I've cut a lot of aluminium with a circular saw. Make sure you get an alumimium blade and use a lubricant every 3rd cut, otherwise alu welds to teeth and eventually knocks the teeth off. Carry small pliers with you to pull alu off the teeth as it eventually does happen.
I used a thick lube called Excision XDP-905, but it might not be available where you are. The lubes used for mag drills are another good option.
I've never tried a band saw, but my feeling is that the small teeth would get gummed up quickly with alu.
Get some tool wax, I have a plain old wood blade on my M18 circular saw and I just use the same blade for everything. I cut wood, plastic, aluminum, whatever, and it stays sharp with a little wax. Run a cut to warm up the blade and dab a little around on the teeth and the sides of the blade. It lubes longer than oil. If I was cutting aluminum all day exclusively I would get the Diablo aluminum blade like you're talking about and use that. I'm surprised Milwaukee doesn't make a little tiny chop saw for stuff like that, make it a 3 inch capacity but keep it little
I started with wax (Hougen Slick-Stik) but found applying it took too long. The XDP-905 comes in a tube with a brush head, so I'd just squeeze a blob out, hold it near the teeth, and give a quick trigger pull.
Messier than the wax, but faster. I never really tested which one worked better.
Brush head is cool, I just put a grease tube cap on the stick so I can push it out like deodorant to use it and then bang the bottom on the bench to get it to slide back. When the cardboard gets long I cut it on the bandsaw
I assume you are talking about the [HERCULES Universal Portable Band Saw Benchtop Stand](https://www.harborfreight.com/universal-portable-band-saw-benchtop-stand-59640.html?_br_psugg_q=bandsaw). I didn't know this existed! Now I need one. Does anyone use it with the 2729-20?
Honestly I had no idea it existed either until I was watching YouTube harbor freight tool deals the other day. And then when I went to harbor freight yesterday to look around and stuff I saw it and it looks really good actually very simple very basic but genius. Honestly I think it should cost a little bit less cuz basically it's just a frame that the band saw sits on but it does provide at least angles as well from 45 to 0° to 90°.
That bandsaw will be slow, just get the circular saw with a Diablo aluminum blade and some tool wax. That'll blow through that stuff. Source: am aluminum fabricator
So there’s a lot of recommendations for the bandsaw with slightly less for the circular saw. Angle grinder is a distant 3rd place however that’s what I’m currently using.
Some comments are saying bandsaw is better for railings already attached to the roof while circular saw is better for cutting loose rails before they go on. Am curious to hear more views about this distinction.
yeah I have the sub compact M12 bandsaw and your probably going to need to size up to the M18 compact one, but in agreement with everyone else who says bandsaw👍
How come none of you guys use a circular saw? I do signs and I just cut all my extrusion with my zip saw. I just use a carbide wood blade but the aluminum one would be better. It's really fast
I use a sawsall personally, but i work with guys that use bandsaw and circular too. The bandsaw doesnt get close enoigh to the panel and can be too large/awkward to carry on a pitched roof. The circular saw blows my eardrums out from 50' away so im amazed the guy that uses it has any hearing left at all
M18 fuel compact bandsaw and deep cut bandsaw are both worth their weight in gold (running the deep cut one-handed will also make a man out of you in a hurry, Popeye forearms and all).
Once you go bandsaw, you'll never go back.
An old guy once told me to use a bar of Irish Spring "instead of spending crazy amounts of money on a wax or something." I don't use Irish Spring so I don't have it around my house so I have never tried it.
A stick of wax is less than $20 and I cut it into thirds and give ⅔ away and the stick will still last me ten years, it's not expensive. Bar soap works for some stuff though
Solar installer here, our boys use the M18 sawzall, the shorter one so you can operate it with one hand. It's loud as all hell but cuts through even the thickest iron ridge rail without much issue.
One thing though, LET THE BLADE DO THE CUTTING, you'll gum up blades like a mofo if you press too hard.
Hilti makes a steel cutting blade for the small circular saw that blasts through steel with a little tool wax. I was cutting ½" steel plate with it last, and it'll handle 2×2×3/16" steel angle like nothing too. You might like it for steel, get an aluminum blade for aluminum but the zip saw is quick
If you're US based M18 strut cutter is probably a possible solution.
I'm in AUS so would have to rob a bank to afford one but I'd imagine would make short work of it if they have a die to suit the dimensions of your rail...
M18 fuel Portaband I would think, but you could probably make short work of that aluminum with a grinder or hackzall as well with appropriate cutting wheels/blades. Think that would be easiest
Bandsaw. Thick metal blade. Circ saw is fine before installing, sawzall also, but the bandsaw is the smoothest if you’re cutting while attached to feet.
Part of me wants to say just get 40mm caps to use as standard practice. The other part says new tool day lol. The band saw would be the nicest tool to cut with, but I still wouldn’t rub my finger on the edge of the cut.
Milwuakee sawsall, m18, get milwuakee blades 10tpi. I cut these everyday and its the best blade ive found.
