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FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: gregaba on March 06, 2019, 07:16:33 PM

Title: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: gregaba on March 06, 2019, 07:16:33 PM
Now that I have water again after the last artic blast [thank you global warming] I am ready to work on my intake.
I ordered the Trick Flow Track Heat 111 to use with jayb's adapter. I need to cut out the valley cover in the TF.
What are you guys using?
Any advice is welcome.
Greg
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: fekbmax on March 06, 2019, 10:06:33 PM
I use a table saw with a fence to cut the centers out of the cleavland style intakes to fit the FE Power or PSE adapters. Does a nice clean job and a nice straight line.
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: gregaba on March 06, 2019, 10:26:02 PM
Thanks for the reply.
What type of blade do you use on your table saw?
Do you ever get any kick back?
How close to the bottom of the runners do you cut?
Don't want to mess up a new intake.
Greg
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: fekbmax on March 07, 2019, 07:26:11 AM
I just use a dull combination blade, no troubles with kickback. Just be sure that once you start the cut that you keep going til the cut is through.  Dont stop and start. Deff want to leave enough for a good seal on the adapter but not so much that theres any interference. 
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: Joey120373 on March 07, 2019, 08:46:41 AM
Might also help to hit the blade and intake with some WD-40 or similar, helps keep the aluminum form sticking and clogging up the teeth on the blade.
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: Falcon67 on March 07, 2019, 02:31:35 PM
Might also help to hit the blade and intake with some WD-40 or similar, helps keep the aluminum form sticking and clogging up the teeth on the blade.
Quoted for truth - can also squirt with trans fluid as a cutting oil.
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: gregaba on March 07, 2019, 03:36:04 PM
Thanks guys for the advice.
 I ordered a table saw blade for thick aluminum, may be overkill but since this is my first time at doing this with 3/4 inch I just wanted to be safe.
Will use ATF as I have several cases of it in the shop.
Greg
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: Heo on March 07, 2019, 03:47:47 PM
Alcohol works good on alu as cutting lube
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: gregaba on March 07, 2019, 03:54:21 PM
Good ideal.
Greg
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: mike7570 on March 07, 2019, 04:35:21 PM
I cut some front engine mounts for my super-gas car out of 7075 aluminum using a circular saw :)
Tungsten Carbide tipped blade cut it like butter. It was a bit loud and hot chips go flying, use hearing & eye protection LOL.   
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: gregaba on March 07, 2019, 04:38:18 PM
Man
You are braver then me.
I have gone online and read all I could on it and I take head of all warning's.
Thanks
Greg
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: 70tp on March 07, 2019, 10:04:16 PM
Carbide tipped blade cuts aluminum really really well,  lube blade, wear safety glasses, face shield, and ear plugs and gloves and long sleeves.     Won't take but a minute.    Grinder Flap wheel with wax lube for edges.   Thin die grinder cut off wheels cut ok also-- haven't tried them with wax lube yet
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: Falcon67 on March 08, 2019, 09:57:54 AM
I use my 10" Craftsman band saw with a bi-metal blade to cut pieces of aluminum.  Works good.  Not for something like an intake, but I managed the motor plates for the dragster on it.  Good trick LOL.  Side Note - if you need to rip something like corrugated steel or steel roofing panels, an old saw blade mounted backward on a circular saw (back of teeth doing the cutting) works great.  Wear ear protection, makes one hell of a racket.
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: Joe-JDC on March 08, 2019, 11:12:48 AM
When I cut those Cleveland intakes for Jay's adapters, I use a 1/2" x 14 tooth metal cutting blade on my bandsaw.  The coarse teeth actually cut better than an 18 or 22 tooth count.  I cut T-6 1/2" plate with the 14 tooth count.  Use a coolant or allow a short time to cool down.  Joe-JDC
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: gregaba on March 08, 2019, 11:28:27 AM
I called a company we used to buy our blades from when we had our manufacturing company and asked what blade to use.
They recommended their Amana 510601. It is carbine with 60 teeth and a -.06 degree angle.
It is rated for up to 5 inch thick cast.
I read the reviews and one company said they had cut over 4500 pieces of aluminum and were still using the blade.
They sent it to me with free 2 day air. Still won't get it till Monday.
If I don't like the trick flow intake I wanted to have a blade I could use again if I needed to.
I cut all the metal for my shop using the reversed blade in my circular saw over 120 pieces.
Really made my neighbors happy.
Joe_JDC I am going to buy a band saw soon and will use the same blade you use since it works from your experence. Just havn't bought one yet due to little shop space left. I will have to finish one of the car's in the shop before I can buy one.
Greg
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: FERoadster on March 09, 2019, 04:44:01 PM
Joe: when you say bandsaw what type are you using? Is it a wood band saw with high FPM blade speed or a metal cutting band saw?
EDIT: also Joe what are the blade dimensions , thickness and width (depth)?
Richard
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: AlanCasida on March 09, 2019, 06:03:29 PM
I have the same intake on my adapter. Since I tend to over think things, I was concerned the intake might be under some stress and completely removing the underneath part might release the stress causing the manifold to become warped. So I left some the under side in place. To add to my concern, when I made my V cut on the front side of the intake it popped a little when I got right to the end of my cut. I used a combination of a hole saw and a cutoff wheel on my angle grinder to get my desired cut.
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: gregaba on March 09, 2019, 06:09:09 PM
Alan
I will let you know Monday night if my new saw blade comes in.
I am going to cut out the whole bottom.
Greg
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: Joe-JDC on March 09, 2019, 07:13:19 PM
Joe: when you say bandsaw what type are you using? Is it a wood band saw with high FPM blade speed or a metal cutting band saw?
EDIT: also Joe what are the blade dimensions , thickness and width (depth)?
Richard
1/2" x 14 x 84" table bandsaw with 10" space, more with up to 45* angle cut.  Metal cutting blade for hardened aluminum plate.  Joe-JDC
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: gregaba on March 12, 2019, 02:27:03 PM
Went to cut the intake yesterday on my neighbors table saw.
He has a high dollar one that has a electronic finger saver on it.
He went to cut it and the finger guard tripped stopping the blade. Man that thing works.
Anyway we have to buy a new unit before the saw will work again. Will get the part tomorrow [$70].
Here is a picture of the part.
He was wearing leather gloves and the sensor still tripped.
He said tomorrow he will lock it out so it doesn't happen again.
So if you have a finger saver on your saw you will have to disable it before you use it or wear rubber gloves.
Greg
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: cjshaker on March 12, 2019, 06:32:41 PM
He has a high dollar one that has a electronic finger saver on it.
He went to cut it and the finger guard tripped stopping the blade. Man that thing works.


I don't know how his works, but the ones I've seen are brutal when they go off! They really do work, but man do they destroy some stuff when they engage.
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: gregaba on March 12, 2019, 06:40:16 PM
I was standing right next to the table watching and it was fast. He said it usually ruined the blade when it stopped it.
We took the blade off and their was no damage at all.
New $130.00 blade so I am happy I don't have to order another blade.
We will have a new one tomorrow and see if we can get it cut.
Greg
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: gregaba on March 13, 2019, 07:25:51 PM
Update
I thought I would post a picture with the cuts we just did on the intake.
This cut was super easy. We started with a 1/8 inch cut and just cut a little more each time.
Was surprised at how quiet the cut was and didn't really have as many shaving's as I expected.
Still have to make the front cut for it to sit right but for now here are a couple of pictures so you can see how it is going to look with the Lexan valley cover.
Greg
Title: Re: Cutting aluninum intakes
Post by: gregaba on March 13, 2019, 07:31:46 PM
Ok
Here's the other picture.
Greg