Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate? ***WHO'D A THUNK!!!***

[bigdee]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

It is a carbide blade designed to cut thick aluminum and mild steel. Yeah I had my doubts too until the tool sales rep cut through a piece of 3/4" x 4" mild steel bar stock in 5 seconds!!!!

I meant to say he cut through at 1 inch per second. This was a Milwaukee tool rep and we bought and used these many times.

 

[achris]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

It is a carbide blade designed to cut thick aluminum and mild steel. Yeah I had my doubts too until the tool sales rep cut through a piece of 3/4" x 4" mild steel bar stock in 5 seconds!!!!

Mild steel and aluminium are two very different animals when it comes to cutting. If that rep had done it on ali, I'd be impressed....

Chris......

 

[dolluper]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Around 50 bones you can get the right cutting blade...for old saw which is cheap most are 100+
cuts 3/8 aluminum

check below
http://www.dynamic-saw-blade-sharpening.com/metal-devil-prices.html

 

[smclear]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

I contact a friend of mine with a water jet cutter and have him cut my materials. if he is too busy, I have another friend that has a building full of lasers. However if that is not available, a simple metal cutting blade in my jig saw. using a wood blade in a table saw or circular saw is just asking to be an invitation to the darwin awards.

+1 same path I'd take.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

How do you CUT with a blade that's in reversed? The teeth on a blade are set at the optimum angle for the best cut in the material it is designed to cut. Using a blade to cut a material it was not designed for (or setting it up the wrong way) is asking for problems, as well as being a huge safety hazard. If you want to cut aluminium, buy a blade designed to cut aluminium, and put it in the saw the right way!

BTW, If I see anybody under my supervision using ANY tools the wrong way, first time's a warning, second time's the sack! Anybody else also gets shown the right way to do it. I see them doing it again, their supervisor gets informed and a safety hazard alert is raised... In my industry it's done the right way, or not at all.... If you're looking for an example of what might happen when corners are cut, I have just two words for you.... Deepwater Horizon....

Chris.......

Ayuh,.... For cuttin' tin, sheetmetal(steel), I use a regular carbide wood cuttin' blade, mounted backwards...

For cuttin' Aluminum, I use standard wood cuttin' blades, the same way as cuttin' wood, only with a lubricant...

Don't matter if it's .060, or 4" thick...

Ya gotta keep it wet with lub, or pack the piece with Ice, so's the aluminum Cuts, 'n don't melt onto yer blade....

 

[bigdee]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

I have used Milwaukee blades but if you are looking for cheap= http://www.harborfreight.com/7-1-4-quarter-inch-c5-carbide-tipped-circular-saw-blade-94642.html

Circular saw will cut thick metal but it is not the best method to cut THIN metal. 1/4" plate will cut very clean and almost as fast as cutting plywood. A 22" cut will be a piece of cake. VERY IMORTANT......wear full eye protection. Let saw come up to speed before engaging metal.
You will be amazed at how well this works

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

I have used Milwaukee blades but if you are looking for cheap= http://www.harborfreight.com/7-1-4-quarter-inch-c5-carbide-tipped-circular-saw-blade-94642.html

Circular saw will cut thick metal but it is not the best method to cut THIN metal. 1/4" plate will cut very clean and almost as fast as cutting plywood. A 22" cut will be a piece of cake. VERY IMORTANT......wear full eye protection. Let saw come up to speed before engaging metal.
You will be amazed at how well this works

I'll be going after it today. I am going to clamp down the plate, as well. Don't have any beeswax or paraffin so I'll have a can of WD40 handy.

I'll report back.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

I haven't used one yet, buy my buddy swears by the Rigid twin blade (counter-rotating) saw for this type of cut. Next time I have to cut some structural or sheet Al I plan to borrow it for a test run.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

I haven't used one yet, buy my buddy swears by the Rigid twin blade (counter-rotating) saw for this type of cut. Next time I have to cut some structural or sheet Al I plan to borrow it for a test run.

You could grab one yourself for the paltry sum of $79.95 They even have a video in the ad, that shows them cutting 1/4" aluminum diamond plate, among various other materials.

http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/circular-saws/5-double-cut-saw-68316.html

I think I will stop by today and pick one up. That'll save my wood cutting blades.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

I just picked up the counter rotating saw from Harbor Freight. I haven't employed it yet but it is pretty slick. It even has an attachment that delivers lubricant to the blade. They include a dozen sticks of lubricant.

