Cutting sheet aluminum ?

[tony597fitter]

tony597fitter

About a quarter century ago I used a nibbler doing some body work. I am guessing it would perform better against alum, than I remember against steel.

Any brand recommendations?



I bought a Harbor Freight cheapo for $20 and an extra pack of 5 or 6 bits. Its lasted a few years now with no problems. Ive cut everything from aluminum to stainless with it.

 

[OL RATLR]

Absolutely not. A regular carbide wood blade works flawlessly. I didn't believe it would work but a guy at M. H Eby told me to try it so I did and I haven't used the plasma cutter since.

JFaulkner is right and also you can run a little water on it and keep blade

cool. :-{}:-laf

 

[jandtjil]

Yesterday, while tracing the window frame to cardboard for a cutting stencil, I realized that a trim ring (to hold the window on the inside was not included). No install this weekend. Hopefully next weekend or sooner.

JJ

 

[Alphacowboy]

Circular saw works great on aluminum. When I do aluminum sofet on houses (i hate that crap, but people are lazy and dont like to paint these days) I use a carbide blade in a circular saw, works perfect. You do have to be cafeful and take your time, but its not too hard. Also, the window should have a outer flange that should cover up at least a little around the hole you cut. Every window I have seen on a trailer is this way, never is the cut edge showing.



My suggestion would be cut the lines that go across the ribs with the circular saw, and then score the lines that follow the ribs with a utility knife and then snap those pieces off.



Good luck!

 

[jandtjil]

Finally...

Okay, seven weeks later, I have the right trim rings and two windows installed.

I ended up using the hand snips. I tried the roto-tool, but the shavings mess and the rate that I was breaking blades quickly soured me on that route.

I may try the circular saw on the larger dinette window in a couple months.



I am not sure if all manufacturers perform this, but Coachmen (for a fee) can print your trailers actual wall/elec/plumbing diagram and send it to you. Thats how I was reasonably sure that the window bracing was already built into the wall. I was prepared to work around this, but was extremely happy to see it there!



JJ