Cutting 3mm aluminium checker plate

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meggles
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Cutting 3mm aluminium checker plate

Post by meggles »

Hi folks. I have a large sheet of aluminium checker plate approx. 3mm thick. I was thinking of cutting some small pieces to make some tread plates for door steps etc. Can anybody advise on the best way to cut the stuff. I tried with a hack saw but it was so slow!!! I did think about a jig saw but I don't think a standard one would be up to the job. Any ideas please?

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clift_d
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Re: Cutting 3mm aluminium checker plate

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If your jigsaw has a variable speed, and it's not a piece of no-brand junk, then it should work fine. Get some metal cutting blades, turn the speed down, use oil or some other cutting fluid as lubricant for the cut, and go slow and steady.
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meggles
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Re: Cutting 3mm aluminium checker plate

Post by meggles »

It's a bosch so not that cheap and nasty, though I think I can borrow a better one. Thanks for that.

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clift_d
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Re: Cutting 3mm aluminium checker plate

Post by clift_d »

I would have thought something like that should be fine for Alu.

If it's a jigsaw with variable pendulum action then you'll need to set that to zero for metal.
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bigbadbob76
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Re: Cutting 3mm aluminium checker plate

Post by bigbadbob76 »

You can get aluminium cutting blades for Jigsaw,
at the risk of stating the obvious, don't use wood blades. :wink:
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meggles
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Re: Cutting 3mm aluminium checker plate

Post by meggles »

bigbadbob76 wrote:You can get aluminium cutting blades for Jigsaw,
at the risk of stating the obvious, don't use wood blades. :wink:
Now 'wood' I? :roll:

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Re: Cutting 3mm aluminium checker plate

Post by what2do »

You can cut ally all day long with a cheap jigsaw as long as you use a suitable blade and lube. Hot knife/butter springs to mind.
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meggles
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Re: Cutting 3mm aluminium checker plate

Post by meggles »

Thanks for replies. Watch this space.

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