[sdiy] Need a bandsaw...

[Simon Gatrall]

At 4:52 PM -0700 10/17/04, James Patchell wrote:
>While I am waiting for my bank account to go up enough to start 
>buying synth parts again, I decided to do a new power amplifier.  I 
>acquired a couple of heat sink extrusions a couple of years ago when 
>the company I worked for was shut down by the parent...not really 
>sure how they ended up at my house...they were supposed to go to the 
>scrap metal recycler...oh, well, accidents happen....
>
>These things are 6 feet long and 21 inches wide.  I am trying to cut 
>off a piece that is 3.5 inches wide by 21 inches.  I don't have a 
>bandsaw...and a bandsaw in more than likely not in my future (they 
>are pretty expensive...or at least, the metal cutting type).  I am 
>using my jig saw with a metal cutting blade in it to cut off the 
>piece...very slow and very noisy work, to say the very least....I 
>have about 7 inches of the cut done so far.
>
>From the piece, I will eventually cut out, I will make two pieces 
>that are 8 inches long by 3.376 inches wide...these will make up the 
>two sides of the rack chassis, with sheets of aluminum making up the 
>top, bottom and rear and a rack panel blank making up the front...
>
>If any body has any ideas on how to cut this thing faster, let me 
>know...I am still trying to track somebody in town that will let me 
>maybe use their band saw...

Assuming that you are talking about an Aluminum extrusion, you can 
also use a table saw or circular saw.  Just make sure to use a new 
fine pitch blade.  Some woodworking people may not want aluminum 
shavings near their tools, but if you can borrow a circular saw and 
buy a new blade, you'll be in good shape.  You'll need to guide the 
saw and wear eye/ear protection, but it will cut quite well.
-- 
Simon Gatrall
gatrall at pacbell.net