Cutting diamond plate

[jpearson]

I have a piece of chrome finished diamond plate that a friend gave me. It is 10ft x 2ft. I want to rip it into 3 inch wide strips that are 10 foot long to use as base boards in my garage.

Any suggestions on the best way to make long clean cuts like this? He suggested using an abrasive blade on a circular saw. Will this make clean cuts?

I have basic tools at home - table saw, circular saw, angle grinder, reciprocating saw, jig saw, and I also have a Dewalt multi-cuter but I'm not sure that any of these would do the job. I would be willing to spend up to $100 or so if there is a better tool to do this. I'm sure it would cost half that to take it to a fabricator to make the cuts but it is way more fun to do it yourself.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[Techie1961]

I would find someone that can shear it. If you use and abrasive wheel, you will heat up the edge a lot and ruin the chrome. Once you cut it with any process though, you will have an exposed edge so paint will be needed.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Do you have any metal shops nearby that have a large shear ? Stop and ask them if they can shear it for a nominal fee. I'd spend a few bucks and not screw it up rather than **** around with it.

Unless you're totally committed to doing it yourself, it's my suggestion.

 

[raddksn]

Chrome steel?

 

[jpearson]

I assume it's chrome steel but I don't really know.

 

[Tawn]

I cut outlet holes with a jigsaw and other smaller lengths with a circular saw. I can't imagine cutting longer lengths with a circular saw or a table saw. Like the others have said, try and find a shop with shears.

 

[jpearson]

Well - I just tried to stick a magnet to it and it didn't stick - so it may be aluminum with some type shiny finish.
Also I measured it and it's 1/16 of an inch thick.

Again - thanks for any suggestions.

 

[raddksn]

See if a magnet is attracted to it, if no try a hacksaw blade on the backside just see if you can scratch it. If yes it's probily aluminum and can be cut on table saw with carbide tip blade, setup your fence be carful and feed slow!

 

[lat905]

Most sheet diamond plate I have seen is either plain steel, galvanized, or its polished aluminum. The stuff I bought for baseboards and whatnot is polished aluminum. Check it with a magnet to see if its steel. Aluminum is a lot better for decorative use since the cut edge won't corrode on you.

I agree on finding a shop to shear it, it will be much cleaner and straighter and look soooo much better.

 

[24 dodge]

Find a shop that does water jetting, they will cut it and it will have a smooth edge

 

[exmaxima]

If it's aluminum, rip it on a table saw

 

[jpearson]

It looks like it's 1/16 aluminum - If I rip it on a table saw do I need to use a special blade?

 

[vekster]

It looks like it's 1/16 aluminum - If I rip it on a table saw do I need to use a special blade?

carbide tipped

 

[raddksn]

Carbide tip more teeth the better!

PS couple years ago I worked for a guy J Pearson he lives in a s.w. Suburbs of Chicago same guy???

 

[A_Pmech]

A table saw with a non-ferrous blade and a zero clearance insert would be how I would cut the stuff, if it's aluminum.

The problem with shearing strips is they will curl due to the blade rake angle.

 

[DanarchyCustoms]

Table saw with high tooth count blade and plenty of PPE! Full face shield, long sleeves to the wrists and a push stick but NO gloves. You can get away with a sharp wood blade BUT you just have to take your time.

 

[mayday0017]

You could also clamp another straight object to it as a guide and use a jig saw... That's how I typically cut aluminum

 

[SuperD]

Table saw with a brand new thin carbide tip blade. Dewalt makes a skill saw blade for $5.95, it is a very thin blade and works great on a table saw. I have cut exactly the same diamond plate that you have , cut with the checker plate up to avoid scratches.

 

[jpearson]

Carbide tip more teeth the better!

PS couple years ago I worked for a guy J Pearson he lives in a s.w. Suburbs of Chicago same guy???

I have an uncle named Jerry that used to be a banker in Chicago. I grew up in Dubuque, IA - not to far from there but it wasn't me. I'm an OB/GYN in Colorado.

 

[exmaxima]

It looks like it's 1/16 aluminum - If I rip it on a table saw do I need to use a special blade?

More teeth the better, but you can use a cheap blade like Piranha or similar. I'm old and don't care to have things blow up on the table saw anymore, so I would sandwich the metal with scrap wood to ensure nothing goes crazy. It takes a bit more time, but you will get a cleaner cut even with a plain wood blade.

 

[Bondo]

More teeth the better, but you can use a cheap blade like Piranha or similar. I'm old and don't care to have things blow up on the table saw anymore, so I would sandwich the metal with scrap wood to ensure nothing goes crazy. It takes a bit more time, but you will get a cleaner cut even with a plain wood blade.

Ayuh,.... Aluminum is easily worked with carbide tipped standard wood workin' blades,...

The Biggest problem is keepin' the aluminum Cold, so's it Cuts, rather than loadin' up the cuttin' tips on the blade,...

It's Easy this time of year, just throw snow on the sheet as yer cuttin' it,....

'n as noted above, the cuttin's are sharp, 'n numerous, so be Careful,...

 

[raddksn]

I like sandwiching with some scrap wood, good idea!

 

[HAY YOU]

Use it for a back splash & go buy some alum. kick plate.

