LumberJocks
DAILY DEALS Sure-Foot Plus™ 3/4'' Pipe Clamp  |  Makita Makita Recon LCT203W 10.8 Volt Lithium Ion Impact Driver 2 Pc Kit

Can you use a Miter Saw to cut aluminum?

« back to Safety in the Woodworking Shop forum

Forum topic by Wingstress posted 20 days ago 310 views 0 times favorited 9 replies Add to Favorites Watch
View Wingstress's profile

Wingstress

208 posts in 408 days


20 days ago

Topic tags/keywords: question

Is there any difference between a typical compound miter saw and a chop saw? I have a 10” Rigid miter saw I bought a few years ago at home depot. I would like to cut some aluminum bars using this saw. I figured I could find a 10” metal cutting blade and slap it on and start cutting.

I’ve seen metal cutting chop saws that look just like my saw, but I didn’t know if hey don’t run at different speed.
Will it burn the aluminum?

Thanks for the help!

-- Tom, Simsbury, CT

View BeachedBones's profile

BeachedBones

187 posts in 295 days


20 days ago

You can cut aluminum and even steel using a miter saw, as long as the blades you use are appropriate. Also keep in mind that It will cause more wear than normal woodworking use. If you plan on cutting a lot of metal I’d get a proper saw for it. If you just need to cut a couple pieces for a project you’ll be ok. (don’t forget goggles, metal shavings in your eyes aren’t fun) For steel those metal cutting disks work fine, for aluminum you want something with teeth, or else it’ll just clog up the disk. I normally use old just-about-junk carbide blades to cut aluminum. Clamp the material well, and go slow or the saw might grab/bend/twist the aluminum. Both saws should run less than 5000 rpm and work about the same.

If you’re making a lot of cuts together or cutting thick metal, do it in steps letting the metal cool between each step.

-- You know.... I think that old wood needs to be furniture.

View tinnman65's profile

tinnman65

243 posts in 307 days


20 days ago

I must agree with BeachedBones he pretty much nailed it, we use all kinds of saws at work to cut aluminum including just a plain old circular saw, but I might add the right blade is a must and a good metal cutting blade isn’t cheap. If you don’t have much to cut you can always use a thin abrasive wheel in a small grinder. We just call them cutoff wheels at work I don’t know what name there sold under but they work great.

-- Paul Sayre Creativity is a drug I cannot live without. Cecil B. DeMille (1881 - 1959)

View TopamaxSurvivor's profile

TopamaxSurvivor

3014 posts in 569 days


20 days ago

Cutting Al will plug up the teeth of your blade. Clean fequently. Edit, I’ve never had the Al burn, but it galls easily.

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

View Chris Wright's profile (online now)

Chris Wright

360 posts in 374 days


20 days ago

Cutting aluminum shouldn’t be a problem. As long as the bade has carbide teeth it will cut it fine. I’ve used regular wood cutting blades to saw sheet aluminum on a table saw. You can buy special blades made specifically for cutting non-ferrous metals. I’ve never had a problem with with burning aluminum on a saw.

-- "At its best, life is completely unpredictable." - Christopher Walken

View patron's profile

patron

2376 posts in 234 days


20 days ago

when i worked in the boatyards ,
one day these guys showed up and unloaded lots of aluminum sheets 1/4 ” ,
and then brought in sears woodworking tools ,
tablesaw , bandsaw , joiner ,6” belt/disk sander and various hand machines ( skillsaw etc ),
all low level craftsman tools .

and proceeded to build a 40’ fishing trawler !
no special blades , just carbide , and regular band saw blades .

ungodly noise , but just cut slow and secure the work .

the joiner was what blew my mind .

they did the whole thing with woodworking tools !

then welded it together .
took about 1 month .

now i cut aluminum when ever i need it for projects without worrying ,
just go slow .

-- david ,new mexico ,allheart

View Wingstress's profile

Wingstress

208 posts in 408 days


20 days ago

Hey thanks guys. I usually would have used my angle grinder, but I actually need these things to be square so I figured my miter saw would be best. The idea of taking a normal saw blade into aluminum is a little nerve racking, I would have never tried it on my own.

-- Tom, Simsbury, CT

View KevinVan's profile

KevinVan

23 posts in 44 days


20 days ago

Make sure you take the dust bag off….Ask me why the plastic dust connector is melted on my saw..DoH!!
I burn’t the bag and melted the plastic when I cut some rebar. I turned my back and my saw caught on Fire!
I was using one of those fiber blades.
Your probably are Ok with aluminum.

-- Beauty Lies Within….

View frostwood's profile

frostwood

34 posts in 80 days


19 days ago

Just be sure to wear your safety glasses.

-- With each new day, celebrate life. Love God with all of your heart. Share Jesus with those around you and make a positive impact on those you meet. Bob

View jerryz's profile

jerryz

109 posts in 171 days


19 days ago

I build antennas for another hobby of mine (Amateur Radio) and I get the aluminum tubing in 6’ length and cut it to size with my Dewalt Miter Saw.
Perfect cuts, just be easy, wear gogle or safety glasses and don’t rush the job you will be rewarded with really nice looking cuts. Have fun and be safe.

You must be signed in to reply.

  • View all advertisers
  • Advertise with us

DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

HomeRefurbers.com

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

GardenTenders.com :: gardening showcase