The ideal TPI for cutting thick aluminum plate is 10-14. Thickness of metal to be cut Blade Teeth per inch 1/8″ to 1/2 inch thick 18 3/32″ to 1/8 inch thick 24 Thickness of metal to be cut Blade Teeth per inch 7/32″ to 7/8 inch thick 3/16″ to 5/8 inch thick 5/32″ to 3/8 inch thick 10 14 18. Cutting thinner metals, including sheet metal, requires a finer cut.
The bend in the teeth creates a cut slightly wider than the thickness of the blade, which is important to prevent the blade from getting stuck from being pinched by the metal. At least three teeth of the bandsaw blade must contact the workpiece at all times to prevent chatter and shearing off teeth due to tooth overload. Therefore, use fine tooth blades for cutting sheet metal and tubing. If the sheet metal is too thin for this to work with the finest tooth blade available, a useful trick is to put the metal between pieces of plywood, fiberboard, or soft thicker metal to support the blade. Our webpage How to use a BandSaw has a guide for selecting the proper pitch band saw blade for different metals and metal thickness. The most common cause of premature blade wear comes from using too fine a pitch blade and from feeding the blade too heavy. Symptoms indicate a dull bandsaw blade that should be replaced: * It becomes difficult to follow a line, the blade being forced to one side or the other. Recommended use of a CARBON STEEL BLADE Thickness of metal to be cut Blade Teeth per inch For high speed cutting of aluminum, brass, copper, soft bronze, magnesium, wood, mild steel and also tougher steels at slow speed.
One of the more traditional methods of sawing large-diameter aluminum has been with very large circular saw blades. This sawing method caught on because of the speed at which the aluminum could be cut compared to band sawing. The best saw for aluminum sawing depends on the application.
Regular tooth bandsaw blades are the most common type of saw blades. Skip tooth bandsaw blades are sort of a cross between regular tooth and hook tooth blades. Bandsaw Blade PricingUnder $10: Bandsaw blades in this price range are for the extremely budget-conscious.
10-28-2018, 02:10 PM #1. 10-28-2018, 02:25 PM #2 The saw will cut aluminum without issue, other than that the aluminum will likelyy get hotter than it might otherwise, assuming that you will be running the blade at wood-cutting speeds. Just FYI, if you have a decent table saw, that is perfectly fine to use for aluminum as well, with a good quality non-ferrous blade and stick lube. 10-28-2018, 04:55 PM #7. 10-28-2018, 05:04 PM #8. And just FYI, if you have a decent table saw, that is perfectly fine to use for aluminum as well, with a good quality non-ferrous blade and stick lube.
best bandsaw blade for cutting aluminum Related Question:
What TPI is used to cut aluminum?
For aluminum, an 8-10 TPI blade is best. As far as the best brand of metal cutting blade, we like MK Morse. If you are cutting cast iron, stainless steel, and high-strength alloys, or for jobs like auto dismantling and fire & rescue, look for a carbide-tipped blade that is at least 8 TPI.
What blade should I use to cut aluminum?
When cutting material up to 1/8-inch thick, use a blade with 10 teeth per inch, such as a 10-inch x 100 tooth or 12-inch x 120 tooth blade. For material up to 1/4-inch thick, use eight teeth per inch. For thicker sheets of aluminum, use a blade with just six teeth per diameter inch.
What TPI is best for cutting metal?
TPI is measured from gullet to gullet, not tooth tip to tooth tip – this is known as pitch. The general rule of thumb is: For wood and soft materials aim for 3 – 6 teeth in the workpiece. For metals and harder materials aim for 6 – 24 teeth in the workpiece.
Can a bandsaw be used to cut metal?
Band saws are not suitable for cutting very thin sheet metal; a rule of thumb suggests the metal to be cut should be thicker than the depth of 3 band saw blade teeth, however they are excellent for cutting thin walled profiles such as box and angle.
What is 14 TPI for cutting?
8-14 TPI blades are capable of cutting wood and the occasional nail. Demo blades fall into this category. 14-24 TPI is the range of metal cutting, PVC cutting and finish cut blades. The blades cut slowly, but leave being a very smooth edge.
How many TPI does a bandsaw blade need?
For general wood cutting duties in typical 3/4″ material, use a 4 TPI blade for coarse, fast cutting and a 14 TPI blade for slower, smoother cutting. A blade in the 6 to 8 TPI range provides good general-purpose performance.
What is 18 TPI for cutting?
Blades 12-18 TPI are typically used for metal and denser materials as well as finish cuts in wood. The 18-24 TPI range is almost always used for metal cutting. Pro Tip: Always keep 3 teeth in contact with the material being cut.
Can a carbide blade cut aluminum?
You should be able to use a carbide-tipped abrasive cutoff wheel for non-ferrous metals like brass, aluminum, copper or lead. Carbide-tipped blades last up to 10 times longer than regular steel ones.
Can Diablo blade cut aluminum?
Diablo’s Aluminum saw blade series is ideal for corded and cordless saws when on-the-job cutting non-ferrous metals such as aluminum extrusions, copper pipe, brass plate, etc.
Can carbide tipped blade cut aluminum?
An occasional cut of aluminum can be done safely on woodworking tools and with woodworking saw blades. Protect yourself from the chips, use a slow feed speed and a 40-60 tooth 10″ carbide blade and you should be OK.
What blade is best for cutting metal?
Ferrous blades are ideal for cutting metals that contain iron, such as stainless steel or cast iron. Choose a non-ferrous blade when cutting softer metals, like aluminum or copper. For the best results, use a diamond blade that’s rated to cut the type of metal you are working with.
What is the difference between a wood band saw and a metal band saw?
A metal cutting bandsaw is typically built more solidly than a saw designed for cutting wood, so there are no issues with the machine itself. As for the blade, the wood fibers could clog the metal blade’s teeth more quickly, and the blade will probably cut through the wood more slowly.
What is the best thing to cut aluminum with?
Use a wood-cutting saw with carbide-tipped blades to cut most aluminum. Select a fine-toothed blade and don’t cut aluminum with a wall thickness of more than 1⁄4 inch (0.64 cm). If possible, choose a saw blade that creates narrow kerfs (the notch or slot made by the saw).
Is aluminium easy to cut?
Sheet aluminium can be cut without the need for a guillotine or tin-snips which tend to deform the metal. With the aid of a straight-edge and a sharp knife “score” BOTH sides of the aluminium sheet.
How long should a metal bandsaw blade last?
On average your bandsaw blade should last 6 months to as long as a few years depending on what your cutting with it. Make sure to match your blade strength and quality to the project and material your cutting.