Can I cut aluminium plate on my wood bandsaw?

[glynster]

I need to cut some aluminium plate for a full scale CNC machine that I am building and I have a fair bit of aluminium to cut - both plate and extrusion. I know very little about metal work, I was hoping that with the right blade, I could speed things up by running it through my Axminster Hobby Series HBS250N Bandsaw (http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ho ... 0n-bandsaw)

I had heard that it's ok to do providing the speed is as slow as possible (mine only has 2: 600 or 960m/minute) and to use a course blade to prevent the aluminium melting to the blade's teeth. I dont want to destroy my bandsaw and yet I have too much to cut by hand so I am kind of nervous to just launch in. Any advice or experiences you can share would be appreciated such as do I need a special metal cutting blade? Can I also cut thin plate steel? Do I need a lube any kind of lube (language Timothy) etc?

 

[Racers]

I cut some 40mm thick aluminium heatsink on my Startrite 352 with a fine tooth blade, it slowed down on the fins but cut very well.
Give it a go, you might need some lube on the blade mine squealed a bit before I lubed it, I used EP80 gear oil.

Pete

 

[Walney Col]

Paraffin is an excellent coolant for cutting aluminum.

 

[glynster]

Thanks, so paraffin oil or wax? Just the stuff you'd put in a heater or is it some kind of special lubricating paraffin?

 

[pcb1962]

Paraffin is an excellent coolant for cutting aluminum.

So is WD40

 

[woodfarmer]

I am not sure paraffin or wd40 would be kind to thetyres on your bandsaws wheels.

might pay to get an m42 blade from tuffsaws.

 

[Myfordman]

You do not want a coarse blade. A minimum of three teeth in contact with the metal is recommended. Keep the feed speed/pressure down
A little plain paraffin or wd40 will help to stop clogging as has been said. When used on a bandsaw, it has little cooling effect
Whilst the bottom speed of your bandsaw might be Ok for aluminium it is far far too fast for steel of any gauge
A high speed steel tooth and flexible backer blade will hold its edge better if you have a lot to do.
Clean the tyres of lubricant when you have completed each batch of cutting.

 

[pcb1962]

Clean the tyres of lubricant when you have completed each batch of cutting.

And open up the doors and hoover out all the sawdust before you start, paraffin and sawdust sounds like a receipe for fireworks :lol:

 

[Racers]

I have done 1.8mm stainless steel on my bandsaw, the blades don't last long!

Pete

 

[glynster]

Great advice thanks guys

 

[ayuce]

I have done 1.8mm stainless steel on my bandsaw, the blades don't last long!

Pete

Woodcutting bandsaws usually has 400~1000 mt/min band speed, but metal cutting bandsaw has 20 ~ 100 mt/min speed plus bimetal blade. Stainless steel is an alloy steel, i would't cut any alloy steel or ferrous metal on wood cutting bandsaw with high carbon blade. You'll dull and heat up the blade so quickly.

If you dont need accuracy, you can use a variable speed jigsaw with proper blade. Blades are cheap and easy to replace. I've cut 3mm carbon steel, some aluminum bars and 4mm D2 alloy steel using jigsaw. Even on slow speeds, D2 was a tough job for saw and blade.

For cutting aluminum / brass on a woodcutting bandsaw, a proper bimetal blade and lube worth a try.