Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Zenith-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

AZFlyer

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 89
Location: Prescott, AZ

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 7:15 am Post subject: Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

I'm overwhelmed at the response on my question re. "getting a clean edge" on Aluminum.  Thanks.  I have tried many of the ideas forwarded and frankly most work to some degree; but, none work all the time.



I have a jillson snip, a round "thingy", have a pnuematic shear, lots of files, usually sneak up on the finished cut line, several hand shears, (which work best for me upside down)....



I believe I'm being too much a perfectionist for this problem.  I don't have a "debur" problem, I think my attitude is wrong.   



...now, onto the wings.



Thanks again for your feedback.

_________________
Mike Miller @ millrml@aol.com
601 XL-B, 3300, Dynon

Remember, "the second mouse gets the cheese"!

jon(at)joncroke.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:16 am Post subject: Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

I'm sure that everyone has a few techniques they discover during their life 

that they wished they knew about much earlier... you know - the ones that 

really make a huge difference (life changing?) - and yet were so simple that 

they kick themselves for not grapsing it sooner.....



Well this is one for me... and I'll share it with you for what its worth 

(remember, you get what you pay for!)



I am almost finished with my 2nd 701... the first was a kit and the 2nd is 

mostly from scratch (except for the 'hard' parts which I purchased!) and it 

was during this 2nd build that I had to cut and cut and cut LOTS of sheet 

aluminum... and it seems it's a common struggle to get a factory looking 

cut... no waves, ripples, and STRAIGHT.  It IS time consuming, and if you 

are in a little hurry... it shows... and the filing to get rid of the teeth 

marks... the stretching.. AND if you need a long cut... it magnifies all 

these problems.  Well, I did my best for the impatient, in a hurry type of 

guy that I am and if you dont like the quality of my final edges that 

resulted... then you can go build your own plane and do better! (not 

difficult!).



Well it was about 3/4 thru the building of this 2nd plane, while filming 

Mark and Dave from Can-Zac for the Scratch Building video that I got a first 

hand demonstration of their OLFA knife technique.... COULD NOT believe what 

I was missing all these years of cutting metal...  by dragging this knife a 

few times along a straightedge where you want a cut to be made... the sheet 

would separate effortlessly... NO teeth marks, No stretching, No waste, and 

NO need for two cuts to get it done. An edge results that is as straight as 

your ruler... yes it is sharp but cleans up quickly because you are not 

dealing with waves, teeth marks or high/low points.



I now rarley use my Wiss shears anymore.. the OLFA knife was $15.... I first 

went out to TruValue Stanley hardware and bought a similar looking knife and 

blade... it did NOT work.. I thought OLFA was Swiss... its Japanese made! It 

must be something special... in fact, right on the knife it reads: "Special 

Tungsten blade"  (and I thought tungsten makes your incandescent bulbs 

glow!)



If you think this is silly to put this in the category of "life changing" 

techniques discovered in life.. consider this:  I will CHALLENGE you to the 

following:  the next time you need a straight cut that will become an edge 

of some sort on your aircraft, I will make the cut you need in HALF the TIME 

compared to YOU using Wiss shears AND my piece will be STRAIGHTER and more 

'factory' looking than yours. That simple.  It is much less time consuming 

when you consider YOU are making 2 cuts, being extra careful on the second 

pass, and then the time you take trying to carefully remove the teeth marks. 

And then, you think you can cut 1000 millimeters as straight with your hands 

as my straightedge ruler? No way!   But this is only for those of you who 

are in a hurry AND want professional looking cuts everytime.



I took this a step further when I had to cut the flaperon slots in the 

fuselage side... I drilled two holes of proper size to define the ends of 

the arc... then used a compass to draw the curves that connect the holes for 

both edges of the slot (20mm wide)  on a scrap piece of .025 ...  I used my 

WISS (!) to cut out this scrap curve of metal and placed this metal scrap on 

the fuselage connecting the two holes I drilled and used this as a guide to 

drag my OLFA cutter... (hope this is clear)  Anyhow.. I was able to have 

beautiful arc cuts that have no ripples, stretch, or teeth marks.  No 

dremels, nibblers, shears, etc (I remember my first plane!) Very little 

deburring to remove the sharp edge.



