Max thickness of material to cut with Kapex aluminum blade

[sospan]

Hi,

You need to exercise a bit of caution when using WD40 as a lubricant when cutting metals. WD40 has a flash point of around 122 F (49°C) 

 

[Svar]

Hi,
You need to exercise a bit of caution when using WD40 as a lubricant when cutting metals. WD40 has a flash point of around 122 F (49°C) 

I thought of that too, yet metal shops use it routinely to cut aluminum with no ill effects. I used it myself a lot and I'm sure the temperature in the cut well acceded 49°C. I don't have an explanation for this. Not sure if the same is true for ferrous metals.

 

[skinee]

trend have a lubricant especially designed for this in stick form,i have used it,it works well, but centrifugal force tends to spit quite a lot of it away from the blade,may stick better than fluid anyhow.
https://www.trenddirectuk.com/trendiwax

 

[Cheese]

trend have a lubricant especially designed for this in stick form,i have used it,it works well, but centrifugal force tends to spit quite a lot of it away from the blade,may stick better than fluid anyhow.

That’s the reason I prefer the waxes, a small amount of wax is manually deposited on the blade and as the blade heats up and the object to be cut heats up, the wax melts and deposits itself on both items and provides lubrication. It’s a pretty clean operation with minimal mess.

 

[bwehman]

Is the aluminum blade for the Kapex no longer available in NA?

 

[rst]

I've cut literally miles and miles of storefront aluminum in the last 38 years with WD-40 and buy it by the gallon.  As far as flash point...aluminum is non-ferrous, therefore, no sparking.  That being said, the aluminum I'm cutting is generally anodized, which can give minute sparks but again has never been an issue.  Does make the guy that welds for us crazy though.
In regard to thickness, as a general rule, aluminum blades for cutting over 1/8" are generally thicker.  I use 80 tooth blades for everything and really only lube for 3/16" and up.  Don't cut without a backer board, aluminum and plastics will really screw a blade if one of the teeth gums.  Take light cuts so as not to fill the gullet.  Toolstoday sells Amana and AGE (German) blades for aluminum, including all Festool sizes includng the Kapex.

 

[peter halle]

Is the aluminum blade for the Kapex no longer available in NA?

I believe so.

Peter

 

[Cheese]

Is the aluminum blade for the Kapex no longer available in NA?

The aluminum blade for the Kapex and track saws was taken off the US market last summer. The blades are still available in other countries.

 

[Stone Message]

It is a pity that the Aluminium blade is no longer available in the US. I used one recently and found it to be perfect for aluminium and I even tried it with brass and copper.


Peter