Today was a day of cleaning up after other tasks, and getting ready for the next batch.
Like I said, I had the thought to cut up my aluminum beam instead of moving it back and forth. Who can tell me what’s wrong with this picture?
View attachment 107611View attachment 107612
Okay, pictures.
Quality has gone down the tubes. I bought that old blade about 15 years ago, and I just checked it about 10 years ago, and look, trouble already!!! Look at the chunk out of it!!!! So I got the harbor freight version and tried it.
The harbor freight blade was about 2/3 the width of the old blade, and had more teeth, which actually helped: less material to cut. And it had the interrupter slices at 90°, to blow out built up material But the teeth were about the same width as the blade. The old blade had much wider teeth.
@alwaysFlOoReD ‘s WD-40 suggestion worked perfect. Definitely cut better than the old blade. Without the WD-40, the new blade quickly seized up on the sides, and gummed up the teeth so it didn’t want to dig/cut. Twice I had to wedge it out with a crowbar, but then it worked when I used to WD-40 on every cut.
Something interesting was that it definitely took more energy, heated up the saw, slowed me down, however you want to say it, when I was cutting through a weld instead of just cutting through a piece of aluminum. Part of me wants to say it’s just because the weld was thicker material, but it seemed like it was harder. Inquiring minds would like to know if anybody has any info on this.
Anywho, I cut the channels apart, and then I cut them into 50 inch sections (cross pieces for the ‘Raith). 50 inches is wider than the widest I can imagine, and I can cut them to precise length on the chopsaw and end up with the precise cut.
The new blade didn’t cut perfect, but it did a much better job. All the flat/cut surfaces are facing inwards, but I’ll still clean them up. The 50 inch pieces are much more manageable than the 22 foot pieces. I plan to set up my tablesaw with a guide that’s just a hair wider than the 1-1/2” channel depth, and shave off the ugly parts remaining from the spacers. Even though it faces internally, I’m still thinking of grinding it, or doing something to get a more consistent surface, but that may be a dream.
For the first time in months, I moved the sawhorses aside, picked up all the drop pieces, welding leads, and extension cords on that side of my driveway, and blew all the shavings off the bricks. Tomorrow I will pull out the Town Cart and finish it.
Baby steps…