Cutting Aluminum

This is a forum for intermediate to advanced woodworkers. Show off your projects or share your ideas.

Moderator: admin

Post Reply
michaeltoc
Gold Member
Posts: 222
Joined: Wed Feb 25, 2009 9:51 pm
Location: White Plains, NY

Cutting Aluminum

Post by michaeltoc »

I'd like to put a 1/8" roundover on a piece of 1/4" thick aluminum. Has anyone done this using a regular carbide router bit? What speed do you recommend?

I did a quick search on the 'net, and got mixed reviews - some say it's ok others say no.
Michael

Mark V Model 500 (1985) upgraded to 520 (2009) and PowerPro (2011); Bandsaw, Jointer, Jigsaw, Planer.
User avatar
jimsjinx
Gold Member
Posts: 158
Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2010 9:17 pm
Location: East Central Alabama

I dunno.........

Post by jimsjinx »

I have cut aluminum on the saws, but never routed it before. Wonder what speed you'd use? Someone will enlighten us, I'm sure! jimsjinx
If you are a part time band leader, does that make you a semi-conductor? Where do all the "unguided" bombs go?
boostfan
Gold Member
Posts: 71
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2009 10:10 pm
Location: Fenton, MI

Post by boostfan »

I have routed slots in Aluminum, but I don't recall the speed. I can tell you it did not seem very happy but it did it.
Brad
Fenton, MI
'90 SS 500 updated to 520
SS ProPlaner w/ power base, Power base, Band Saw, Jig Saw, Belt Sander, Strip Sander, Jointer and Dust Collector
User avatar
JPG
Platinum Member
Posts: 35600
Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:42 pm
Location: Lexington, Ky (TAMECAT territory)

Post by JPG »

If you decide to try, be sure to secure the workpiece, and NOT try to hold it(or the router). Extremely light cuts are possible. Be ready to accept some irregular edges due to vibration and 'grabbing'.

No I would not recommend it. Both the equipment and the operator would be 'at risk'.

Lubrication would be a good idea(awful messy though). Actually it acts like 'cutting oil'.
╔═══╗
╟JPG ╢
╚═══╝

Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10
E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
User avatar
dusty
Platinum Member
Posts: 21530
Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:52 am
Location: Tucson (Wildcat Country), Arizona

Post by dusty »

Aluminum is not that hard to work by hand. Unless you have an awful lot to do, I would work it by hand.

If you create aluminum cuttings around the Shopsmith, clean up real well when done. I recently had a carriage lock freeze on me. When I finally got it resolved, I realized it was aluminum cuttings in the threads if the lock rod.
"Making Sawdust Safely"
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
Post Reply