Cut off wheels for aluminium ?

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Boo2

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Hi,

Got to make some holes in my aluminium toe rail (to fit centre cleats into) and I need to know whether cut of wheels for stainless will be OK on ally ? I did read somewhere that you cannot use oxide wheels on alloy because they clog and just wondered if the same is true for angle grinder wheels.

If not, what ?

Thanks,

Boo2
 
Boo2 said:
Hi,

Got to make some holes in my aluminium toe rail (to fit centre cleats into) and I need to know whether cut of wheels for stainless will be OK on ally ? I did read somewhere that you cannot use oxide wheels on alloy because they clog and just wondered if the same is true for angle grinder wheels.

If not, what ?

Thanks,

Boo2
Click to expand...

I was told by an engineer I respect not to use angle grinders on aluminium etc, because the wheel clogs and eventually 'explodes' or shatters.

Maybe others can confirm or counter?

I have done it however, but been extremely careful - I think I attempted to 'clean' the wheel every few minutes on an old piece of steel hoping it would take off the clogged bit of the wheel.

Even I used a full face mask, thick coat and gloves on that one as an accident would just cause trouble for others (A&E for example) owing to my stupidity.
 
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Not sure about clogging the wheels, though I can certainly believe it. But an ordinary hacksaw will have made the cut before you've finished setting up the grinder and putting on the necessary PPE :)

Pete
 
prv said:
...an ordinary hacksaw will have made the cut before you've finished setting up the grinder and putting on the necessary PPE :)
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Yes, but unfortunately my hacksaw is a cheap effort that doesn't allow the blade to be turned through 90 degrees so I have no way to do the cut that is parallel to the deck :(

sailorman said:
use cleats that fit on the genny track
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Already got the cleats. Also don't want to clutter the genny track as I have a No 1 which apparently needs the slide set to within 2 foot of the after end.

Thanks to all for the replies, seems I wasn't dreaming about the clogging business.

Boo2
 
LS has it.
I was a bit surprised to see aluminium cutting discs at my stockholder, as I was told years ago about disc clogging. Seems they have got round the problem.

But, a sculptor used to cut up old ally castings by putting the spinning disc into a lump of beaswax, then cutting the ally. That was 50 yrs ago.
 
Boo2 said:
Yes, but unfortunately my hacksaw is a cheap effort that doesn't allow the blade to be turned through 90 degrees so I have no way to do the cut that is parallel to the deck :(


Already got the cleats. Also don't want to clutter the genny track as I have a No 1 which apparently needs the slide set to within 2 foot of the after end.

Thanks to all for the replies, seems I wasn't dreaming about the clogging business.

Boo2
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some track cleats are designed to be easily demountable.
mine are fixed onto spacers i wil photo later when i get o/b. no cutting of the rail req

Ah just found a pix in stock

IMG_1780.jpg
 
sailorman said:
some track cleats are designed to be easily demountable.
mine are fixed onto spacers i wil photo later when i get o/b. no cutting of the rail req

Ah just found a pix in stock

IMG_1780.jpg
Click to expand...

Are you talkingh about toerail cleats or genoa track cleats because I cannot see any genoa track cleats in your picture

& are you doing 9.6 kts or is that wind speed?
 
When I had a seized locking wheel bolt and every possible avenue had been explored I finished up having to cut it off with an angle grinder. I spent several days trying to find cutting discs specifically for aluminium. In the end when inquiring at a heavy plant hire place I was told no such thing exists, they just use regular cutting discs, so they do work.

wheel_zpsfafa0bc8.jpg
 
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Whatever you use it should not have been used for anything else, Otherwise you risk leaving deposits of the other material which will eat your ally for breakfast.
My choice, if a jig could be made would be plasma cutter and a rock steady hand, then file.
 
galadriel said:
When I had a seized locking wheel bolt and every possible avenue had been explored I finished up having to cut it off with an angle grinder. I spent several days trying to find cutting discs specifically for aluminium. In the end when inquiring at a heavy plant hire place I was told no such thing exists, they just use regular cutting discs, so they do work.

wheel_zpsfafa0bc8.jpg
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That's a really sad sight.

I seem to have regular issues with locking wheel nuts on second hand cars being overtightened by garage air guns and the locking key then shearing. The locking nuts are not supposed to be tightened to the same torque but I've never seen a garage turn down the setting for that nut!

I can usually get them off with my reverse thread extractor but a couple of years ago my Son had a Corsa which had heavily recessed locking nuts with a spinning outer collar. I normally keep well away from garage but I took it down to the local Vauxhall dealer who went through all his "keys" but there was not one which fitted. He said the workshop could get them off for £50 but they might nick the wheels. I asked them to go ahead and they removed all 4 without any wheel damage.

I've no idea how they did it. Perhaps welding a bar across the nut?

Richard
 
galadriel said:
In the end when inquiring at a heavy plant hire place I was told no such thing exists, t
Click to expand...

Then they were wrong.

If you need to cut alloy with a jig saw you will find it cuts really easily if you lubricate the material first. I use Plus Gas (WD 40 works as well) which is handy to spray onto the blade as you work.
Remember to use an indelible marker or the line will wash away. You can use acetone to remove the ink later.
 
Lakesailor said:
Then they were wrong.

If you need to cut alloy with a jig saw you will find it cuts really easily if you lubricate the material first. I use Plus Gas (WD 40 works as well) which is handy to spray onto the blade as you work.
Remember to use an indelible marker or the line will wash away. You can use acetone to remove the ink later.
Click to expand...

So it seems from your ebay link. I had tried all the local likely suppliers and went to the plant hire place as a last resort. Had there been more time and I should have, searched the interweb, but the car was sold and I had to get the wheel off. The locking bolt was so hard a drill would not touch it, the bolt was deeply recessed and had a spinning sleeve. I now ensure all the locking bolts are only just over 'nipped' up tight.
 
Regarding using the same cutting disk for aluminium and steel, it was pointed out to me that the combination of iron oxide and aliminium powder, if heated enough, prodiuces thermite, whicn burns at quite a high temperature. For this reason, I was told, you should not use the same disk for these two. Unfortunately my experiments did not prodice pyrotechnics. YOur mileage may vary.
 
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