How can you cut aluminum?

The processing of aluminum depends on the thickness of the sheet and the large amount of work. So if you work a little, the material is not too thick, then you can do with hand tools. But if even with thin aluminum it is necessary to perform a large number of cuts or to conduct similar work regularly, then it makes sense to purchase more serious equipment. It also plays a role, whether the cut will be small and straight, or whether it is interesting to cut large sheets along curves.

Depending on the thickness of the metal, aluminum can be cut with scissors for metal, electric shears or a hacksaw for metal, as well as a jigsaw or grinder with a special circle for aluminum and copper, a guillotine or a router. Excellent trimming and immersion saws. A thin profile will take a circular, but you need a diamond disk designed for metal, as well as protection from chips, since such work is not provided for this type of saw (so that neither the master nor the drive will suffer). As a rule, for circular saws there are special discs for this metal.

Another method is the processing of a forge chisel, after which you should take the metal at the fracture. On the drill there are special nozzles that cope with aluminum up to 2 mm. It is good to work with a plasma cutter or to perform laser cutting, but this equipment is expensive, so it is mainly professionals who are constantly engaged in such work. However, sometimes it makes sense to refer to those for cutting.

When cutting aluminum with a grinder, you shouldn’t cut deep, because the softness of the metal leads to the fact that the circle in it just gets stuck, there are hardening on the teeth. You can even make the cut is not immediately, but first walk a few times on the outside, without cutting through.
Cutting aluminum should be carried out slowly, avoiding distortions. Be sure to wear personal protective equipment, at least glasses and gloves. The process is quite noisy, of course, if plazmorez is not used. Long cuts are carried out under the ruler in a straight line, but smooth curves are done most often according to a pattern. A hand tool to make an even long cut is quite difficult.

If you use a manual hacksaw, jigsaw, cutters and circular saws, then it is advised to drip engine oil, kerosene, alcohol into the cutting place, or to cool the metal in this place (you can even use compressed air), which allows the tool to go more freely ". For the same purpose, it is sometimes advised to rub the cutting line with ordinary soap, old bacon or paraffin.

See also:

• LBM Rating