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Author: Subject: best way to cut and shape aluminium?
blakep82

posted on 19/8/08 at 09:52 PM Reply With Quote
best way to cut and shape aluminium?

whats the best way? its 20mm thick alu plate. curring discs in a grinder are a noooooooo

hacksaw is do-able, but would take forever and would probably kill me lol seriuosly, its do-able, but would prefer to get it done quickly

metal blade in a jig saw? metal seems too thick for that somehow?

what do people do?

i've never really worked with aluminium before, so never really thought about it...





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clairetoo

posted on 19/8/08 at 09:59 PM Reply With Quote
I cut my adapter plate from 20mm ally with a jigsaw - but it is an `industrial grade` jigsaw , not your run of the mill DIY model
I often cut thick ally this way , I just use the coarsest metal cutting blade I can find , and plenty of lubricant to stop the blade from clogging .
And a bit of patience .





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andyw7de

posted on 19/8/08 at 10:02 PM Reply With Quote
Waterjet

its the future

ETDWM

www.waterjetscotland.co.uk

cheers

Andy

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andyw7de

posted on 19/8/08 at 10:04 PM Reply With Quote
Forgot to mention that i can cut anything up to 150mm thick

so 20mm is no probs

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tegwin

posted on 19/8/08 at 10:06 PM Reply With Quote
Depends how difficult your shape is...

I would use a hacksaw to cut out as much material as possible and then simply file the rest of the way up to your line....

I might try my jigsaw, but dont think it would quite cope with that much ali....





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clairetoo

posted on 19/8/08 at 10:07 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by andyw7de
Waterjet

its the future

ETDWM

www.waterjetscotland.co.uk

cheers

Andy

I do have another plate to cut soon - but I think the postage to and from Scotland would make it un-economic





Its cuz I is blond , innit

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Will weld for food......

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blakep82

posted on 19/8/08 at 10:09 PM Reply With Quote
the peice itself is only pretty small... 150mm x 100mm. its a blanking plate for the end of my cylinder head. see, i haven't actually got a jigsaw, never had a need for one yet, probably never will after, so would buy a really really cheap one as a 'disposable' tool i'll get a photo up of what i'm trying to copy in a sec





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blakep82

posted on 19/8/08 at 10:10 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by clairetoo
quote:
Originally posted by andyw7de
Waterjet

its the future

ETDWM

www.waterjetscotland.co.uk

cheers

Andy

I do have another plate to cut soon - but I think the postage to and from Scotland would make it un-economic


unfortunately andy, i'm thinking the same, even though i'm only just down the road still about £10 in petrol though

thanks anyways! i'll bear you in mind if i got anything else i even need doing





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andyw7de

posted on 19/8/08 at 10:16 PM Reply With Quote
[unfortunately andy, i'm thinking the same, even though i'm only just down the road still about £10 in petrol though

thanks anyways! i'll bear you in mind if i got anything else i even need doing


I am usually in Greenock most weeks delivering stuff to nat semi if it helps,

think we're over there tomorrow

cheers

Andy

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blakep82

posted on 19/8/08 at 10:18 PM Reply With Quote
i haven't got my peice of aluminium yet just ordered it tonight...

here's what i'm trying to do though. nothing too difficult

Description
Description


ps and i HAVE resized this, but when i upload it it keeps uploading huge...

[Edited on 19/8/08 by blakep82]





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Paul TigerB6

posted on 19/8/08 at 10:58 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by andyw7de
Forgot to mention that i can cut anything up to 150mm thick

so 20mm is no probs


My ex GF's neck is a bit less than 6" thick - can you cut this with your water jet please???? Well you did say anything

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iank

posted on 20/8/08 at 06:20 AM Reply With Quote
20mm thick for for a blanking plate? Seems awfully thick why so thick?

Water/laser cutting will make a much blingier (is that a word?) job if it's visible.





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iiyama

posted on 20/8/08 at 07:19 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by iank
20mm thick for for a blanking plate? Seems awfully thick why so thick?


My thoughts exactly! I have a blanking plate on my crankcase thats machined from ali and thats less then 10mm thick!





If its broke, fix it. If it aint broke, take it apart and find out how it works!

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blakep82

posted on 20/8/08 at 07:20 AM Reply With Quote
yeah, 20mm is quite thick, but its on the side of the cylinder head so don't want it warping with heat, and also needs to be drilled and tapped for a water temp sensor.
the original bit i took off, the mating face to the engine was 18mm thick, the nearest thickness i found without going smaller was 19mm. if that makes sense





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BenB

posted on 20/8/08 at 10:29 AM Reply With Quote
Cheapo jigsaw is about a tenner. Metal blade about £5.

you could do it using a hacksaw but it'd be a PITA and take forever.

I'd go laser or water jet or use a jigsaw. Go slowly and make sure you clean up the ali dust afterwards (otherwise if you've got iron fillings that have oxidised and aliminium powder you can get a thermite type reaction next time you do some angry grinding!!!)...

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omega 24 v6

posted on 20/8/08 at 11:43 AM Reply With Quote
What exactly are you trying to blank that needs 20mm Thick????? A pic might enable us to suggest a differrent method/material.





If it looks wrong it probably is wrong.

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Maradona

posted on 20/8/08 at 01:43 PM Reply With Quote
laser cut , or water cut, not cheap but is the best option

saludos!!





Diego,
The locost builder from Argentina

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blakep82

posted on 20/8/08 at 05:20 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by omega 24 v6
What exactly are you trying to blank that needs 20mm Thick????? A pic might enable us to suggest a differrent method/material.


i'll get some photos later. i probably could go thinner, but as i see it, its a straight replacement for the thickness of what was already there, it won't add much weight (i'm not overly concerned with weight anyways) and it allows space fit all the sensors that were there originally





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rusty nuts

posted on 20/8/08 at 06:35 PM Reply With Quote
When I made my inlet manifold (12mm ally plate) I used a woodworking coping saw and plenty of cutting lube , only took about an hour . If I were doing it again I would probably get it done by waterjet.
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blakep82

posted on 20/8/08 at 06:42 PM Reply With Quote
here's the bit i'm removing and blanking
Description
Description

you can see its 19mm thick at the narrowest part. i thought best to stick with that. i'm sure i could get it machined down if i REALLY had to, but at least it won't warp

and where its going
Description
Description

the hole in the middle is where the water temp sensor goes.





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blakep82

posted on 25/8/08 at 01:10 AM Reply With Quote
got a jigsaw from B&Q for less than a tenner! i never thought it possible.
let the cutting begin lol
well, tomorrow maybe





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