Ok... about a zillion years ago I worked in a specialty tool store. Amoung other things we carried a wide variety of products from a company called Sait Abrasives. We carried metal cutting abrasive blades labeled specifically for aluminum and soft metals.
I am now wondering what would be the best thing for cutting aluminum sheet and plate that will contaminate the aluminum the least so that it does not impair welding. I'm sure I can cut it with the right blade in my bandsaw, or with a jigsaw, but I am not sure how much contimants will be left behind by those bimetal blades.
For longer cuts it would be nice to be able to chuck up a blade in a table saw or even in a circular saw using a saw guide. I have not seen abrasive blase specifically for aluminum in many years, anbd I know regular abrasive blades will gum up with aluminum when cutting. I also don't know how clean the cut is when I am done. I'm open for suggestions.
P.S. Yes I should have said foundry or casting rather than smelting. I should have known better. One of my buddies took a class in foundry at the local community college, and I considered taking the class, but owning and operating a contracting business makes it difficult to commit to it.