View Full Version : Cutting/Chopping small aluminum pc's best way?


dbtoutfit
03-15-2006, 11:56 AM
I have some really small aluminum pc's. 1" wide 3/8 tall 1/2' deep.
Its Swags for wire rope. (3/16)

I need a way to chop these up into 1/8 wide pc's or so.
I have been using a dremel by hand and its cutting fine but straight chops with no burs is what I need.

I have alot of tools saws etc. Anyone got any ideas?
(jig saw, scroll saw, dremel, basicly most all common shop tools.)
I was thinking some kind of small band saw would be good but lol I dont see anything like that around.

Heres a pic (http://www.xmarkcomputers.com/swags.jpg) of what im doing. If you have a better idea/ route for me to go than with these aluminum swags let me know. I am using these simply to hold two aluminum tubes together. (3/16 aluminum tubes/lines)

2muchstuff
03-15-2006, 01:17 PM
For thin, small pieces, I use a small chop saw similar to the one HF sells. It uses a sewing machine motor and a 2-1/2" blade. The table leaves a lot to be desired (I have modified mine) but it is great for the small stuff.

dbtoutfit
03-15-2006, 01:27 PM
yea thats what i have been thinking towards but when i get down to 2 cuts theres not much left for the vise to hold onto is there?

Be cool if they would make a holder with a slit in the center for the blade to run thru so that both sides of the pc would stay still. I might have to rig something like that up on those small harbor chops. Do they bog down easy? Is the vise steel on them?

Thanks,

2muchstuff
03-18-2006, 06:28 PM
Most of the cutting I do is cut-offs where the part just falls off. I have added an adjustable stop for repetitive cuts. The vise is a pot metal casting that could use an upgrade. To reduce the number of burrs and because the parts are small and thin, I take it a little easier.