Metal cut off blade

[tearapin]

I bought the blade in the picture to cut some aluminum. It clogged and is now worthless after about 8 inches of cutting. Obviously I have the wrong blade. So what is a correct/good one for cutting aluminum?

Alternatively is there a way to unclog the blade?

 

[tarmy]

Ummm…you need a toothed blade for aluminum. They do make cut off wheels and 4 1/2 grinder wheel to cut them too. Aluminum need a specific blade for the softness of the material.
Metal could be lots of things….mild, stainless, aluminum, AR…

 

[larry4406]

No expert but I think you want a toothed blade vs abrasive for aluminum.

 

[readhead]

All of your woodworking tools will work for aluminum. Best saw blade would be a ATB style and use some lubricant. WD40 works well.

 

[no704]

Run it on some steal it will clean up.

 

[readhead]

And clog again on the first cut. He just needs the correct blade.

 

[JuncleJohn]

Obviously the wrong wheel/blade for aluminum.

Get yourself a dressing stick to clean (and save) your wheel. We use them at work to both dress and shape grinding and cut off wheels.

MSC sells them.

John

 

[Bodj Built]

Cut into a bar of soap before cutting the aluminum to help it from sticking. But yeah, any metal saw will realistically work on aluminum. Table saw, circular saw, reciprocating saw...

 

[KwikFab]

Wrong wheel.

Throw it on a horizontal bandsaw instead as it'll make quick work of it.

 

[RoninB4]

-Almost all abrasives will eventually get clogged/glazed. Aluminum is NOT what to use an abrasive wheel on, a toothed blade (like others have posted) is better. For abrasive cut-off wheels it's best to use a coarse dressing stick to refresh the wheel before every use and/or when needed. Photo below, they're cheap and widely available.

 

[The Cobbler]

I bought an aluminum cutting wheel recently . so far I've cut about a ft of 1/4" aluminum & it's held up well . it takes a much wider cut that a zip cut blade does

 

[flushcut]

I use a regular old wood working mitering chop saw with an 80 tooth blade and WD40.

 

[neophyte]

I bought the blade in the picture to cut some aluminum. It clogged and is now worthless after about 8 inches of cutting. Obviously I have the wrong blade. So what is a correct/good one for cutting aluminum?

Alternatively is there a way to unclog the blade?

There are usually blades and abrasives specified for aluminum.
I believe the preferred abrasive is usually silicon carbide, or silicon carbide mixed with aluminum oxide, and a friable mix to prevent clogging.
Steel body diamond abrasive discs may also work.
Typically from what I’ve seen with cutting tools, ones coated with a substance containing aluminum are generally not recommended for cutying aluminum, (ie. Titanium Aluminum Nitride coated bits, were regular titanium nitride bits are preferable for cutting aluminum, do like there is some galling issue that happens with aluminum when cutting aluminum materials with cutting tools containing aluminum).

 

[dnschmidt]

There are many made for aluminum specifically cut off blades. Walter makes them as does SAIT and Metabo. You're not going to find any of these at the Home Depot or Lowes but at welding supply houses or possibly on Amazon. They use softer bonding of the abrasive so that instead of loading they simply wear down slightly faster. For example: https://us.pferd.com/en/cut-off-wheels-sg-alu?material=Aluminum