Kapex cutting aluminum

[donwon]

I have some aluminum trim that has to be cut to go around tile. It will require 45 degree mitres and was thinking of the kapex.

I have the stock blade and no others.  Is it ok to cut the aluminum normally with the kapex?  Speed?

Thanks!

 

[peter halle]

You might want to slow the speed down a little.  If you don't have much to cut much the regular blade will work.  (last year at JLC the guys at Festool used their Kapex to shorten some guide rail sections a member brought to me so that they would fit in my luggage.  Nothing special done.

PLEASE make sure to wear eye protection.

Peter

 

[Cheese]

Festool recommends a speed of 4-6 for cutting aluminum.

 

[teocaf]

I've used your setup of kapex and stock blade to cut a couple aluminum pieces and it did not seem to affect the blade.  Then a few months later I tried it again with some different aluminum and the blade definitely dulled and I had to go get it resharpened.  So I believe it does make a difference in the type of aluminum and the amount.  I have a nonferrous blade that I now take the time to put on.  On the side of caution I also have a spark suppressor mounted on the vac I use.  In your case, it sounds like you're probably cutting soft and thin Al so most likely you will be fine, at that slower speed that's already been suggested.  If you're using a DC, you may want to disconnect it for the cuts, just in case a hot enough particle makes it in with your wood dust, if you leave it connected.

 

[flair woodworks]

As the others have indicated, the stock blade will work fine to cut aluminum - it will just dull quicker than the blade designed to cut aluminum.  The difference is that the aluminum blade teeth have a triple-chip grind which is more durable.

 

[Bigchasbroon]

I'm going to chip in with some advice. Have a zero clearance fence or a piece of timber supporting the Ali. I often cut aluminium angle trim. I use a piece of 2x2 timber or similar to support the trim because if the trim is a light gauge then there's a tendency for the teeth to bend the metal rather than cut so in my opinion more important than blade speed is the speed at which you make the cut, feed the blade down slowly.

 

[tjbnwi]

I have some aluminum trim that has to be cut to go around tile. It will require 45 degree mitres and was thinking of the kapex.

I have the stock blade and no others.  Is it ok to cut the aluminum normally with the kapex?  Speed?

Thanks!

Sounds like your cutting Jolly. The stock blade cuts it well, place a 1x over the flange, push the 1x against the fence, cut through the 1x and Jolly. This method prevents the trim from deforming.

If you're using a wet saw, you can cut the trim with the wet saw, you'll have to clean up the burr.

Tom

 

[justinh]

As the others have indicated, the stock blade will work fine to cut aluminum - it will just dull quicker than the blade designed to cut aluminum.  The difference is that the aluminum blade teeth have a triple-chip grind which is more durable.

TCG grind and the appropriate grade of carbide for the job.  The carbide used to cut aluminum has a different composition than carbide used to cut wood and is less prone to chipping and breaking in the denser material. 

If you are cutting aluminum with an ATB blade you've got a pretty good chance of chipping or cracking teeth because of the sharp points used in an ATB grind.  An NF blade is designed for this specific application for a reason.  You should also wax the blade when cutting it.

Tom's suggestion of using a "sandwich" to cut an L-shaped profile is a good one.  If you are cutting aluminum having is clamped and backed with a sacrificial piece is usually a good idea.

 

[donwon]

Thanks everyone for the tips. I tried cutting the aluminum at a slower speed and feeding it like a sliding saw. That lifted the trim and was not the way to do it!

I put the saw back to normal speed and used it like a chopsaw. All worked great and leaves a great clean edge.

Thanks again everyone!