Cutting 1/8" Aluminum with a circular saw??

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Can I do it? if yes, what kind of blade?  Reason I ask, I go through a TON of cut off wheels for my grinder trying to cut out the pieces I need for my projects. I have a ryobi cordless circular saw and want to know if I can use that.  Also, while I can cut a fairly straight line using my grinder, I want it to be straighter. I have the saw, the fence to keep it straight, just need to know what kind of blade. I would like a stomp shear, but I have no place to put it, and I refuse to drop that kind of coin and leave it outside.www.thefusionsolution.com
Reply:You can cut alum with a carbide circular saw blade and a litte wax for lube. I'd run the blade with the most teeth you can. The down side to this for you will be the power of your saw and the battery life. I've cut alum and even steel  ( helper set the blade too deep and I cut right into the 1/2" thick top thru the 2x's, not the best thing to keep a blade sharp) with a carbide blade in a worm drive and had no issues. That saw has balls though and even then it wasn't real happy doing it. I'd bet you stall  or smoke that small motor or eat batteries like there's no tomorrow trying to use a cordless..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Yes you can with a carbide tipped blade..Wax for build up defense..Make sure it's clamped down good first and ear protection is a must!...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWYou can cut alum with a carbide circular saw blade and a litte wax for lube. I'd run the blade with the most teeth you can. The down side to this for you will be the power of your saw and the battery life. I've cut alum and even steel  ( helper set the blade too deep and I cut right into the 1/2" thick top thru the 2x's, not the best thing to keep a blade sharp) with a carbide blade in a worm drive and had no issues. That saw has balls though and even then it wasn't real happy doing it. I'd bet you stall  or smoke that small motor or eat batteries like there's no tomorrow trying to use a cordless.
Reply:Yup wax on the blade and you can run a wax "Bead" where you are going to cut on the piece..Instead of using a crayon or marker for your line use the wax..You are going in a straight line anyway,,,...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:I hope to go in a straight line. lol!thanks for the help!www.thefusionsolution.com
Reply:You will get more "Help" tomorrow A.M. ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:lol! so long as I have my coffee first.www.thefusionsolution.com
Reply:I cut 1/4 inch aluminum plate with my 6 1/2 makita cordless and a nice freud carbide tipped blade.  works well.   though not sure the ryobi will have the umph to handle it.    I never bother with ear protection,   don't usually get aluminum chips in my ears.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:The two batteries I have should get me through the cuts I need to make. some cuts I need to make with my grinder until I get my band saw.www.thefusionsolution.com
Reply:If you decide to get a dedicated saw for this, get the Milwalkee metal cutting saw. If you just want a general purpose saw then I'd vote for a worm drive. I've beat the cr@p out of mine and it still keeps going. Metal, wood, concrete you name it....No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Yup you will be fine. I have cut 1/8'' thick alu diamond plate with my ryobi 18v cordless saw before with a 24t carbide tip blade and it worked great. Just watch out for the shavings that come off of itYa gotta spend money to make money!
Reply:Originally Posted by welderShaneYup you will be fine. I have cut 1/8'' thick alu diamond plate with my ryobi 18v cordless saw before with a 24t carbide tip blade and it worked great. Just watch out for the shavings that come off of it
Reply:I cut 1/4" 6160 aluminum all day long with a Freud/Diablo "Steel Demon" as well..http://www.amazon.com/Freud-D0738FM-.../dp/B001CZCVKOMikeThe only stupid question is the one that was never asked.
Reply:tried it out today, cut like butter for a 5 1/2" cordless saw.  need to get a blade with more teef now.www.thefusionsolution.com
Reply:Put a regular fine tooth 'sharp' blade on your skilsaw/tablesaw BACKWARDS, draw a pencil line where the cut is, spray along line with WD-40. (a 'wet' marker dissolves in the WD) This works pretty good in a pinch. -corne-
Reply:Interesting! I gotta try that.
Reply:see now ive heard the backwards thing but i cut a bit of aluminum on my table saw and have never had a problem with the blade facing forward except for the freaking chips lol  whats the reason to put it backward???350P 30A spool gun cut master 51  syncro 250 other stuff " take a dog off the street and make him prosper and he will not bite you sad the same cannot be said for man" i didnt use punctuation just to piss you off
Reply:The less rake on the teeth the better.You'll find carbide blades, such as the one above which is LISTED for cutting steel, have the teeth set almost perpendicular to the tangent of the blade.  Circular saw blades labelled specifically for DEMOLITION will have the same feature.  They are designed to go through nails, screws, bolts, pipes, etc, without throwing teeth and smoking the saw. These type of blades might be difficult to find for a small cordless saw, however.  Best bet for the future is to invest in a good WORM DRIVE circular saw.
Reply:Festool rail saw works great. We cut alot of 1/8" diamond plate with no problem.
Reply:Sometimes the teeth get clogged up with the blade on the 'proper' way. I "think" with the blade on backwards, the metal is getting 'whacked' off rather than cut. <--(highly technical term lol) -corne-