 

[Jackfre]

That is 3033 AL. I've cut it with my plasma, circular saw, saber saw, sawzall and metal chop saw. At 1/16" I think I'd rip a nice straight 2x4, clamp it to the work as a guide and hit it with a circa saw. It makes a heck of a mess, so as previously noted, cover up and wear eye protection.

 

[jpearson]

I ended up using my circular saw with a carbide tipped blade and a guide. It worked great, nice clean even cuts.
Thanks for the protection gear comments. I am obsessive about eye protection but I probably wouldn't have gone full face or long sleeve without the advice and I am very thankful I did. I hugely underestimated the mess it was going to make!

Just curious about why I was advised not to wear gloves with the table saw.

 

[sctattooer]

I've cut a ton of that stuff, and my favorite and least hazardous was a fine metal blade in a jigsaw

 

[bazzateer]

Just curious about why I was advised not to wear gloves with the table saw.

If the blade catches your hand/fingers you just get a quick, albeit nasty, cut. With gloves it will pull your hand in and you'll likely lose the whole thing forcing you to give up the ..........

OB/GYN in Colorado.

..................... although you'll probably want to keep your hand in .......

 

[ts3342]

I have cut tons of it with a table saw and also handheld saws.Do yourself a favor stop by a sheet metal shop and get them sheared they might do it for very little cost.

 

[Andybull]

You are talking about long 10' cuts with a saw (not for me). I would rather slice them with a metal shear. Perfect cuts every time.

 

[jpearson]

What are your opinions about the best way to attach the strips to the wall. I am leaning toward liquid nail or polished screws if I can find some.

 

[Norcal]

I used the fence on my bandsaw to rip AL diamond plate, then had to clean up the edges & deburr it.

 

[venturesomerite]

I used to cut sheets of diamond plate (aluminum) for use in hockey rinks. All I ever used was a circ saw and a non ferous blade. I used a drill and jog saw for when we had to go around outlets and things like that. I always cut it from the back side, as it is flat and the blade will make more burs on the back then the front, which is easier to clean up. I used a file in some places, but mostly a pnematic die grinder with a scotch brite rolock disk.

-It was used as a wall covering, like the literal bottom 4 ft of every wall, we put a chair rail molding on the top edge.

 

[lat905]

What are your opinions about the best way to attach the strips to the wall. I am leaning toward liquid nail or polished screws if I can find some.

I used liquid nails on mine. You will need to brace something against it until the adhesive sets up.

 

[tdkkart]

I'm an OB/GYN in Colorado.

Well there's an interesting development........

 

[NUTTSGT]

What are your opinions about the best way to attach the strips to the wall. I am leaning toward liquid nail or polished screws if I can find some.

I just used some self tapping sheetmetal screws on my back splash of my workbench. I figured if they got dull or rusty, I could run them out and zip a new one in.

 

[SteveCh]

Just curious about why I was advised not to wear gloves with the table saw.

I worked in a wood shop for ten years or so [in Denver, hello there]. Using a table saw, one does not want any loose clothing [floppy shirt sleeves, loose shirt tails, etc.] and including gloves...anything like that can get caught and pull a wrist or finger or several fingers into the blade.

This goes for anything on your upper body, such as the tie strings hanging down from the hood of a sweat shirt. Some clothing parts will just be cut, but occasionally something can be caught in a blade tooth. It makes for a seriously bad day.

By the way, ditto all this with a router in a router table. Two guys lost fingers to a router in our shop.

 

[Strouty]

I worked in a wood shop for ten years or so [in Denver, hello there]. Using a table saw, one does not want any loose clothing [floppy shirt sleeves, loose shirt tails, etc.] and including gloves...anything like that can get caught and pull a wrist or finger or several fingers into the blade.

This goes for anything on your upper body, such as the tie strings hanging down from the hood of a sweat shirt. Some clothing parts will just be cut, but occasionally something can be caught in a blade tooth. It makes for a seriously bad day.

By the way, ditto all this with a router in a router table. Two guys lost fingers to a router in our shop.

Gloves can be worn, just make sure and use a push stick when near the blade. I understand what you are saying, but that is also like saying you shouldn't wear a seatbelt because it could trap you in the car.

 

[deere2210]

I've cut .125 AL bright finish tread plate using a circular saw and carbide blade as others have mentioned. No issues.. Table saw would be better to keep the lines straight..

 

[venturesomerite]

I've cut .125 AL bright finish tread plate using a circular saw and carbide blade as others have mentioned. No issues.. Table saw would be better to keep the lines straight..

Table saw is best, but I've also had good luck with just clamping a straigth edge (2x4, level what ever is straight) to the sheet and running the circ saw down it as a guide. Just measure the depth of the edge of the saw you will using against the guide to the blade, and account for the blade with. Then just position the edge that distance from the line you want to cut.

 

[nehog]

carbide tipped

Carbide tip more teeth the better!

PS couple years ago I worked for a guy J Pearson he lives in a s.w. Suburbs of Chicago same guy???

We cut a lot of aluminum and the carbide tipped blade is the right solution. However I strongly recommend a cutting lubricant, we use ATF which seems to work better than anything else we've tried. Don't push, let the saw do the work.