Accidentally sucked up some aluminum chips in CTM 26 E

[franana]

Hi!

Like a complete moron I just sucked up a couple of aluminum chips (created by cutting some T-Track on my table saw). It wasn't a lot (maybe 5-6 chips total) before I turned off the extractor, and it seems to not have caught fire or exploded immediately. Am I fine to continue using this as is or do I need to replace the filter and bag? The rest of the dust in there is mostly from cutting walnut and cherry, and the bag is about half full.

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[pixelated]

My experience has been that it won't be a problem. I cut t-track and similar aluminum on my miter saw with my CT-26 connected with no issues. In the cutting I've done, the chips aren't hot enough to do anything (judging from the ones that don't make it into the dust chute).

 

[franana]

My experience has been that it won't be a problem. I cut t-track and similar aluminum on my miter saw with my CT-26 connected with no issues. In the cutting I've done, the chips aren't hot enough to do anything (judging from the ones that don't make it into the dust chute).

Gotcha, thanks a lot!

 

[Cheese]

When cutting aluminum you've got 2 things going in your favor, first no sparks are generated and as pixelated already mentioned, the aluminum chips lose their heat very rapidly.

I regularly cut 5/16"aluminum plate using a TSC with the factory dust bag attached...no issues.

 

[Peter_C]

I cut aluminum all the time with both a CT36 connected and a larger dust collector for the table saw. Non issue. Also clean up whatever is on the floor without concern other than maybe plugging a hose.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

If there was going to be a problem you'd have known about it within 10 seconds .......

 

[WastedP]

I use the Festool vac with the Shaper Origin to work on all kinds of non-ferrous metal and have never had an issue.  I've also cut aluminum geared hinge on a chop saw hooked up to a CT with the long-life bag, and had no ill effects.

Rest easy.

 

[mattgam]

[member=41832]WastedP[/member] apologies for the side track but do you have any tips/preferred endmills for nonferrous metal cutting on the shaper.  I need to do this and have been putting it off out of my own uncertainties on it

 

[festal]

I use the Festool vac with the Shaper Origin to work on all kinds of non-ferrous metal and have never had an issue.  I've also cut aluminum geared hinge on a chop saw hooked up to a CT with the long-life bag, and had no ill effects.

Rest easy.

Also interested in your shaper workflow for non wood work

 

[Cheese]

[member=41832]WastedP[/member] apologies for the side track but do you have any tips/preferred endmills for nonferrous metal cutting on the shaper.  I need to do this and have been putting it off out of my own uncertainties on it

Not WastedP, however I prefer the spiral O single flute design.

Amana...https://www.toolstoday.com/router-bits/aluminum-cutting-router-bits.html

Whiteside...https://www.whitesiderouterbits.com/collections/o-flute-spirals

 

[rst]

As I am a commercial locksmith, like Cheese I use aluminum bits from toolstoday.com.  I also get my plastic routing blades and bits from them.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Also, on the related sidenote. When cutting aluminum with my miter saw (or tablesaw), I use a blade intended for Solid-Surface material (Corian) It's a 72 tooth, 0 degree rake, triple chip (TCG). This works very well. I have had metal-specific blades in the past and found no advantage to them over the Solid Surface blades that we keep in stock anyway.
The main thing is, stay away from ATB (especially Hi Angle) HATB. The aluminum does not like it, you get bad surface finishes on your cuts. The positive rake of most ATB blades in not good with aluminum either, it wants to grab and self-feed.

 

[Steve1]

If you have a fine aluminum dust, that it is potentially flammable. But so is wood dust.  I expect you don't have much concern about vacuuming wood dust.
I would not worry about chips at all.  I cut aluminum commonly, and vacuum up the chips with my CT36.
(actually, the bigger chips, like from drilling, I sweep up first -- they can clog a vacuum hose)

 

[rmwarren]

You got me thinking about working with aluminum this AM.

RMW