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I'm thinking of buying something to cut small, odd size pieces of aluminum in my shop. Can anyone give any advise or recommendations on these tools? I'd like to be able to cut up to .080" aluminum.
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Brian, Item #2 is a tool we bought at work, it is disappointing at best. it wont do quite what they said it would and has broken once, thankfully the way the city works with paying bills we hadnt paid for it yet thus forcing the vendor to either get us the parts or face non payment. The #3 item looks interesting but I dont have much faith in it for .080 aluminum.
.080 aluminum is pretty thick and wont be easy to cut.
I suggest either using a good carbide blade in a panel saw or using a circular saw with a good carbide blade, I guess it depends on how many cuts you plan to do, it may be easier to pay someone to cut it for you.
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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Thanks. Damn...thats the one I had the most hope for. I don't really need it to bend or roll.....was the cutting decent? I hate to ask my friend to cut down 35 3"x8" pieces as I did just the other day. And, its a P.I.T.A. to do stuff like that with my circular saw. I always have stuff cut by my supplier but I wish I could make more use of all the cutoffs I have laying around.
-------------------- Brian Snyder Sign Effectz Woodbridge, New Jersey Posts: 723 | From: Woodbridge, NJ USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I will try to see what I have laying around at work and see if it will cut it but i have my doubts. is .080 the same as typical street sign material? if it is I know it wont cut it. we use old street signs for other things at work and I have to use the bandsaw
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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Brian take that money and buy a plasma cutter instead. There are less expensive units for cutting thinner gauges like you need, but even something that will cut 1/4" or 3/8" can be obtained for less than a grand.
You will be much happier with plasma as it will open the doors for more work, and plasma cuts quickly. You can even use straight edge guides and circle cutter guides to make those types of cuts nice and clean.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Mike - If I needed to cut a 12"x18" panel down to a couple of 3"x10"'s I'd think pulling out a Plasma cutter would be overkill. Don't they need big air compressors to run?
Michael-
quote:Buy something of quality, you will be much less frusterated, pay now or pay later!
What do you recommend??
-------------------- Brian Snyder Sign Effectz Woodbridge, New Jersey Posts: 723 | From: Woodbridge, NJ USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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i have a pexto shear made by roper whitney need a fork lift to move it. could not live without it. cost $2500 used 10 years ago.
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Ordinary carpentry tools are all that is needed to cut aluminum. Aluminum is soft and easy to cut for a metal. I cut it all the time. .063" to .080" aluminum cuts very easily with a circular saw or radial arm saw. Use carbide blades with as many teeth as you can afford. These blades will last a long time. A glazier taught me to also spray the blade on my chop saw with WD40 to keep the piece from walking if you want to cut aluminum angles and square tubing.
For irregular shape, sabre saws work great with the appropriate blades. I have also used a roto zip on .063 aluminum. For thinner stock like .040", you can cut irregular shapes with a sabre saw, but make sure the piece is secure to a table so it doesn't bounce on you. I don't use a lot of .040" , but I have always preferred to take that thickness to a sheet metal shop to have it sheared. .080" is "stop sign gauge" I use a ton of .063" Also save your scrap for salvage. Salvage yards will give you good money for the scrap.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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My shop in town has a plasma cutter we got from Snap on, we pay by the week or month. This is an awesome tool, cuts just about everything up to 1/2" without distortion. If you can draw on it, the plasma will cut it, the edges aren't jagged and smoothing them out is simply done by hand with sandpaper. This is by far the only tool to own for cutting all metals. Of course you need a compressor but don't every shop have one.
Ya buy a 3 dollar tool for a 3 dollar business
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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We don't have the plasma cutter, but the saw works fine...guess it depends on how OFTEN you need to use the tool, if it is worth the $ to invest in it. If you are just trying to clean up scraps, is it worth it?
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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If you're cutting small parts plasma will not use much air. Anyone that runs a shop and uses air tools already has enough compressor for the job, especially for intermittent use.
No, I don't think using plasma to cut down 12"x18" panels is overkill, but you're talkin to someone who went out and bought a $300 pneumatic framing nailer just to build a set of workbenches and a $1,000 MIG setup that's only been used 4 or 5 times in the past year. However, they are high quality tools I know I will use in the future and they are handy to have onhand in the event I have a special task for them.
The same thing goes for a plasma cutter. You won't fully appreciate it until you have one, then you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. You'll also be able to take on other work and projects that can make use of it.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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cut soft materials with a fine tooth saw blade turned backwards. It wil not grab and will not make huge burrs. It will cut smooth if you moce the right speed. If you need lubricant / colant use kerosene for aluminum and brass. But it is very rare to need a lub.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Brian, The shear that Wayne Webb has suggested is what I am familiar with. We use it to cut the .060 alum. and we also sheet our custom size corrugated signs that have been screen printed. I am not sure if it will cut .080. Steve Simpson
-------------------- Steve Simpson Applical Decal Company 10017 Hill Road Knoxville, Tn 37938 Posts: 40 | From: knoxville,tn | Registered: Sep 2002
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Brian, The shear that Wayne Webb has suggested is what I am familiar with. We use it to cut the .060 alum. and we also sheet our custom size corrugated signs that have been screen printed. I am not sure if it will cut .080. Steve Simpson
-------------------- Steve Simpson Applical Decal Company 10017 Hill Road Knoxville, Tn 37938 Posts: 40 | From: knoxville,tn | Registered: Sep 2002
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I'm very blessed to have a friend in the roofing biz that let's me go to his shop anytime and do my cuttin' on his machines.. . . which are big ol' things and I'm terrified of them really . . . but one thing I know is you do NOT want the 3rd thing you listed, the "40inch" thing, or anything else that cannot cut the longest possible cuts. You would'nt even be able to cut an end off a 4x8!
