Need something slick.

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I need to rip some 10-GA aluminum sheets, used my worm drive DeWalt skil-saw for a few cuts, and there was a lot of drag on the flatbar fence I used, so I rubbed soapstone on it, but the shoe / foot of the saw really drags! Is there some kind of lubricant I can use, and not contaminate the sheet of aluminum for welding? Thanks in advance!Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I have used the spray on nozle kleen. It seems to help. I have thought about a plastic or teflon pad fastened on the saw shoe. Just acouple of ideas. rod
Reply:maybe some uhmw mounted on the shoe..tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:Beeswax. And put some on the blade teeth. It has no petroleum products since it is all natural.PapaLincoln Idealarc 250 (circa 1962)Lincoln Weldpak 155 w/Mig KitLincoln Squarewave TIG 175
Reply:Originally Posted by rodweldI I have thought about a plastic or teflon pad fastened on the saw shoe.  rod
Reply:Hello CEP, this might seem like an odd question, but how deep do you have the blade set on the shoe of your saw? If it's set anything much beyond the thickness of the material it could be binding and causing some additional drag. You've had some great suggestions from everyone else for anti-drag materials, sprays, and rubs, I do like the beeswax for the blade, but then a cousin of mine gave me a 5lb. block of it so I use it whenever I have a need. One other possibility I can think of for helping with drag on the shoe is to consider some of the tapes that are out there, cover the bottom of the shoe with whatever tape that you might have that is slick on it's outside surface. One of these tapes that comes to mind is an HVAC tape that is used to seal joints, it's also similar to the tapes that are used to hold shielding gases in on back-purged open-root welds on stainless pipe. One of the other tapes that comes to mind is a wide type of craftboard type tape that is used for taping up cardboard boxes, it has somewhat of a waxy finish on it's outer surface. A drawback to taping is removal of it and it's residue after it has been used for a while. Good luck on your challenge there. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Canning Wax....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:how abouit uhmw (the white cutting board) or something similar, attach to shoe with 3m double sided tape..tackleexperts.comwww.necessityjigs.comhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/mach...dingequipment/
Reply:Originally Posted by aevaldHello CEP, this might seem like an odd question, but how deep do you have the blade set on the shoe of your saw? If it's set anything much beyond the thickness of the material it could be binding and causing some additional drag.
Reply:Go to a skateboard shop and get some Rub rails for the bottom of skateboards....I use the brand .."Rib.Bones...about $12.00...can be bought on-line cheaper..2 ea 15.5 " strips ...5 holes w/screws...replace with self-tapping metal stud screws ...I.D.G.A.F.H.T.D.I.A.O.C.C.http://www.facebook.com/pages/Metals...71960142846696
Reply:You can get UHMW in a tape form.  It's often used on tablesaw fences, and would make a nice permanent attachment to your saw base.
Reply:OK nobody laugh! This will happen to you too, getting old that is. When I read the post about wax I remembered I had some wax in the shop somewhere, two shelves above the skil-saw, right at eye level! Worked like a charm, little wax on the fence / guide, and a little on the saw's shoe, slick as a button. Remember no laughing. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Thanks rlitman, now that's something I'll have to check into for future consideration. Hadn't heard of that stuff before now. CEP, wasn't sure if you had considered depth or not so I figured that I'd throw that out there, not so much for your sake but possibly for others who hadn't considered it. Easy to get hurt real bad if the blade has an excessive amount or over-cut on a piece of material. Best regards everyone, Allanaevald
Reply:Im pretty sure beeswax is a hydrocarbonAn approximate chemical formula for beeswax is C15H31COOC30H61
Reply:Originally Posted by Fred sIm pretty sure beeswax is a hydrocarbonAn approximate chemical formula for beeswax is C15H31COOC30H61
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPOK nobody laugh! This will happen to you too, getting old that is. When I read the post about wax I remembered I had some wax in the shop somewhere, two shelves above the skil-saw, right at eye level! Worked like a charm, little wax on the fence / guide, and a little on the saw's shoe, slick as a button. Remember no laughing.
Reply:I had bee's many years ago, as papaharley stated the wax is good stuff and the scent is well, heavenly.  It lasts too.  Best  Bob
Reply:get a cheap plastic cutting board and fix it to the bottom of the saw it will slide pretty wellLincoln Power Arc 4000 Thermal Arc Fabricator 252 iThermal arc 186Thermal Arc 26 tigTweeko 200 amp spool gunHobart AirForce 400WP-17V-12R
Reply:Originally Posted by assassin_worksget a cheap plastic cutting board and fix it to the bottom of the saw it will slide pretty well
Reply:mentioned this in another thread earlier. a shallow blade setting for rip is nfg. if you look at the length of tooth contact area ,the shallow cut adds a lot of friction and requires a lot more effort topush thru the cut.miller thunderbolt 250vlincoln square wave tig 175 prolincoln idealarc mig sp250everlast tig 210EXTeverlast power plasma 50chicago electric (hf) 130 tig/90 arcchicago electric 90 amp flux wire3 sets oxy/acet
Reply:I don't remember agreeing to not laugh.. HMMMM yup I checked my contract no no laughin clause so HAHAMiller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:cover the base in regular painters tape as long as the sheet is smooth it will slide fine350P 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:Originally Posted by CEPYou know, I was thinking about that very same thing. In fact I can see one from here on the cabinet leaning up against the refrigerator. You think I dare?
Reply:Originally Posted by 4sfedI'm sure the wife would appreciate a new one    Happy shopping.
Reply:When I cut aluminum with a skill saw I put the front edge of the skill saw onto the material and lower the back end like a plunge cut, but only enough to score my first line and run it up my line or straight edge. Then ill do the same again but lower the blade enough to cut the rest of the way through. Then I proceed with the front edge on the material and the blade stays in deep enough to cut through. There is less chance of drag and kick back that way. I  have seen cutting wax, WD40, or pam cooking spray used for lube on the blade while cutting aluminum. Hope this made sence.Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.