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B Hackler Special user 778 Posts |
I am wanting some suggestions on different methods of cutting aluminum about the thickness of a pop can. here is my problem, I need to cut in the middle of the aluminum not just around the edges. any suggestions would be appreciated. thanks and god bless.
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leaycraft Regular user 191 Posts |
I've used this product for many cutting applications. Its from Garrett Wade.
http://www.garrettwade.com/jump.jsp?item......D=106518 John
"It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." A. Conan Doyle," The Sign of Four"
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Tom Bartlett Special user Our southern border could use 763 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-07-09 16:43, leaycraft wrote: I will second the nomination!
Our friends don't have to agree with me about everything and some that I hold very dear don't have to agree about anything, except where we are going to meet them for dinner.
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Never used one, but very interested now. How clean are the edges of the cut? The less clean up of jagged "sawtooth" edges, the better.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
FacadeTheStiltBoy Elite user Greensboro NC 474 Posts |
It depends on what shape you are cutting, but if it is the thickness of a soda can, find some of those heavy duty shears (they look like trauma shears and can cut through pennies.).
If you aren't too worried about the piece you cut out, then drill a series of holes next to eachother so you have enough room to slide in the scissors/shears so you can get your cuts started. (Other than that, you can use a nice sharp chisel and a mallet to cut, it works well, but it is time consuming, oh and make sure that you have a nice board to cut on.) good luck. |
leaycraft Regular user 191 Posts |
Michael: The edges are fairly clean ,minimal clean up- on real thin stuff you can see some "serrations" ,crinkling, They make an accessory blade for thicker material. What makes it nice is that because it has a tongue- you can start a cut from a pilot hole and work your way out. I've found it useful and easy to use, unlike shears which require some real hand strength as the material thickens. Pretty much all the tools sold by Garrett Wade or Lee Valley work as described and are good quality.
john
"It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." A. Conan Doyle," The Sign of Four"
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B Hackler Special user 778 Posts |
Thanks for all the help. I was wanting to use a dremel tool anybody know of any attacments? I am wanting to cut the top off of a pop can and make a clean cut.
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lin Special user California 883 Posts |
In my experience, a dremel will start a cut neatly, but it's not ideal for a longer cut (or my hand isn't steady enough). I used a dremel with a cutting blade to make some 1" slots in a cookie/candy tin recently. It worked ok, but, I had trouble maintaining a neat, straight edge--no matter what attachment I tried. My best results came from starting the cuts with the dremel, then using a needle file to extend them to the length and width I wanted.
I think you'd have better control using shears or the garrett wade product... but now I want to experiment to see what a dremel would do... who's got a soda? |
ClintonMagus Inner circle Southwestern Southeast 3997 Posts |
You might be able to clamp thin aluminum material tightly between two boards and make the cuts through the boards. This gives smooth cuts to playing cards, so I think it should work on thin aluminum.
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
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Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
John,
Thanks for the info on the Garrett Wade tool. B Hackler, If you are wanting to cut the top off a soda can (assuming cutting through the side wall very near the top?), I would be tempted to make a round hole jig that the can would fit into. On a pivot, I would attach an X-acto blade, so that it could be pivoted through the side wall of the jig, in toward the can at the proper height. You could regulate the pressure of the blade against the can as you rotate the can in the jig. This should act like a tubing cutter, gradually slicing through the metal with repeated light passes.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
lin Special user California 883 Posts |
Mr. Baker,
Brilliant! Would packing the can with damp sand help it to keep its shape--or am I making things more complicated than they need to be (again)? |
Michael Baker Eternal Order Near a river in the Midwest 11172 Posts |
Lin,
I like the sand idea. It's no more complicated than the untested idea I offered.
~michael baker
The Magic Company |
ClintonMagus Inner circle Southwestern Southeast 3997 Posts |
I also think you could smoothly remove the bottom of the can by using a belt sander and lightly touching the can to the belt until it sands through (or almost through.
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
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leaycraft Regular user 191 Posts |
B hackler- I like Michael's idea of using the xacto and a jig. Jigs take a bit of time to set up but the results more than justify the time spent in the quality and reproducibility of the task. Safety first and thin sheet aluminium will cut and deform. Dremel and cuting wheels work but better with slightly thicker stock. You can make a jig holder for the dremel holding it in a hose clamp and feeding the material through almost like a fixed saw.
John
"It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." A. Conan Doyle," The Sign of Four"
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B Hackler Special user 778 Posts |
Thanks for all of the help. when I cut the aluminium what is a good way to smooth the jagged edges down to where they are smooth?
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EsnRedshirt Special user Newark, CA 895 Posts |
A quick search on Dremel.com shows they recommend using an engraving cutter or a steel brush for deburring aluminum. Test techniques on some scrap before trying on your final piece.
Also- I recommend using a full face shield when working on metal with a dremel- I've had sparks fly under my safety goggles before; it's very painful. Good luck! -Erik
Self-proclaimed Jack-of-all-trades and google expert*.
* = Take any advice from this person with a grain of salt. |
hugmagic Inner circle 7704 Posts |
Is there a reason you need to cut an aluminum can? It may be easier to have a tube constructed a sheet metal shop. They could fold the ends so there are no burrs.
I guess having the tools to do this kind of stuffmakes me usually just make my own from scratch instead of modifying something else. Richard
Richard E. Hughes, Hughes Magic Inc., 352 N. Prospect St., Ravenna, OH 44266 (330)296-4023
www.hughesmagic.com email-hugmagic@raex.com Write direct as I will be turning off my PM's. |
B Hackler Special user 778 Posts |
Thanks for all of the help. richard I bought super can and I am wanting to make additional gimmicked cans.
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