Can You Cut Aluminum with A Miter Saw and How To?

Professionals in the manufacturing sector often choose aluminum over all other metals because of its characteristics of great strength, low density, and corrosion resistance. Even while aluminum might not be the toughest of all materials, cutting it can be very difficult because too much impact might ruin the cut, and too little won’t cut the metal.

That said, you can cut aluminum using a non-ferrous metal cutting blade and, a miter saw. This saw is also an excellent tool for cutting aluminum channels, extrusions, pipes, and other materials.

Certain guidelines must be followed while cutting aluminum with a miter saw. Continue to read this article to discover more about this procedure.

Can You Cut Aluminum with a Miter Saw?

A miter saw is excellent and one of the finest pieces of equipment for cutting aluminum, even if there is other equipment you may use for the task.

You can also use a miter saw to cut steel and other metals like aluminum. However, there are a few variables to bear in mind, such as the project requirements and the amount of metal you wish to cut.

The help of the miter saw handle, which is attached to the revolving blade, makes it possible to grasp the metal tight and make exact cuts. As a result, a miter saw will make it possible for you to safely and easily cut aluminum with precision.

Additionally, you have to be careful with the blades you employ. So, let’s determine which blades you should utilize.

What Kind of Blade Should You Use to Cut Aluminum?

Metal cutting blades are needed to cut extremely hard, stiff materials, as opposed to cutting wood and composite materials, which are generally soft and fibrous. These blades have special materials like harder carbide teeth that make it easier to cut tough materials.

Here is a list of blade types that work well with miter saws:

• Circular Blades

These blades are suitable for regular saws like radial arm saws, table saws, miter saws, and cut-off saws. To accurately shape-cut aluminum, these blades work best when tilted. The main danger is that the blade may grasp the metal. In addition, it may hurt you if the blade snags on the object.

• Carbon Steel Blades

High-quality materials are used to create this blade. All sorts of wood may be cut with it, although softwoods like pine, fir, and spruce are especially well-suited. Additionally, it works well for cutting light steel, plastics, aluminum, and metals.

• Diamond Saw Blades

A diamond saw blade is a useful tool when cutting and grinding extremely hard, thick materials. These blades are often used in construction applications to cut stone, brick, concrete, and aluminum.

You can also utilize different blades for this purpose, such as razor blades, coarse and very coarse cut blades, and sharp cut blades.

How Can You Cut Aluminum with a Miter Saw?

Regular saw blades cannot often cut aluminum because it is too soft; however, the miter saw does have a powerful engine and a spinning circular blade that can cut this aluminum.

You will need a miter saw and the appropriate blades to complete this process. Here, you have to select a specific blade type with a lower friction coefficient than other saw blade types. You also need some lubrication.

The length of this process depends on the project’s size and complexity; for easy cuts, it may take a few minutes, while for large projects, it may take many hours or even days.

Here, we explain the step-by-step procedure that can assist you in completing this task effectively.

Step 1: Choose the appropriate blade

First, ensure that the blades you choose have the right number of teeth. Afterward, be sure to use the blades made specifically for cutting aluminum. Additionally, ascertain the density of the metal you are cutting.

Step 2: Assemble the blades

On your circular saw, find the blade brake, then depress it to lock the motor in position. After that, remove the nut holding the blade in place by unscrewing it with a tool.

If your saw blade has a cutting guard, pull it back now. Then, attach the blade’s center to the arbor bolt by sliding the saw blade into the miter saw. Finally, detach the cutting guard and release the blade brake before tightening the nut to keep the blade in place.

Step 3: Attach the aluminum

The aluminum should first be clamped securely to prevent excessive movement because if it occurs, the blade might catch it and inflict irreparable damage. So, ensure that the aluminum material, bar, or metal piece is securely clamped, and use safety eyewear at all times during cutting.

Step 4: Begin the cutting process

Continue the cutting procedure after making sure of all these procedures. To perform this, line up the blades on the aluminum piece with the metal lines indicating the target cut or measurement.

Usually, one hand is held firmly against the metal. On the other hand, you lower the miter saw handle until it hits the material and cuts it.

FAQ

After reading this article, you might have some queries. Don’t worry; our FAQ section has answers to the most usual and often-asked questions. To discover the answer you’re looking for, keep reading.

Conclusion

Using a miter saw to cut aluminum is possible if you take the proper precautions. If you operate the miter saw correctly and use safety gear, cutting aluminum with it is completely safe.

The only challenge is ensuring that the blade you choose is appropriate for the size of the metal piece and the cut you’re making.

Always try to know how these miter saws work, which blades to use for different purposes, how to operate them safely, and any potential issues. To avoid unanticipated problems, inspect the blades and the system’s overall functionality to avoid unanticipated problems. This enables you to use the saw effectively.