I have access to a woodworking miter chop saw in a workshop at the program for mentally handicapped people where I work. Do I need different kind of blade for cutting aluminum on the miter chop saw? I will be cutting aluminum angles and flat bars and maybe small sheets for a CNC machine that I will be building using plans from Solsylva. Do I have to use the drill press running at a slow speed to drill holes in aluminum? Can I use hole saws and Forstner bits? Should I build all the wooden parts first before building metal parts so that the wooden parts can be painted?

If you're not cutting a lot of aluminum, any good carbide blade will work. If you are cutting a lot, get a negative hook triple chip blade.

We use 80-90 tooth triple chip blades 8-10 hrs a day. Works great with a cool shot system if you're cutting alot. If there isn't alot of cutting, a shot of WD-40 every other cut works fine too.

Mike

Hole saws will work, but forstner bits wont.