UHFAll static, all day, Forever MVM join:2002-05-24 |
UHF
MVM
2014-Oct-13 5:22 pm
Cutting a slit into a pipeI have a length of aluminum tubing, approx 1 3/16" OD. Not sure of the thickness, I think it's about 1/8". I need to cut a slit lengthwise into this pipe, the entire length of the pipe. This is to make a "shield" for a magnetic antenna. The width of the gap isn't important, I figure I'll try for around 1/8" or whatever is easy to cut. Any ideas? I asked the guy at the local welding shop that usually does any metal work I need done, and he said a plasma cutter is out, it'll either blow through both sides or leave a lot of splatter inside the tube. He recommended running it through a table saw with a plywood blade, but I think that would tend to rip it apart or launch it across the garage Would a dremel bit be able to be used in a router table? Any other suggestions? I may have to dremel it by hand. |
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LazMan Premium Member join:2003-03-26 Beverly Hills, CA |
LazMan
Premium Member
2014-Oct-13 5:30 pm
Tablesaw would be my first thought; blade will be a write-off after though.
Freehand with a dremmel would be plan b... |
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nunyaLXI 483 MVM join:2000-12-23 O Fallon, MO |
to UHF
An angle grinder and patience. |
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Tursiops_GTechnoid MVM join:2002-02-06 Brooksville, FL ARRIS TM1602
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to UHF
If your table saw can accept 7" blades, Pick up one of these at Home Depot: » www.homedepot.com/p/Avan ··· Z1z13133HTH, -Tursiops_G. |
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nunyaLXI 483 MVM join:2000-12-23 O Fallon, MO |
nunya
MVM
2014-Oct-13 5:35 pm
It's aluminum pipe. |
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Tursiops_GTechnoid MVM join:2002-02-06 Brooksville, FL |
ah, missed that... I wonder, though... With the 128 tooth count, wouldn't that work with Aluminum also, if cut slowly? |
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UHFAll static, all day, Forever MVM join:2002-05-24 |
to nunya
said by nunya:An angle grinder and patience. That might be the best way. The cut will be about 22" long. I guess I better find my angle grinder and hope I have some discs for it. |
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robbin Mod join:2000-09-21 Leander, TX |
to UHF
Try an oscillating multi tool. May work better than a dremel but will still be slow. Only problem is the slit from a single kerf is quite narrow. |
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1 recommendation |
to UHF
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Coma Thanks Steve Premium Member join:2001-12-30 NirvanaLand
1 recommendation |
Coma to UHF
Premium Member
2014-Oct-13 6:01 pm
to UHF
Just use a carbide tipped blade on a table saw set about 5/8" high, draw a line with a marker on the pipe opposite side from the cut for reference . . . and go slow.
Piece 0 caek
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Msradell Premium Member join:2008-12-25 Louisville, KY |
to Cho Baka
A cutoff blade like that would certainly work very well in a table saw assuming you can find one with the right Arbor size. I've actually used a conventional fine toothed blade in my tablesaw with great success cutting aluminum as mentioned by an earlier poster. |
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nunyaLXI 483 MVM join:2000-12-23 O Fallon, MO |
to UHF
22"? Angle grinder and 4 minutes. |
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Thanks. I misread as 22 feet. |
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to UHF
Angle Grinder as mentioned with a zip blade. |
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UHFAll static, all day, Forever MVM join:2002-05-24 |
UHF
MVM
2014-Oct-13 7:01 pm
Ok, I'll head down to the garage and see how it goes with the angle grinder. |
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UHF |
UHF
MVM
2014-Oct-13 7:34 pm
Sure isn't straight, but it worked. Probably should have used copper so I could solder to it, but I didn't have access to any copper that large so this will have to do. I'll drill it to connect a ground wire.
Thanks for the tips!! |
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generals to UHF
Anon
2014-Oct-13 8:16 pm
to UHF
just fyi, in general,
whatever you are cutting, the rule is to pick a blade with at least 3 teeth in the material, to prevent chattering etc.
for this your example, at 1/8", that would be a blade about 24 teeth per inch, or more.
-- myself, I use a diamond grit blade in a right angle grinder, and leave it on for everything. wood, copper, aluminum, steel, stainless, concrete, macadam, rock, etc. it cuts about half as fast as the carborundum blades, but lasts waaaaay longer. and it's noisier, shriller. grit is probly about 80, 80 per inch. pays for itself, about $15., in a month. plus don't have to stop to change carborundums several times per job. |
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tp0dyabbazooie Premium Member join:2001-02-13 Bulger, PA
1 recommendation |
tp0d to UHF
Premium Member
2014-Oct-13 10:06 pm
to UHF
said by UHF:Sure isn't straight, but it worked. Probably should have used copper so I could solder to it, but I didn't have access to any copper that large so this will have to do. I'll drill it to connect a ground wire.
Thanks for the tips!! I have 20ft of 1.5" M copper tubing in the shop if you're interested.. whatever my wholesale cost is per foot, plus ship.. have 2" as well -j |
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1 recommendation |
I could sell him some of my 3" copper stack if he needs something bigger. It comes with a nice patina at no additional charge. |
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UHFAll static, all day, Forever MVM join:2002-05-24 |
UHF to tp0d
MVM
2014-Oct-13 11:01 pm
to tp0d
I should have some 1.25" around somewhere in the shop next time I'm in there. |
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public join:2002-01-19 Santa Clara, CA |
to UHF
said by UHF:The cut will be about 22" long. Horizontal mill at your local machine shop. Easy clean cut with a narrow blade tool. |
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SundogI'm an analog man in a digital world Premium Member join:2003-12-12 Tucson, AZ |
Sundog to UHF
Premium Member
2014-Oct-14 7:20 am
to UHF
I've used Dremel with a metal cutoff wheel many a time to do something similar. It's a little slow, but it will do the job. Just take your time and it will come out right. Wear eye protection.
edit: I can't believe your welding/metal guy can't do the job. That's a piece of cake. |
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Coma Thanks Steve Premium Member join:2001-12-30 NirvanaLand |
Coma
Premium Member
2014-Oct-14 7:42 am
said by Sundog:I can't believe your welding/metal guy can't do the job. That's a piece of cake. Their is no job that can not exceed the skill of the worker. |
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SparkChaser Premium Member join:2000-06-06 Downingtown, PA |
to UHF
We geeky people are wondering how you are using this. |
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UHFAll static, all day, Forever MVM join:2002-05-24
1 recommendation |
UHF
MVM
2014-Oct-14 2:06 pm
It's an H-Field antenna for a lightning tracking station See blitzortung.org |
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Liberty Premium Member join:2005-06-12 Arizona
1 recommendation |
to UHF
I know you have finished this project but you and others might like to know; there is nothing all that special about cutting thin aluminum.
I have built many aluminum screen enclosures and use my miter box with an ordinary fine tooth plywood blade to cut extruded aluminum. I bought big tubes of wax packaged for cutting non ferrous metals, just tap the blade every few cuts keeps the teeth from jamming.
Some guys go with running fine tooth blade backwards but it leaves too big a burr for my taste.
In a pinch with no wax or candle etc, you can use bar soap but puts a soap flavored dust in air - my tongue & eyes don't like it.
Loud process.... |
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