Best Tool for Cutting Aluminum Rod

Saws-all with wood cutting blade.

Bolt cutters with end cutting jaws? Something like this

John

Ok---it's a 3/4" piece of Aluminum, in a 4 ft+ deep 12" diameter hole, and you want to cut it off several inches BELOW ground level?

Carbide tipped saw blades are available in diameters down to at least 2". Maybe a

If you had a LOT of them to do, a portable hydraulic cable shear might work. Not sure if you can get one down in a 6" radius hole. Runs off of a port-a-power pump.

Know anybody on the local fire department that wants to get a little exercise for their Jaws of Life shear?

Bill

You want something like a die grinder fitted with a circular saw blade, a full blade guard, and some sort of rest to lean on the rod. An abasive wheel just clogs up in aluminum, look for a carbide toothed blade.

You might want to check out the battery powered circular saws with the

Jim Frame wrote:

1. Skilsaw, mabye one of those with a 4 inch diammeter blade, if there's room.

2. Cut them off above ground with the most convenient method, then bend them with a big hammer until they are far enough below ground.

Pete Stanaitis

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Jim Frame wrote:

Doesn't sound like fun. I would suggest a Saws-all with a flexible blade a few inches long. Drop a big washer or drilled plate over the rod and let the blade slide on this as you cut. IOW, the saw is at an angle, but the blade is cutting horizontally. If you come in from several directions, you may be able to break the rod by flexing it.

On Mon, 02 Jul 2007 07:24:46 -0700, with neither quill nor qualm, Jim Frame quickly quoth:

How about a Lancelot blade on an angle grinder?

- Metaphors Be With You -

"Tom Gardner" wrote in news:i%7ii.43058$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr21.news.prodigy.net:

Second that motion. Use an 8 or 10 TPI blade. Will be quick work.

Electricians hydraulic cable cutters would make short work of that bar.

John

I neglected to mention that the cut end of the rod has to remain round so that a cap can be friction-fit onto it. That pretty much precludes the suggestions that involved bolt cutters and the like, which would deform the rod. I don't want to have to reshape the ends any more than I want to hacksaw them.

I'm going to try the Sawzall suggestion and see how it works. If not, I may be back for more ideas!

Thanks to all who responded.

How about a home made shear? Couple inline holes in two blocks of steel hinged side by side, one bolted to the bench, the other to a long handle.

Stick the rod through both holes, and pull. Pink! Off it comes

Gunner

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. Lazarus Long