Radial arm saw

[500e]

Have a radial arm saw want to cut some alloy, is it usable and if so what blade ??

 

[mike os]

Fine tooth negative rake aluminium blade.. clamp down hard

 

[frank horton]

if it's one of these be very very careful....

 

[500e]

Tell all does it grab ?

Like this

 

[mike os]

Tell all does it grab ?

Like this

Any saw has the potential to snatch

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Tbh I run aluminium through my wood mitre saw regularly with whatever blades on it.

Usually extrusions. Occasionally squaring up the end of my tracksaw rails as they get dinked.

 

[Lazurus]

I wouldn't try it with a radial arm saw personally. A second hand evolution Rage is around 50 beer tokens and they are surprisingly good

 

[Onoff]

Nearly took my fingers/hand off with a Rage 3. Cutting 2x2x1/4 ali angle. Holding it by hand, no clamp.

It went BANG! I'd chosen to do it in the conservatory whilst SWMBO was out on the basis it was just one cut and I'd have it all cleaned up. As it went BANG she walked through the door to see swarf every where, me on my knees and claret all over the floor. I was stunned and couldn't figure where the blood was coming from. Checked my nuts them counted the fingers on both hands. Even turned my hands to look at the palms. I'd taken the SIDE of of one finger.

I use a clamp now.

 

[smashweld]

what's the rpm and blade size? higher rpm/bigger blade is better for alu - with a negative rake/fine tooth blade as mentioned

I've used a ~4600 rpm Metabo and ~4200rpm Dewalt Mitre saw with the blade below for 100s of cuts on alu angle/box etc - the slightly slower Dewalt is worse for grabbing but not so much it's a worry, quick google says the evolution is 2600rpm - can only guess it would be dangerous!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Professional-2608640451-Material-Circular/dp/B000XIWWO6/ref=pd_lpo_1?pd_rd_i=B000XIWWO6&psc=1

 

[roblane65]

Tbh I run aluminium through my wood mitre saw regularly with whatever blades on it.

Usually extrusions. Occasionally squaring up the end of my tracksaw rails as they get dinked.

Same here although I rarely have anything less than a 48T in the mitre/chop saw , securely held is important I've had a few flying spears in me time !

 

[Turbo]

RAS are dangerous enough cutting wood, I wouldn't fancy using one to cut ally!

 

[MetalMonkey]

I think RAS get a bad press, I reckon they are safer than a table saw.
Any machine is dangerous if you don't treat it with the respect it deserves - complacency is the devil.
They are very handy machines too.

That being said, I don't think I'd be cutting metal on one - sketch factor would be at eleven.
Mitre saw yes, or I'd find another way before considering using a RAS. What sort of thing are you wanting to cut - sheet, extrusion?

 

[creepy]

Someone I worked with cut a load of Aluminium angle on a chop saw, then noticed the blade was on the wrong way round, corrected it and the cut was rubbish, so put it back on in reverse and cut was good again. Never tried it but it worked, a negative rake blade is of course the correct item but ...... if it works and you can still count to ten afterwards then for a few cuts why not? (OK because its a bodge)

 

[Newlands]

I’ve cut loads of 2020 and 2040 on my mitre saw, and have also cut aluminium on the RAS a few times. Always clamped down, and I think goggles are a good idea because the chips are sharp and go everywhere. Only a guess but I’d say the mitre saw is maybe the safest of the two, because you swing the blade down on the work from the top, whereas a RAS either comes in from the back (pulling the work down onto the table, but with the blade wanting to pull itself towards you) or you could bring It into the work from the front (which tends to want to lift the work upwards).

 

[Spark plug]

I used to cut aluminium plate up to 30mm thick on a old Wadkin dimension saw with a negative rake aluminium blade and it performed superbly.

 

[mike os]

A negative rake blade pushes rather than pulls, so unless you get carried away shouldn't snatch as easily as a positive rake

You can also get chip limiting/ anti kickback (a misnomer thet are only reduced risk, not eliminating) ... Which is always the best choice