Cutting the panel material

[Steve Jones]

On May 1,  2:54pm, Jeremy N Bradbeer wrote:
 Subject: Re: Panel Size

> Home Depot has 2 inch by 2 inch 1/8 thick aluminium angle ($22 for 8 feet) -
> this would give a very rigid support and the part of the angle facing to the
> back could be used to mount pcbs etc. It would require some tools for cutting
> etc though. I am planning to use this - I will also bolt 2 pieces back to
back
> to get 4 inch wide modules if necessary. They also have smaller sizes of ali
> angle which would be good for knocking together a rack system eg in a 19 inch
> rack frame or any width in a wooden case.
>
> Jeremy (also in Philadelphia)
 -- End of excerpt from Jeremy N Bradbeer


Has anyone done, or considered doing, this?  To cut the
aluminum, I thought I'd try putting a metal-cutting blade
on my table saw.  That way I could get nice square cuts.
Radial arm and cuttoff saws should also work (but I have
neither of those).  Normally, when cutting harder metals,
one might go through a lot of blades.  But most aluminum
alloys are soft enough that I think this might not be so
much of a problem.  Of course, there'd be a little waste
due to the wide kerf of the blade.  But if you don't have
easy access to a large shear...

stevej