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have a small cladding project, I need to cut various aluminium profiles accurately, square and smooth.
I was planning on using my evolution mitre saw.
going round the houses on Google. Will I be okay with the tct blade it comes with? I also have a fine tooth wood blade, which will be best? do I really need to be adding wd40 to cook it?
it's not thick but it is several box sections / awkward so not really doable with a hacksaw or jig
Cut plenty of steel and Ali with the evolution TCT blade. Not the cleanest cut, and needs a bit of care to get perfectly square but with a bit of deburring it's ok. If I had lots to do and I needed a perfect finish I'd get a dedicated Ali blade - I buy a lot of profile from MBS cut to length and it's always perfect, they just have a big chop saw.
Chere’s guys I’ll have a go with the tct first then, specific blades seem quite pricey. It’s for a lean to so it doesn’t need to be perfect, but I like a neat job
TCT blade should be fine. It cuts aluminium really nicely just don't get complacent. If they are big pieces they should be fine and not jump on you but it can bite and move. Its also quite noisy. Watch out for bits of aluminium swarf welding themselves to the carbide tips.
As an apprentice we were taught to use paraffin as a cutting fluid to stop aluminium galling up cutters. WD40 is mostly paraffin so that should be fine if you don't want to faff with paraffin and a squirty bottle.
On my Evo Rage is used a 80T wood blade for the Ali profile for the garden studio I built last year. Less grabby than the TCT blade and lasted the project fine.
Specs or visor if you have one and ear protection.
I cut up a bunch of fairly chunky profile for a project recently using a Bosch aluminium blade. Made some lovely clean cuts that were probably as good as the factory ends on the lengths I started with.
Random story but a customer I used to visit cut his arm off - as in only a bit of flesh holding it on when a 240v 9" grinder 'kicked' when cutting some aluminium window profile. His arm was 're-connected' but was a real mess.
Be careful!
Thanks for the reminders on safety
Has anyone used sexton blades before? I have read evolution have a different spindle size on their saws which makes non evo blades a bit of a fiddle, not having much luck finding an adaptor yet
In particular this one:
TCT Laminate Hardwood - Aluminium Circular Saw Blade 255mm x 100T x 25.4mm Bore | Saxton Blades
Random story but a customer I used to visit cut his arm off – as in only a bit of flesh holding it on when a 240v 9″ grinder ‘kicked’ when cutting some aluminium window profile. His arm was ‘re-connected’ but was a real mess.
Right, I've put the grinder away now. Any recommends for specific blades for hacksaws... 🙂
Any recommends for specific blades for hacksaws…
Starret 'Red Stripe'
Re: cutting aluminium on a mitre saw with wood blades - Be VERY careful (in fact I recommend you don't do it, despite having done it myself in the past):
Wood cutting blades have a positive 'rake' angle and large gullets between the teeth to carry the sawdust away. Both of these mean that they can grab aluminium (or PVC, etc.) very violently and pull it into the blade. This can happen even if the work is clamped. Far better to use a 'multi material' blade - these have less rake angle and different tooth shapes so that the work doesn't get pulled in. They still cut wood well (unless you need very clean cuts on hardwood). I believe most / all of the 'Evolution Rage' mitre saws come with a multi material blade as standard (but check!).
Has anyone used sexton blades before?
Saxton?
I use their tracky blades. Seem pretty good to me. Can't say I've particularly noticed them not lasting as long as the original Makita or anything.
I have read evolution have a different spindle size on their saws which makes non evo blades a bit of a fiddle
Doesn't the evolution have a multi material blade as standard. I cut aluminium on mine without issue
Ok, I have a TCT blade. I'll try with that first, and if that doesn't cut clean I'll buy a specific ally blade.
I have alot of clamps.... and I have a reasonable amount of wiggle room on the cuts as the profile only came in 5m lengths so unless I cock up several times (unlikely but not unheard of...) I should be ok.
*drums fingers* hate waiting on a delivery date for stuff. Weathers cleared and I could be getting on with it....what is the bets the rain will be back when the mats arrive....