Grinding Aluminum

[paczowski123]

Ok I'm about at my wits end with grinding this Xmetal adjuster plate to allow my ATP steering mount to fit through the hole. I've tried grinding stones, and a carbide bit, both of which clog very quickly..do y'all have any tips for grinding aluminum?

 

[waxhead]

You cant grind alloy only cut it.
It will load a wheel in one second flat. Get a sanding flapper wheel that will work.
They will rip the alloy to shreds in no time. I use them all the time, the sand paper cuts the grinding wheel grinds (of course lol)

 

[txsuperjetfreak96]

Ive never had much luck with it im too impatient, i believe you can get wax and fill the grooves in burr bits suppose to keep the aluminum from sticking in the grooves of the bits

 

[Pro-pulsion]

Just add coolant. Aluminum will cut with ease but the cutting tool needs coolant or else the hot aluminum will become gummy and clog the tool. Machine shops use a water based lubricant which is the coolant and rarely have any issues. An alternative to proper cutting coolant, as long as you are doing the right thing with the disposal and not just ditching it, is good ol traditional bright green glycol antifreeze. Cold tooling is happy tooling

...and no you don't need to flood it with a gallon a second lol, just a spray bottle with frequent soaking is plenty.

 

[Captain PegLeg]

I take my bit and spin it in grease and let it pack in the crevasses and then it will bite chunks of and fling them. Just stop every now and then and re grease your bit.

 

[Captain PegLeg]

Use pressure and slow speed.

 

[Captain PegLeg]

If you are talking about the hole that te steering bushings go in. (I have cold fusion steering and it uses the stock bushings) just go to napa and get a 1 inch drill bit. Takes 15 second.

 

[paczowski123]

No I have ATP mini that has the screw on mount. Thanks for the recs guys I'll try them out

 

[paczowski123]

Well, I will attest to the grease, it worked wonders with the carbide bit! Thanks Robby, accomplished in 10minutes what took me 45 earlier

 

[shaunsteezy]

a bar of soap works also. in our machine shop we use rapid tap cutting fluid which is really just oil and also wax lube stix http://www.mcmaster.com/#lubricant-stick-wax/=wfvnd2

 

[xXx Octane xXx]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#sandpaper-cartridges/=wfvo52

The zirconia rolls work significantly better than the aluminum oxide rolls for rapid material removal.

 

[waxhead]

I just use grining wax on my carbides, do a cut and the tool will heat up then put it on the wax. The was will melt and put a nice coat on your tool. Make sure your carbide is sharp and so it cuts and doesnt just wear its way through the metal

 

[paczowski123]

The wax makes sense. Probably less messy too as I have grease all I've my work bench and ruined a shirt lol

 

[Lumpy]

Funny that waxhead recommends wax

 

[Superjet1000]

Any sort of lube seems to work for me, oil, penetrating fluid, cutting fluid, lanolin, whatever is handy.
Just regularly dip carbide bit before it clogs.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[DAG]

Don't act like none of you guys have spit on your bits to cool them down

 

[yamanube]

WD-40 works in a pinch as well, get a buddy to stand there and spray it periodically while drinking a beer.

 

[Kawastyler]

I use wax to. Is the best way. Only thing is when you port a cylinder the aluminiumdust sticks in the ports with the wax and must cleaned very good

 

[Gliderskier]

Go to a welding supply and get a 4-1/2" aluminum grinding disc. They were on the count at my local supplier and I bought one to try and they work awesome. Never clogs up

 

[eastcoastjumper]

Go to a welding supply and get a 4-1/2" aluminum grinding disc. They were on the count at my local supplier and I bought one to try and they work awesome. Never clogs up

Tom he's talking about the small 1 inch hole that has to be hogged out to fit any umi style steering baseplate on the x metal pole. A 4.5 inch grinder would not be the tool of choice to go about doing that.

Maybe if they sold that same style aluminum grinding attachment so it fits in a dremel style grinder..