Replies

1. 
   IMERC | May 25, 2008 10:50pm | #1

   use yur miter saw...

   lube....

   negative rake blade...

    

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!! What a Ride!
   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

1. 
   etherhuffer | May 26, 2008 12:29am | #7

   Negative rake blade? Got me on that one.http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

1. 
   Sphere | May 26, 2008 12:32am | #8

   View Image

   click the pic for info

   edit: Not quite what I wanted to show, but that blade is neg 5. Freud and Amama make the same type of NONferrous metal blades, but I use a beater blade in a chopsaw, very carefully..the more teeth the better.

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

   New book alert; Eckhart Tolle "A new earth"

   A must read.

   Edited 5/25/2008 5:36 pm ET by Sphere

1. 
   etherhuffer | May 26, 2008 12:44am | #9

   Damn. You guys are good. Local hardware store, less so. Appreciate the sawblade advice. Didn't know such creatures existed and will hunt that down and check with the mfg on their suggested blade. Bless you, I will live until Labor Day!http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

2. 
   MarkH | May 26, 2008 12:58am | #11

   I have a Freud D1296N, which I think has been replaced by the LU77M. Also use process engineering graphite tool superlube to lube the blade. A few cuts can usually be made with a crosscut blade if you go very very very slow, or it will grab, and that gets real nasty real fast.

3. 
   IMERC | May 26, 2008 01:30am | #14

   http://www.freudtools.com/p-39-thick-non-ferrous-metalbr-nbsp.aspx

   American has them to -15*....

   Freud is arount -3 to -7*....

   dunno about Amana...

   CMT has several but I don't especially care for blades...

   60T is good.. 80T is way better...

   I like cutting wax for a lubricant... wax the blade... 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

1. 
   MarkH | May 26, 2008 01:38am | #16

   I like the wax too, but Freud does not recommend it.

1. 
   IMERC | May 26, 2008 01:46am | #17

   now ya tell me...

   plan "C" is Tri-Flow with Teflon... 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

2. 
   Ted W. | May 26, 2008 01:53am | #18

   I keep it around in a spray can for hinges and stuff. To be honest, I don't think I've ever lubricated a circular blade. Does it really make that much difference?--------------------------------------------------------

   Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at AWorkOfWood.com

3. 
   IMERC | May 26, 2008 02:54am | #23

   big time....

   wait a bit for it to dry 1st....

   smoother cleaner cuts and a lot less loading on the blade... 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

4. 
   MarkH | May 26, 2008 01:54am | #19

   I wonder why they don't recommend wax.

5. 
   IMERC | May 26, 2008 02:55am | #24

   dunno... 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

4. 
   IMERC | May 26, 2008 01:35am | #15

   the negative rake blades are the cat's meow for plastics too.... 

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

2. 
   Ted W. | May 25, 2008 10:54pm | #2

   Yep, miter saw. That's how I cut shower door rails. Wear eye protection!

   --------------------------------------------------------

   Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.net
   See some of my work at AWorkOfWood.com

1. 
   etherhuffer | May 26, 2008 12:02am | #4

   So, local shop had an abrasive blade for metal. I didn't see a reverse rake blade. In fact never heard of one! Whatzit?http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

1. 
   Ted W. | May 26, 2008 12:22am | #5

   You have to select the correct poster from the drop-down so they will see a new reply to their post. I have no idea what it is, just use a carbide blade on my miter saw. Drop the blade slowly into the metal so it doesn't grab to hard (and believe me, it will!). Also, I have a separate blade for abuse like this, so my wood cutting blades don't suffer. I've never used an abrasive blade for cutting aluminum. --------------------------------------------------------

   Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at AWorkOfWood.com

2. 
   Sphere | May 26, 2008 12:29am | #6

   Do NOT use an abrasive wheel/blade on Al. They are for Ferrous metal ONLY, Al. will clog and heat up, freeing the binder glue and can shatter.

   A negative rake tooth is one that is zero degrees or neg.zero attack angle from the center arbor . Zero degrees is like a true radial line from center to face of tooth, a neg hook is canted away from that line.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

   New book alert; Eckhart Tolle "A new earth"

   A must read.

1. 
   Ted W. | May 26, 2008 12:45am | #10

   Ahhh... Now I get it. I have those for my big miter saw, the tooth on the blade is tipped back so it doesn't 'dig' it's way out of the wood, so less splintering. I just never knew what it was called. :)--------------------------------------------------------

   Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at AWorkOfWood.com

1. 
   Sphere | May 26, 2008 01:00am | #12

   I was installing a vinyl covered Al. rail system a few yrs ago. I knew my blade was NOT up to snuff and an Ele. on site said " just turn it around and cut backwards", now I have done that MANY times with Al. siding and it works just fine, either carbide or ( back then) steel paneling blades.

   I swapped the blade around and began the cut..it went POW! and stripped every damm tooth off the blade.

   Sucked it up and went and bought a blade, for two lousy cuts, and a new blade to replace the one I trashed. Shoulda knew better.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

   New book alert; Eckhart Tolle "A new earth"

   A must read.

2. 
   etherhuffer | May 26, 2008 01:22am | #13

   The cheap man always pays twice! Isn't that the 'old saw' about being cheap? :-)http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

3. 
   DanH | May 26, 2008 05:11am | #26

   So your sparky failed to mention that you should never turn a carbide blade backwards, eh?
   What is wanted is not the will to believe, but the will to find out, which is the exact opposite. --Bertrand Russell

2. 
   john7g | May 26, 2008 02:17am | #20

   Not all abrasive wheels are made the same.  Used wheels made by Norton on the small pneutmatic die grinders for cutting all aluminum when I used to do that kind of stuff. Never had one of those wheels come apart like you see for grinding wheels that are installed in bench grinders. 

   But it's good idea that if you're in doubt don't use it on AL. 

   if I get time I'll see if I can dig up the PN that I was getting from McMaster-Carr.

1. 
   Sphere | May 26, 2008 02:19am | #21

   True that, but for a new user..I'd play him safe. No point in getting the guy confused any more than we already did.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

   New book alert; Eckhart Tolle "A new earth"

   A must read.

2. 
   etherhuffer | May 26, 2008 02:43am | #22

   Confused? Hell, I just tossed everthing in a pile and washed my car instead! Really, good topic though. Great info guys. http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

3. 
   toolman65 | May 25, 2008 11:12pm | #3

   Try an angle grinder fitted with a wheel designed for cutting aluminum. You could also use a jig saw, but you'll have to wrap the pieces with masking tape to protect the surface from being scratched by the jig saw's plate.

   toolman65

4. 
   Pelipeth | May 26, 2008 02:59am | #25

   I too feel you'll get your best cut from your chop saw, carbide blade works great