To cut a 4x8 long-ways I have to use his shear-table with the monster magnets, but it will not cut .080 and just barely cuts .063. (But if it's 6' or less I use his sheet-metal break.)
For long cuts I try to order them cut from my supplier . . . I also use my table-saw or skil-saw if my buddy's shop is closed or I'm in a hurry.
For thinner stuff I use tin-snips.
I have all kinds of files cuz I hafta file a lot of edges real smooth too.
I cut out my own aluminum letters with the jig-saw. I could really utilize a good scroll-saw, so that's what I'm on the look-out for.
Someday, I hope I can buy one of them fancy cutters.
PS: Another good alum cutting tool: woven-rubberized gloves
posted
anything lighter than 16 guage will not cut 080 aluminum.
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I bought this combination shear/brake a year or so ago, and it's been indispensable. The only draw back is the 30" width, but for the price it allows me to cut smaller pieces into any variety of sizes I want. This in combination with a corner cutter has been quite handy. http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2004/456.cfm?
It is definitely "industrial strength" as it takes 2-3 men to lift it!!
-------------------- Vicki Powell Here's Your Sign 16048 Hwy 96 Ordway, CO 81063 VickiPowell@centurytel.net www.heresyoursign.biz Posts: 43 | From: Ordway, CO | Registered: Apr 2003
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I cut all mt aluminum up to 1/4" with either the table saw...my skill saw ...or my saber saw...the trick is the 3 fold.
1 - use a carbide blade (more teeth the better)
2 - use "Boelube" it's a wax lubricant made especially for cutting aluminum (keeps the blade from gathering up aluminum in the teeth )it's a miracle product unlike anything you've ever used.
3 - don't mind being hit with the flying chips...I wear saftey glasses and a long sleeve shirt when I cut... and make sure the blade just barely gets thru the aluminum (no more than an inch)
When I cut shapes with the sabre saw I lay the material on a 2" billet of Dow Board (insulating foam I use it over and over lasts a long time)I also lubricate it with Boelube.It cuts like butter.
Boelube Solid stick is part number 70200-00 and can be found at the best machine shop supply houses (costs about 6.00 to 8.00 for a 12 " tube (I've been using the same tube for about 2 years now...very economical).
good Luck.
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
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FYI: 16 guage is thicker than 20 gauge. 12 gauge steel is about 3/32" thick if that makes any sense to you.
My first suggestion is to find a chart that equates thickness of material in decimal size to the gauge size for the specific material your planning to cut. A thickness gauge for ferrous metals is different than a thickness gauge for non-ferrous metals, or at least it was when I was in High School 25 years ago. I have not even touched one since then.
Bottom line is I think you will find that unless you make the effort and pay the price for the proper equipment you will be less than happy.
You can probably try to contact MSC industrial they have an office in Northern New Jersey http://www.mscdirect.com/
-------------------- Harris Kohen K-Man Pinstriping and Graphix Trenton, NJ "Showing the world that even I can strategically place the pigment where its got to go." Posts: 1739 | From: Trenton, NJ, USA | Registered: Jun 2001
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Mike - Thanks for that link, that plasma cutter looks interesting. Any idea what it costs?
Steve - Thanks for the endorsement.
Jimmy, Vicki, Monte, Harris - Thanks for all the info.
I'm going to continue to use power tools for cutting larger pieces. Like I said earlier, I just want something to quickly cut small, odd size pieces and I think a small shear is the way to go. I don't have (or want) an air compressor in my shop. I don't build anything requiring air powered tools and I don't foresee my business going in that direction either. Whatever I decide to buy I'll make I post a review. Thanks!
-------------------- Brian Snyder Sign Effectz Woodbridge, New Jersey Posts: 723 | From: Woodbridge, NJ USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I check our source here in our town and they said a small plasma cutter, 110-220 would run $1100.00. He said it MIGHT cut .080 but that would be it's limit.
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Jane, that must be a plasma cutter designed specifically just for sheetmetals cause I know from experience the 110volt units like Thermal Dynamics and the Hypertherm will easily cut 1/4" stock (provided they're rated for that thickness).
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Read my post and Monte's post. You don't need a plasma cutter to cut aluminum. That's _WAY_ more money than you need to cut something that soft. Even glaziers who cut a lot of aluminum frames for their windows use saws. I have a carbide blade in my circular saw that's cut several sheets of aluminum and hasn't been changed for over a year. It's a 7 1/4" blade with 24 teeth and it cuts through stop sign gauge aluminum as easily as a sheet of 3/4" MDO. If you want to smooth the edges -- a regular drywall sander and sandpaper smooths it right out.
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2107 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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Yeah, Joey and there's a difference between $1100.00 and the cost of a circular saw. OUR point is that it just depends on how often you would need to use the tool and if it would be worth $1100.00 to you. I try really hard not to be sarcastic with people who are just trying to answer a question and be helpful... (notice the SMILE!) but I still love ya!!
-------------------- Jane Diaz Diaz Sign Art 628 W. Lincoln Ave. Pontiac, Il. 61764 815-844-7024 www.diazsignart.com Posts: 4102 | From: Pontiac, IL USA | Registered: Feb 1999
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Look beyond straight cuts and thin sheetmetal. Plasma allows you to do so much more and make much more income, it will pay for itself very quickly doing jobs you never even anticipated having.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Got a metre wide hand operated guillotine about six years ago from a factory closing down for 150 euros. The only machine for cutting lots of aluminium. A couple of seconds to set up and cut
-------------------- Kevin Gaffney Artistik Signs Kinnegad County Westmeath Ireland 044-75187 kevingaffney@eircom.net Posts: 628 | From: Ireland | Registered: Oct 2003
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