Cut diamond plates?
- Thread starter PoorOwner
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cvairwerks
Well-known member
Skill saw with metal cutting blade.
readhead
Well-known member
Carbide blade on a skilsaw will work fine. Use some cutting wax or WD-40 to keep from clogging the blade. Wear safety glasses. Chips will be flying everywhere.
mdog892001
Banned
Aluminum cutoff wheels for grinder. Also a sawzall with a fine tooth blade
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shoot summ
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This, .072" is very thin, good blade on a circular saw, I would even consider a table saw. Thin aluminum will cut fine this way.
MikeinNorthWales
Well-known member
Circular saw or table saw are the machines of choice in my industry. A carbide blade will cut that quickly and clean. As stated, watch the chips!
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mowkep
Well-known member
Yes it's not hard. We had to make some ramps for a customer once.
Alexander
Well-known member
I third the table saw (or regular circular saw) suggestions. We spray it down with soapy water to help lube the blade.
If you'll be doing a lot of cutting, I'd suggest getting a triple chip blade, which are usually even labeled for non-ferrous and plastics. HD stocks them in 7 1/4, 10, 12, maybe other sizes.
If you'll be doing a lot of cutting, I'd suggest getting a triple chip blade, which are usually even labeled for non-ferrous and plastics. HD stocks them in 7 1/4, 10, 12, maybe other sizes.
readhead
Well-known member
Good suggestion on the triple chip blade. When you do something for so long you can forget the details.
Id take it to a shop and have them shear it for you. Barring a major screw up you’d be pretty much guaranteed perfect strips.
I THINK even a 16gauge steel rated shear would handle your .072.
A lot of home shops might even be able to handle it for you. Hard to beat using a squaring shear.
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I THINK even a 16gauge steel rated shear would handle your .072.
A lot of home shops might even be able to handle it for you. Hard to beat using a squaring shear.
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dr_clyde
Well-known member
That's a shear job if I've ever seen one. Take it to a sheet metal shop. I bet they'll do it for a $10 bill.
If not, an nice carbide tipped blade on a table saw will work. Loud and messy but effective.
If not, an nice carbide tipped blade on a table saw will work. Loud and messy but effective.
shoot summ
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Wont hurt the saw at all.
Will be noisy, and watch the chips, beyond that it will be quick and easy.
4 FN 27
ALLIANCE MEMBER
As many mentioned above my first goto would be the Table Saw and some light oil feeding Tread up...
Second Circular Saw, Tread down and light oil.
Third...find a shop with a shear and good hold downs so the sheet doesn't twist as it cuts...and preferably a set of blades that have never seen Stainless Rod Stock. At 12 inches wide with the right blade clearance they should stay pretty flat.
When we Laser or Water Jet we run Tread down...punching in the Turret Press Tread up.
I have cut 3 inch thick slabs of Aluminum with a Circular Saw. Me cutting and my buddy spraying WD-40 from the bottom on the Blade. Long Sleeves, Face Shield, Hat and Ear Plugs are a must.
Second Circular Saw, Tread down and light oil.
Third...find a shop with a shear and good hold downs so the sheet doesn't twist as it cuts...and preferably a set of blades that have never seen Stainless Rod Stock. At 12 inches wide with the right blade clearance they should stay pretty flat.
When we Laser or Water Jet we run Tread down...punching in the Turret Press Tread up.
I have cut 3 inch thick slabs of Aluminum with a Circular Saw. Me cutting and my buddy spraying WD-40 from the bottom on the Blade. Long Sleeves, Face Shield, Hat and Ear Plugs are a must.
4 FN 27
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Yes watch out for the Kickback...Table or Circular wipe down the "sliding surface" with WD-40 so the material doesn't hang up.
I cut some Extruded Tube on a Table Saw once for a customer in their Proto Lab...very dangerous as we were cutting the Tube the long direction to make it into Angles...not the brightest thing to do but lead-time did not allow us to wait for the correct material. We had a few kickbacks due to the material stress relief as it cut...
maxpower_hd
Well-known member
I recently had to cut some aluminum and I used a circular saw with a used Diablo Demo Demon blade in it. It cut just as good as other metal cutting blades I've used. I tried an abrasive metal cutting blade first and it was no match. If you were to get a blade specifically for aluminum I'm sure it would work even better. But the Demo Demon is only about $17.
Marctrees
Well-known member
Op - Listen to above suggestions.
Of course a jigsaw will cut it, but you will not get a nice straitedge EVEN cutting against a clamped guide.. cause the blade will often drift sideways..
Also not as clean and smooth and burr free of a cut anyway.
