On Fri, 24 Mar 2006 09:57:31 +0700, anon wrote:



If you don't want to go to the bother of locating tap magic a
"secret" I was taught during my apprentice days was to use kerosene or
diesel fuel as a cutting fluid for aluminum. Use a "squirt can" and
give it a squirt from time to time.

A similar method is to squirt a little lamp oil of the type found on
boats. Essentially, it's kerosene anyway, with colour added.

Wear gloves and clamp the piece being cut or drilled. The gloves are
not only for the blade, of course, but because the piece gets friggin'
hot. I cut several 1/4" aluminum backing plates a few years ago and
used standard woodshop power tools. No problem...but have a vacuum
cleaner ready for the pounds of shavings!

R.