Well you have read ENOUGH of this dribble... I have no financial interest in 

OLFA but thought Id let you know that this was one rude awakening when I 

realize the rest of my plane COULD have been a lot BETTER if I had known 

about this technique a LONG time ago.... There is a demonstration by Dave on 

the Scratch Building video of how the OFLA is used... you dont need to watch 

this to figure it out... and I do have a financial interest in the video so 

I dont want to lead you in that direction...  but in case I felt strongly 

about something I might put this cutting technique on the list of truly 

invaluable tips that make you say "DUH I should have known about this a LONG 

time ago"...it kind of makes you a craftsman without the effort... because 

it is more of a 'knowledge' thing than a skill thing...



OK, enough.



Thanks DAVID Barth

frank.hinde(at)hp.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:49 am Post subject: Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

OK I gotta get one..Even though I have no more aluminium edges to cut.



I did an internet search and see there are a number of different

models...All appear to feature break off blades.



So what is the exact model of OLGA knif I need...Or don't need if you

get my drift? ..



Frank

Well you have read ENOUGH of this dribble... I have no financial

interest in OLFA but thought Id let you know that this was one rude

awakening when I realize the rest of my plane COULD have been a lot

BETTER if I had known about this technique a LONG time ago.... There is

a demonstration by Dave on the Scratch Building video of how the OFLA is

used... you dont need to watch this to figure it out... and I do have a

financial interest in the video so I dont want to lead you in that

direction...  but in case I felt strongly about something I might put

this cutting technique on the list of truly invaluable tips that make

you say "DUH I should have known about this a LONG time ago"...it kind

of makes you a craftsman without the effort... because it is more of a

'knowledge' thing than a skill thing...



OK, enough.



Thanks DAVID Barth

rjscep(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 9:35 am Post subject: Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

 	  Quote: 	
		   I have another idea to throw to all sctratch

builders
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   I have been involved with other aluminum aircraft.

 Most of the builders when laying out their parts on

 the sheets, draw the lines directly on the sheet.

 I have been using a different method. I bought some

 white contact paper, peeled it, have to careful not

 to cut large pieces, I used long strips and layed

out
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   the lines to be cut on a shear or by hand. The paper

 protects the the aluminim from any scratches, it

also
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   can be on there for many years without adhearing to

 the metal. I have had previous experience with the 

 paper and have not had to struggle getting it off.

 Also if you want to cover the whole part, that's no

 probelem, it will peel off without any trouble.

 Its very good for marking with a ball point pen. It 

 leaves no dents either, in the metal. Happy building

 Bob S.

 --- AZFlyer <millrML(at)AOL.com> wrote:


	


 	  Quote: 	
		   

 <millrML(at)AOL.com>

 

 I'm overwhelmed at the response on my question re.

 "getting a clean edge" on Aluminum.  Thanks.  I have

 tried many of the ideas forwarded and frankly most

 work to some degree; but, none work all the time.

 

 I have a jillson snip, a round "thingy", have a

 pnuematic shear, lots of files, usually sneak up on

 the finished cut line, several hand shears, (which

 work best for me upside down)....

 

 I believe I'm being too much a perfectionist for

 this problem.  I don't have a "debur" problem, I

 think my attitude is wrong.   

 

 ...now, onto the wings.

 

 Thanks again for your feedback.

 

 --------

 Mike Miller (at) millrml(at)aol.com

 601 XL, 3300

 

 Remember:  &quot;the second mouse gets the

 cheese&quot;!

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=30860#30860
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 browse

 Subscriptions page,

 FAQ,

 http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Zenith-List

 Admin.



 

 

 

  

  

  

 

 

 

 


	




__________________________________________________

Do You Yahoo!?

Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 

http://mail.yahoo.com

bjohnson(at)satx.rr.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 9:50 am Post subject: Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

David,



Is this the one???



<http://www.aaaindustrialsupply.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=598

 	  Quote: 	
		  


	


" OLFA Cutter Heavy Duty P-800 Model 5012-  	 710041

OLFA Cutter Heavy Duty P-800 Model 5012 Produces A Very Fine Score Line To

Allow Precise Breaking Of Plastics And Laminates."



The above link has them for $8.48 free shipping over $25... hrm, I wonder

what other tools I might need from them <grin>

-Bruce Johnson

Scratch Building a Sonex near San Antonio, TX & still have a LOT of sheet

cutting to do!!!

[quote] --

jon(at)joncroke.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 9:53 am Post subject: Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

I think I knew an Olga... she had a sister...



But the OLFA model is P800... you're right in that they have lots of models 

out there. And dont bother getting extra blades if you're just cutting 

alumimum.. it comes with extras and they dont seem to wear out!



It IS a wild experience when you make your first cut... you'll say WOW!



---

jon(at)joncroke.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:13 am Post subject: Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

Yep,



Thats the one... and les than $9 bucks!   I have yet to find a popular chain 

store in the states that carries it.  But even if it costs $5 for 

shipping... go for it! Save gas!



do not archive

 	  Quote: 	
		   



 David,



 Is this the one???



 <http://www.aaaindustrialsupply.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=598

>



 " OLFA Cutter Heavy Duty P-800 Model 5012-  710041

 OLFA Cutter Heavy Duty P-800 Model 5012 Produces A Very Fine Score Line To

 Allow Precise Breaking Of Plastics And Laminates."



 The above link has them for $8.48 free shipping over $25... hrm, I wonder

 what other tools I might need from them <grin>

 -Bruce Johnson

 Scratch Building a Sonex near San Antonio, TX & still have a LOT of sheet

randy(at)shadycreekoutlaw
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:51 am Post subject: Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

Wished I'd knew this a few days earlier... I just ordered and received a 

Olfa P-800 today...  with 6 spare blades!



Randy

N344RB

---

randy(at)shadycreekoutlaw
Guest

Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:03 pm Post subject: Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

I'm hoping you're right on the Olfa knife...  I received 2 knives and 6 

extra blades today, that I ordered last week...



Randy

N344RB

---

Jari Kaija

Joined: 23 Feb 2006
Posts: 69

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:54 am Post subject: Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

Just wondering. Do you guys ever TRY to use JUST a good

"Kitchen scissors". Works better than great with .016 aluminium 



http://www.project-ch701.net/ch701_wings/big_wingf100.jpg



I don't know about u-state, but in here, in Finland we have a

good factory, what produces sharp and strong scissors. Called

"Fiskars" 

----------------------------------

http://www.jarikaija.com

http://www.project-ch701.net

nfivesl(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:42 am Post subject: Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

Here in the U-States we have a store called Wal-Mart

that sells Fiskers and all sorts of foreign-made

goods. 



Scott (Do Not Archive) Laughlin

 



--- Jari Kaija <jari.kaija(at)pp.inet.fi> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   I don't know about u-state, but in here, in Finland

 we have a good factory, what produces sharp and

strong scissors. Called
	


 	  Quote: 	
		   "Fiskars" 

 


	


__________________________________________________

Do You Yahoo!?

Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 

http://mail.yahoo.com

Malcolm.HUNT(at)networkra
Guest

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:43 am Post subject: Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

Jari



May work great but don't get caught using the wife's scissors.



Best Wishes



Malcolm



Do not Archive



--

dougsire

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 37

Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:20 am Post subject: Thanks for all your ideas on cutting Aluminum

I once bought an Uffda knife at a Norwegian craft show.   Would that work?



Doug Sire

601XL



do not archive

_________________
Doug Sire 601XL
Do Not Archive

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Zenith-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum