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Cutting Aluminum With Chop Saw (?)

Past : I used to go to a place and use their chop saw for slicing off small pieces of Al and brass bar stock. I never remembered (and don't now) having trouble with aluminum, and the parts from way back then appear to have cut as well as the brass ones from the same batches.

Present: I just got my own chop saw, and read that it's not meant for aluminum (but is meant for 'iron metal' ). I tried to slice a small piece off of a small diameter bar stock and the cut was really sloppy and it seemed to have gotten so hot that the Al got .... well, slushy. Maybe the loading of the blade (a Norton metal-cutting blade) left a messy kerf (right word?) , maybe the spanking-new blade needs to wear in a little (?) . It worked fine on a similar brass piece.

Future (?) I'll try water cooling the cut next time. I'm assuming it will be ok to spray water onto the cut in progress (?). Am I correct it thinking that the warned-of danger in cutting aluminum has something to do with the blade periodically throwing off accumulated Al ?. A couple of brass cuts took off the buildup . Since the saw itself , and not the blade, came with the warning about Al, I'm also assuming that there aren't blades that are actually recommended for Al ?.

Thanks, Dar

Reply to
Dar Shelton
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small pieces of Al and brass bar stock. I never

from way back then appear to have cut

aluminum (but is meant for 'iron metal' ).

cut was really sloppy and it seemed to have gotten

(a Norton metal-cutting blade) left a messy kerf

(?) . It worked fine on a similar brass piece.

spray water onto the cut in progress (?).

something to do with the blade

off the buildup .

I'm also assuming that

Reply to
John D. Farr

There are abrasive saw blades made to cut non-ferrous metals. They wear away faster than steel blades, but do not load up with aluminum blobs.

Reply to
Ernie Leimkuhler

I said ' blades' but I did mean the abrasive wheels normally used on chop saws (as far as I know). So when John Farr, and you, say 'blades' , you mean the same thing, or variations thereof, as opposed to a solid metal blade like in a radial arm saw, or a cold metal saw?.

Dar

Reply to
Dar Shelton

He definately means blade, with teeth.

I regularly use a Freud carbide tipped 12" miter saw blade to sever AL. I also use a cheap B&D carbide tipped blade to cut down AL plate on my table saw.

saws (as far as I know).

variations thereof, as opposed to

Reply to
John Hofstad-Parkhill

small pieces of Al and brass bar stock. I never

from way back then appear to have cut

aluminum (but is meant for 'iron metal' ).

cut was really sloppy and it seemed to have gotten

(a Norton metal-cutting blade) left a messy kerf

(?) . It worked fine on a similar brass piece.

spray water onto the cut in progress (?).

something to do with the blade

off the buildup .

I'm also assuming that

Reply to
turnitdown

Ok, so is it alright to just put any old carbide-tipped , solid metal blade into my chop saw, as long as the arbor fits ?. Not that I'm exactly rarin' to go that route ......

DS

Reply to
Dar Shelton

small pieces of Al and brass bar stock. I never

from way back then appear to have cut

aluminum (but is meant for 'iron metal' ).

cut was really sloppy and it seemed to have gotten

(a Norton metal-cutting blade) left a messy kerf

(?) . It worked fine on a similar brass piece.

spray water onto the cut in progress (?).

something to do with the blade

off the buildup .

I'm also assuming that

Instead of water, use a little kerosene on the cut. It does wonders for machining aluminum, and won't rust anything , unlike water.

The problem may be the carbide grade. Non ferrous is better machined with a C2 grade, something like 883 Carboloy. Hard to say what grade the saw blade would have. Excessive tip welding could prove a serious matter, so I'm sure that's one of the reasons they suggest you not cut aluminum. Keeps them out of court.

Harold

Reply to
Harold & Susan Vordos

Be sure to use a negative rake tooth blade and if possible a tripple chip grind. ...lew...

Reply to
Lewis Hartswick

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