 

[rbh]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Walther zip cut blade for the 4 inch grinder, or take it down to the local metal/fab shop and get them to cut it in the shear, $5 bucks or so, and nice and straight.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

I just picked up the counter rotating saw from Harbor Freight. I haven't employed it yet but it is pretty slick. It even has an attachment that delivers lubricant to the blade. They include a dozen sticks of lubricant.

Ayuh,.... I've gone through a Few of 'em,....

Before I found the twin-blade cutters, I rarely messed with SSteel, 'cause it's tough to cut, can't use a Blue-tip wrench...

If ya let it Breathe, 'n don't crowd it to a stall, it'll last Awhile...

Crowd it, 'n shes done...

It's Great for steel roofin' too, better than the aforementioned way...

 

[rbh]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Ayuh,.... I've gone through a Few of 'em,....

Before I found the twin-blade cutters, I rarely messed with SSteel, 'cause it's tough to cut, can't use a Blue-tip wrench...

If ya let it Breathe, 'n don't crowd it to a stall, it'll last Awhile...

.

Crowd it, 'n shes done...

It's Great for steel roofin' too, better than the aforementioned way...

I learned something from our roofer last summer when we tinned the roof, and that is the 26GA steel is high tensile and cutting it with a blade will take the temper out of it and it will rust really easy.
All cuts were done with tin snips.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Had one given to me as a gift. Haven't employed it yet. Please do inform us/me as to it's worthiness.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Ayuh,.... I've gone through a Few of 'em,....

Before I found the twin-blade cutters, I rarely messed with SSteel, 'cause it's tough to cut, can't use a Blue-tip wrench...

If ya let it Breathe, 'n don't crowd it to a stall, it'll last Awhile...

Crowd it, 'n shes done...

It's Great for steel roofin' too, better than the aforementioned way...

Good to know. I'll take it easy!

...as far as getting someone to cut it for $5.00, I doubt it. Don't know of any shops that would do anything for $5.00 today,

 

[Harritwo]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

I work in a Shipyard, repairing the US NAvy Ships. We cut Aluminum plate upto 1-1/2" thick all time on a table saw, Cross cut miter saw, and using a skill saw. We use a 40-60 tooth carbide tip blade, maintain a light pressure and keep positive control of the saw/material. Wear gloves, long sleeves, and safety glasses as it throws lots of debris. The only issue we have ever had is on our table sw, if we do not disable teh metal/moisture detector it will trip the safety stop. With a skil saw, we were burnng them up until we went to a worm gear drive. We also use them for production work and not your everyday light cutting. As you have described yo are fine with a skilsw and a 40-60 tooth carbide blade.

If we are cutting sheetmetal steel or aluminum, take a paneling blade, turn it over so it is running backwards and it makes a smooth cut effortlessly. Lots of noise so wear plugs.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

I work in a Shipyard, repairing the US NAvy Ships. We cut Aluminum plate upto 1-1/2" thick all time on a table saw, Cross cut miter saw, and using a skill saw. We use a 40-60 tooth carbide tip blade, maintain a light pressure and keep positive control of the saw/material. Wear gloves, long sleeves, and safety glasses as it throws lots of debris. The only issue we have ever had is on our table sw, if we do not disable teh metal/moisture detector it will trip the safety stop. With a skil saw, we were burnng them up until we went to a worm gear drive. We also use them for production work and not your everyday light cutting. As you have described yo are fine with a skilsw and a 40-60 tooth carbide blade.

If we are cutting sheetmetal steel or aluminum, take a paneling blade, turn it over so it is running backwards and it makes a smooth cut effortlessly. Lots of noise so wear plugs.

Thanks for a real life testimonial. It blows most people away when you tell them you can cut steel or aluminum with a skil saw. Before I had learned this secret I used all the old school methods...torch,hacksaws,abrasive cut-off wheels and so on. Yeah you have to be easy or you will strip the gears or you can buy the Milwaukee saw that is designed for this. What some people are missing is it is the carbide that is doing the magic.

 

[Harritwo]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Personally, if I were in your shoes, I would have someone cut it for you.

I would use my plasma cutter.

In the shipyard environment, working for the Navy, we are not allowed to use a plasma for anything other than rough cuts on aluminum in the shop. Never on the boat. The reasoning is that the plasma changes the molecular structure of the metal and failure rate is increased.

We do use it for rough cuts on alum and steel, but no finish cuts and never allowed on the ships.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Still waiting to use my new HF counter rotating saw to cut my aluminum tread plate. I need to clamp it to the saw horses on the side yard but it has snowed the last two mornings. Grrr!

 

[Harritwo]

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Re: Cutting 3/16" aluminum tread plate?

Dont know what Snow is! LOL