Cutting aluminum?

[ironman_gq]

I have a guy on another forum looking for a way to cut a LOT of roughly 2" thick aluminum plate as part of a salvage/demo job. I told him he might be able to get by using a chainsaw and the right chain. I remember hearing of guys cutting lead blocks at the foundry and am wondering what people think would work for this. I know it would be hard on a saw but I think the salvage value of the material would more than cover a new saw (something like 100 tons of aluminum) I was thinking that carbide chain might be best. These cuts would all be around 2 feet in length and be around 3 feet apart.

Probably not the best use of a saw but I doubt its the craziest

 

[JDNicol]

Why not petrol chop (cut off) saw?

 

[Fish]

When working on tractor/trailers, I found a circular saw with carbide
tipped blades cut well, and it left a good edge on the aluminum trim
for trailer repair, the carbide held up great and cut fast.

100 tons of aluminum would pay for a lot of things.......

 

[fiasco]

100 tons aluminum...sounds like gas cutoff saw territory. I would think such a saw and a pile of cutoff blades would be chump change compared to the salvage value you're dealing with there.

 

[pioneerguy600]

Cutoff saw with a carbide tipped saw blade, run kerosene as a coolant/lubricant.

 

[artbaldoni]

Demo saw with a diamond blade? I use them to cut ductile iron pipe for water main repairs. I also know there is a diamond chained saw made for metal cutting. ICS is the brand, I think.

 

[Bob Wright]

I sure would like to have some chunks of that
I wouldn't cut it with a chainsaw but my Echo gas chopper prob would be good but 2" is a lot of alum if it has any width. That would be like cutting sidewalk slate...Bob

 

[Simonizer]

I have a guy on another forum looking for a way to cut a LOT of roughly 2" thick aluminum plate as part of a salvage/demo job. I told him he might be able to get by using a chainsaw and the right chain. I remember hearing of guys cutting lead blocks at the foundry and am wondering what people think would work for this. I know it would be hard on a saw but I think the salvage value of the material would more than cover a new saw (something like 100 tons of aluminum) I was thinking that carbide chain might be best. These cuts would all be around 2 feet in length and be around 3 feet apart.

Probably not the best use of a saw but I doubt its the craziest

You are barking up the wrong tree buddy. Go rent a serious plasma cutter. They are very effective and actually as silly as it sounds,...fun.

 

[Fish]

You are barking up the wrong tree buddy. Go rent a serious plasma cutter. They are very effective and actually as silly as it sounds,...fun.

Very true, or with that kind of haul, buy one....

 

[yooper]

what about some type of shear?

 

[Simonizer]

what about some type of shear?

Something that could shear 2" aluminum plate would weigh about 75 tons.

 

[edisto]

what about some type of shear?

Walmart has them. Don't see how it would help though...

 

[SkippyKtm]

A plasma cutter that can cut 2 inches of aluminum would be a very large machine, I doubt you'd get a portable one with that capacity. It would have to be an industrial machine, depending on the environment the op is cutting in, it probably wouldn't be practical.

 

[Bob Wright]

A plasma cutter that can cut 2 inches of aluminum would be a very large machine, I doubt you'd get a portable one with that capacity. It would have to be an industrial machine, depending on the environment the op is cutting in, it probably wouldn't be practical.

I had an industrial plasma at work and 1" alum was tough to cut let alone 2". Maybe a welder and a carbon arc rod...Bob

 

[yooper]

Walmart has them. Don't see how it would help though...

that wasn't very nice quite making fun of me

 

[promac850]

Chinook helicopter... lift the whole damn thing over to the scrapyard. (points A (aluminum scrap location) and B (scrapyard) would have to be pretty close to the airport...)

A big cutoff saw and a diamond blade will do the work for you. If you get a good one, you probably will pay three or more times for it with the scrap that you haul in.

Something like this? Makita Power Cutter — 14in., 73cc, Model# DPC7331X1 | Concrete Saws | Northern Tool + Equipment

Or this? ICS 695GC Concrete Saw — With 14in. Guidebar, 94cc Gas Engine, Model# 695GC | Concrete Saws | Northern Tool + Equipment

Of course, there are many more brands and suppliers. I think this, as recommended by JDNicol and pioneerguy600 is the best way to go.

Let us know how it all works out. I'm looking forward to pics.

 

[ckelp]

shape charge?

 

[Cantdog]

Stephen C and Pioneerguy are on track...gas or electric circular saw..carbide blade with coolant/lube. Don't use any carborendum type cutoff blades, they are for iron/steel only and will clog up quickly with alum/brass etc and perhaps shatter. Bad...for you...alum has to be cut not ground...

If you go electric over gas.....be sure to put a nylon stocking or similar over the cooling air intake on the saw...to many alum chips sucked into your electric motor and FZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZIP!!! You're done with that saw...

 

[67L36Driver]

Walmart has them. Don't see how it would help though...

The Poulan shears go with the Poulan chainsaws.:msp_thumbup:

 

[Dan_IN_MN]

A small metal fab shop that I run their CNC plasma cutter for uses circler saws to cut steel. Who would have thought that a circler carbide tipped blade to cut steel. FWIW.....FYI