cut up a full sheet but are a lot cheaper and quieter

Stuff like metal cutting skilsaws come become more useful on thicker stuff as you can make bevelled cuts

* While i don't doubt that a Makita js3201j is more than man enough to physically cut at it's max rated capacity i'd expect that with steel, especially stainless, it's sometimes not much fun forcing the waste side of the cut out of the way