Homebrew PCBs

I have not tried it, so take this with a grain of salt (you will anyway, right? :), but I would expect a diamond blade to be pretty awful for cutting aluminum. The problem is that aluminum is relatively soft and smeary, and it would, I think, tend to gum up the diamond. Note that mild steel is even worse with a diamond blade, unless the speed and heat are very carefully controlled -- the carbon (diamond) and the steel react, and pretty soon the diamond is gone. Or so I understand -- I haven't wanted to experiment to verify this!

In the metal working world, aluminum is quite often cut with an ordinary woodworking saw and a carbide blade. I have personally cut 1/4" thick aluminum sheet with a 7-1/4" circular saw; I know of many people who cut it on a table saw. If you try this, USE EYE PROTECTION!!! As Ken suggested in an earlier post, the chips are really nasty -- hot, sharp, and plentiful. Also, please be extremely careful about kickback. If you are not sure what you are doing with this, I would advise not doing it!

As for a smaller circular saw carbide-tipped blade -- they make 4" or so diameter blades for small battery-powered cutoff saws, and they do make carbide-tipped versions. I have bought one at either Home Depot or Lowes before.

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Robert Blumer <bob@...> wrote:
>
> Ken,
> I have not cut aluminum.
>  I have not had a need to try it yet.
> If I do, I will let you know how it worked.
> Robert
> 
> sailingto wrote:
> > Robert, will that diamond blade cut aluminum?  Of the thin type normally used for fab'ing cabinets, etc?
> >
> > I do like the looks of that - $60 for it 'n blade, with water would have very little dust flying around.  
> >
> > Ken H>
> >
> > --- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, Robert Blumer <bob@> wrote:
> >   
> >> Hi pcb folks
> >> I use a harbor freight tile saw with the 4"diamond blade and I use it wet.
> >> with a slide to hold it.
> >> works very well.
> >> Regards
> >> Robert
> >>     
> >
> >
> >
> >
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