[TowerTalk] How do I cut aluminum pipes?

[Richard (Rick) Karlquist]

I also use this technique.  None of the local stores
here including HD had 12" non-ferrous blades, so I got
one from McMasterCarr.  The "metal cutting" blades
that were available in local stores were for ferrous
metals only.  We have a band saw where I work.  The
blade tends to wander around especially on a large
piece like 4 inch diameter, it is very slooow.
My 12 inch miter saw works better and costs much less
than a band saw.  When you order the blade, also get
a stick of cutting wax for the blade.

Rick N6RK

Jack Brindle wrote:
> I use a miter/chop saw with a blade meant for cutting aluminum. The  
> miter saw does a better job at holding the aluminum piece than a band  
> saw (at least for me). I think the most important thing here is to  
> use a saw blade that is designed for cutting aluminum. I got mine at  
> Home Depot a few years ago, and I don't believe it cost any more than  
> a good wood-cutting blade.
> 
> Then be sure to debur the tube as Bill describes. Having known Bill  
> for more years than I can count on my fingers and toes, I have come  
> to realize that he knows what he is talking about...
> 
> 
> On Dec 28, 2007, at 10:32 AM, Bill Coleman wrote:
> 
>> On Dec 7, 2007, at 1:06 PM, Alex Malyava wrote:
>>
>>> Is it enough to use regular hacksaw and sand the edges or there is
>>> some
>>> fancy tool like pipe cutter used in plumbing?
>> Fastest way to cut aluminum tubing, if you have a machine shop, is to
>> use a band saw. With a proper blade, you can roll the tubing across
>> the table and it cuts quickly.
>>
>> The second best way is to use a quality tubing cutter. Use a good one,
>> and you can cut a tube of any size in a couple of minutes. A poor one
>> will spiral down the tube.
>>
>> A hacksaw will work, but it's really hard to get a clean, square cut.
>>
>> After the cut, be sure to dress it with either a deburring tool, or
>> round file or half-round file. Don't go wild with the files, as it
>> will take off a lot of aluminum in short order. You're just trying to
>> break off the burr. A sanding sponge, or a sanding block covered with
>> very fine grit sandpaper can also be used to dress the outside edges
>> of the cut.
>>
>> Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr at arrl.net
>> Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
>>              -- Wilbur Wright, 1901
>>
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> 
> - Jack Brindle, W6FB
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