[R-390] Cutting Aluminium Plate

[Charles Steinmetz]

Perry wrote:

> Some of my A's are missing the Utah plate.
> I have some very nice sheeting of about the same thickness.
> I'd like to cut them on my table saw that has a new 10 inch 40 tooth carbide blade.
> Good idea? Bad idea?  Pitfalls to avoid?

40 teeth is WAY, WAY too coarse to cut aluminum of any kind, and most 
especially thin sheets.  You need a 100-tooth "non-ferrous metal" blade. 
  And unless you have a very good table saw, you won't have enough power 
to cut aluminum with a 10" blade.  Most folks use 7-1/4" or 8" blades 
for this (even if they DO have a very good saw).

Aluminum tends to catch the saw teeth and buck, so you need very good 
blade guards that hold the workpiece firmly down on the table, and 
anti-kickback prevention.

Cutting aluminum makes LOTS of noise. Neighbors-may-call-the-police 
loud.  It sounds like a thousand angry monkeys screaming.

A metal-cutting bandsaw is a much better tool for this job.

Best regards,

Charles