Thorp Air Command - T18.net

I plan on using a portable metal cutting band saw mounted to a vertical stand to cut or trim my 1/8" thick aluminum angle spar caps to the 1" plan width. My research tells me to use an 8 or 10 TPI bi-metal blade with speed set to ~550 fpm. But elsewhere I am reading that 18 TPI and carbide blade would leave a smoother cut. Any words of band saw cutting wisdom from those you have gone down this path before?
Thank you, Chris

I use 14 TPI blade for most everything.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
KLAL

You can cut aluminum on a table saw with a good carbide blade. I didn’t think about it until a friend pointed out that some oak is as hard as aluminum. Back in the day I ripped down my main spar caps that way. Test on a piece of scrap and wear eye protection.

Check out the metal cutting circular blades that are available. Easiest to use an aluminum cutting circular blade in a table saw. I cut 1/8" steel with a steel blade on a circular saw as easy/fast as cutting a wood 2x4. Very clean cut.

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[b]Terry[/b]