Marc
Of course a jigsaw will cut it, but you will not get a nice straitedge EVEN cutting against a clamped guide.. cause the blade will often drift sideways..
Also not as clean and smooth and burr free of a cut anyway.
Marc
ericlar80
Well-known member
If using a table saw, make sure to use the blade cover guard and use face protection. I'm not a fan of carbide flying at my face, which is more likely to happen when cutting metal. I would personally use a skil saw with or without a guide, depending on how accurate you need it.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
When cutting aluminum it is imperative to use a lubricant. The best is something wax based like Boelube or Relton Stik-Kut. However, a good spraying with WD40 works as well.
Zebu Fellenz
Well-known member
Table saw and a GOOD face shield are my tools of choice for slicing aluminum up to 1/2" thick. Emphasis on GOOD FACE SHIELD hot aluminum chips hurt more than sawdust! 
Marctrees
Well-known member
DEAD SERIOUS - Not only a face shield, but also TIGHT fitting glasses/ goggles...
And ideally clothing that will not hold sharp swarf... no fuzzy wool shirts..etc...
The **** goes ALLL over.. will find it in your ears and..
Probably underwear even.
Not joking.
A head/hair cover is very good, otherwise you WILL be picking out numerous swarf unless yer bald.
It is a major mess.
My entire concern is getting a bit of razor sharp swarf in an eye...
Not gonna be cheap.
Not gonna be a happy experience.
The **** seems to have a magical ability to get everywhere..
Did I say that already ??
Definitely can be done, but Really recommend shearing if possible.
Marc
And ideally clothing that will not hold sharp swarf... no fuzzy wool shirts..etc...
The **** goes ALLL over.. will find it in your ears and..
Probably underwear even.
Not joking.
A head/hair cover is very good, otherwise you WILL be picking out numerous swarf unless yer bald.
It is a major mess.
My entire concern is getting a bit of razor sharp swarf in an eye...
Not gonna be cheap.
Not gonna be a happy experience.
The **** seems to have a magical ability to get everywhere..
Did I say that already ??
Definitely can be done, but Really recommend shearing if possible.
Marc
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2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
I cut some with a grinder and cutting-wheel today. Not perfect, the edges need buffed to remove burrs afterwards. Did well enough for fabbing up a bumper.
Face protection is a good idea as others mentioned.
Face protection is a good idea as others mentioned.
jimreed2160
Well-known member
I cut some a few months back using a non-ferrous blade in my table saw.
Ign
Well-known member
This.
Ign
Well-known member
Wow, easy! I cut miles of Al tubing and flat bar w just a 12" miter saw. When I sweep up the chips overflow a 5 gal bucket after each job - not exaggerating.
I wear basic eye protection, ears and I do prefer a welders cap to keep it out of my hair. In 9 years of doing this I've felt maybe a couple chips get in my eye and I assume they've been flushed because no problems but honestly any eye doc will tell you RUST in the eye is THE real concern and Al obviously doesn't have this potential.
I'm not saying don't be safe but OP you're not bathing in nuclear waste here. Step back, take a breath - the sky is NOT falling. Use the same common sense you'd use when cutting up a pallet and you'll be fine.
On the list of dangerous things you do everyday, this is WAY down there. Stepping out your front door is far more hazardous
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I rolled up to a buddies house yesterday and he just go done cutting an .125" sheet of aluminum with a circular saw.......he kept saying "the damn chips were such a mess; it took me longer to clean up the chips than to make the cuts"!
lbhsbz
Well-known member
I do aluminum sheet on the table saw all the time...give a shot of WD40 on your cut line.
It'll cut as easy as plywood doorskin.
It'll cut as easy as plywood doorskin.
Marctrees
Well-known member
Marctrees
Well-known member
Just the other day I cut a small amount of 26g steel w a very fine tooth jigsaw.
Workpiece was on a very low knee height bench.
End of day, I still found some tiny chips in my hair.
Hanging on like Sandburrs.
Just one of them could have caused a scratched cornea and lots of headache.
Oh, and unfortunately, I am not a safety gestapo.. Stpidly I do stuff w no glasses most of the time.
"Cutting up a pallet" I would not grab glasses.
This is different.
Marc
Workpiece was on a very low knee height bench.
End of day, I still found some tiny chips in my hair.
Hanging on like Sandburrs.
Just one of them could have caused a scratched cornea and lots of headache.
Oh, and unfortunately, I am not a safety gestapo.. Stpidly I do stuff w no glasses most of the time.
"Cutting up a pallet" I would not grab glasses.
This is different.
Marc
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