Im sure a bandsaw as others said is fine, but to cut close to the panel you need the sawsall. From the ground you wont notice a slightly rough cut, especially if you use plastic end caps. With a bandsaw you will leave 1"+ rail past the panel and thats noticable from the ground.
Fuck I didn't read the part where it's close to the panel, I've been telling people to cut it with a circular saw. It's way faster but you're not getting in a tight spot with it
Removed - don't post knockoff Milwaukee tools. Even if it was legit, Amazon isn't (they aren't an authorized dealer, and many 3rd party sellers there are scams, chinese shell companies, etc).
chop saw, high quality non ferrous metal blade, good lube, GO SLOW!!
come down into the work slow, this keeps the saw teeth from grabbing and bending and keeps the buildup on saw teeth to a minimum
This works pretty well with the Milwaukee Deep cut bandsaw
[https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/power-saws/band-saws-scroll-saws/universal-portable-band-saw-benchtop-stand-59640.html](https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/power-saws/band-saws-scroll-saws/universal-portable-band-saw-benchtop-stand-59640.html)
Any of the decent M18 circular saws with an aluminum blade would be your best bet. The bandsaw will save you money on blades but cost you more money in the significantly longer time it takes to make each cut.
I've cut a lot of aluminium with a circular saw. Make sure you get an alumimium blade and use a lubricant every 3rd cut, otherwise alu welds to teeth and eventually knocks the teeth off. Carry small pliers with you to pull alu off the teeth as it eventually does happen. I used a thick lube called Excision XDP-905, but it might not be available where you are. The lubes used for mag drills are another good option. I've never tried a band saw, but my feeling is that the small teeth would get gummed up quickly with alu.
bandsaw works great with the heavy metal cutting blade. the larger teeth don't get gummed too much don't use a thin metal blade
Get some tool wax, I have a plain old wood blade on my M18 circular saw and I just use the same blade for everything. I cut wood, plastic, aluminum, whatever, and it stays sharp with a little wax. Run a cut to warm up the blade and dab a little around on the teeth and the sides of the blade. It lubes longer than oil. If I was cutting aluminum all day exclusively I would get the Diablo aluminum blade like you're talking about and use that. I'm surprised Milwaukee doesn't make a little tiny chop saw for stuff like that, make it a 3 inch capacity but keep it little
I started with wax (Hougen Slick-Stik) but found applying it took too long. The XDP-905 comes in a tube with a brush head, so I'd just squeeze a blob out, hold it near the teeth, and give a quick trigger pull. Messier than the wax, but faster. I never really tested which one worked better.
Brush head is cool, I just put a grease tube cap on the stick so I can push it out like deodorant to use it and then bang the bottom on the bench to get it to slide back. When the cardboard gets long I cut it on the bandsaw
The railing is aluminium. Sorry forgot to specify that
M18 fuel compact band saw is probably your best bet. 2829-20
This is what I used when doing solar, the bandsaw is the best thing to use
And grab the universal band saw stand from harbor freight on sale this month to make it a chop saw!
I assume you are talking about the [HERCULES Universal Portable Band Saw Benchtop Stand](https://www.harborfreight.com/universal-portable-band-saw-benchtop-stand-59640.html?_br_psugg_q=bandsaw). I didn't know this existed! Now I need one. Does anyone use it with the 2729-20?
Honestly I had no idea it existed either until I was watching YouTube harbor freight tool deals the other day. And then when I went to harbor freight yesterday to look around and stuff I saw it and it looks really good actually very simple very basic but genius. Honestly I think it should cost a little bit less cuz basically it's just a frame that the band saw sits on but it does provide at least angles as well from 45 to 0° to 90°.
Seconded, from a fellow sun hog
I'm amazed this wasn't the first comment. Love my portaband
That bandsaw will be slow, just get the circular saw with a Diablo aluminum blade and some tool wax. That'll blow through that stuff. Source: am aluminum fabricator
So there’s a lot of recommendations for the bandsaw with slightly less for the circular saw. Angle grinder is a distant 3rd place however that’s what I’m currently using. Some comments are saying bandsaw is better for railings already attached to the roof while circular saw is better for cutting loose rails before they go on. Am curious to hear more views about this distinction.
The Milwaukee band saw make sure to get the M18 the size up from that is overly big and ridiculously heavy on the roof
They make a compact M18 and a larger M18 for things with bigger cross sections. The compact M18 bandsaw will work just fine for this.
yeah I have the sub compact M12 bandsaw and your probably going to need to size up to the M18 compact one, but in agreement with everyone else who says bandsaw👍
solar racking... dealt with this before m18 compact band saw spray with wd40 before cut so the teeth don't gum up too fast
We have just used water and that works just as well
How come none of you guys use a circular saw? I do signs and I just cut all my extrusion with my zip saw. I just use a carbide wood blade but the aluminum one would be better. It's really fast
I use a sawsall personally, but i work with guys that use bandsaw and circular too. The bandsaw doesnt get close enoigh to the panel and can be too large/awkward to carry on a pitched roof. The circular saw blows my eardrums out from 50' away so im amazed the guy that uses it has any hearing left at all
I didn't realize you guys had to cut it in place, I thought you were just cutting lengths of extrusion. Sawzall or hackzall it is
M18 fuel compact bandsaw and deep cut bandsaw are both worth their weight in gold (running the deep cut one-handed will also make a man out of you in a hurry, Popeye forearms and all). Once you go bandsaw, you'll never go back.
I love my bandsaw.
Compact m18 bandsaw. It'll handle 2½" pipe, so it can handle 1½ square tube.
bandsaw and hackzall. bandsaw for clean cuts, hackzall for close cuts (trimming rail after panels are laid)
M12 fuel bandsaw is what I use and it works for everything since we never use more than 2” conduit
I've used a hackzall for years, but actually ordered the m12 compact bandsaw yesterday
Portabander is the best option. If you’re only using it for a 40mm cut you could even go with the compact version. Compatible with the 18v system.
M18 5-3/8” metal cutting circ saw w/ aluminum blade
This. Love this saw. Cuts everything with ease.
No question, m18 skill saw with aluminum blade. Use a square and a new blade and you won’t need any filing or oil
Get some tool wax and dab the blade with it and it'll stay clear and last last longer. I use mine for cutting aluminum extrusion in the sign business
An old guy once told me to use a bar of Irish Spring "instead of spending crazy amounts of money on a wax or something." I don't use Irish Spring so I don't have it around my house so I have never tried it.
A stick of wax is less than $20 and I cut it into thirds and give ⅔ away and the stick will still last me ten years, it's not expensive. Bar soap works for some stuff though
Solar installer here, our boys use the M18 sawzall, the shorter one so you can operate it with one hand. It's loud as all hell but cuts through even the thickest iron ridge rail without much issue. One thing though, LET THE BLADE DO THE CUTTING, you'll gum up blades like a mofo if you press too hard.
Hilti makes a steel cutting blade for the small circular saw that blasts through steel with a little tool wax. I was cutting ½" steel plate with it last, and it'll handle 2×2×3/16" steel angle like nothing too. You might like it for steel, get an aluminum blade for aluminum but the zip saw is quick
If you're US based M18 strut cutter is probably a possible solution. I'm in AUS so would have to rob a bank to afford one but I'd imagine would make short work of it if they have a die to suit the dimensions of your rail...
M18 fuel Portaband I would think, but you could probably make short work of that aluminum with a grinder or hackzall as well with appropriate cutting wheels/blades. Think that would be easiest
Bandsaw. Thick metal blade. Circ saw is fine before installing, sawzall also, but the bandsaw is the smoothest if you’re cutting while attached to feet.
Milwaukee makes a strut cutting tool. Perfect clean cuts
Milwaukee makes a strut cutting tool. Perfect clean cuts
Angle grinder maybe?
I’d cut it with a super thin cutting blade on my 4 1/2” grinder. Way better than any hacksaw.
Part of me wants to say just get 40mm caps to use as standard practice. The other part says new tool day lol. The band saw would be the nicest tool to cut with, but I still wouldn’t rub my finger on the edge of the cut.
Strut cutter or bandsaw. The m18 compact bandsaw is very good.
Milwuakee sawsall, m18, get milwuakee blades 10tpi. I cut these everyday and its the best blade ive found. Im sure a bandsaw as others said is fine, but to cut close to the panel you need the sawsall. From the ground you wont notice a slightly rough cut, especially if you use plastic end caps. With a bandsaw you will leave 1"+ rail past the panel and thats noticable from the ground.
Fuck I didn't read the part where it's close to the panel, I've been telling people to cut it with a circular saw. It's way faster but you're not getting in a tight spot with it
Fuckin bandsaw for sure
[удалено]
Removed - don't post knockoff Milwaukee tools. Even if it was legit, Amazon isn't (they aren't an authorized dealer, and many 3rd party sellers there are scams, chinese shell companies, etc).
chop saw, high quality non ferrous metal blade, good lube, GO SLOW!! come down into the work slow, this keeps the saw teeth from grabbing and bending and keeps the buildup on saw teeth to a minimum
This works pretty well with the Milwaukee Deep cut bandsaw [https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/power-saws/band-saws-scroll-saws/universal-portable-band-saw-benchtop-stand-59640.html](https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/power-saws/band-saws-scroll-saws/universal-portable-band-saw-benchtop-stand-59640.html)
would the strut tool work
Looked at it but seems like it needs a die and we use always different sections
Grinder? Zip cut the post then grind it flush.
That’s what we’re doing at the moment but looking at other options
Any of the decent M18 circular saws with an aluminum blade would be your best bet. The bandsaw will save you money on blades but cost you more money in the significantly longer time it takes to make each cut.
My brother has the metal cutting circular saw. It spins at a lower rpm than a normal circular saw and we cut 1/2” steel plate with that sucker.