Re: [VAC] Cutting aluminum

["Dr. Gerald N. Johnson" <geraldj@xxxxxxxx>]

The air operated die grinder is to the working world what the Dremel is
to the model world. Does the same tasks but with enough more horsepower
to actually complete them in the lifetime of the user. And the lowest
end die grinder costs less than half the price of a Dremel.

Cutting aluminum with an abrasive wheel often ends up melting the
aluminum into the abrasive wheel and destroying it. Router bits or
rotary files often do better, but can easily leave a large burr. A
router with a 1/8" or 3/16" diameter straight bit would be faster than a
nibbler and if guided would do a fine job on the aluminum canopy. The
bit would be happier at 2000 rpm than 25,000 rpm though. A good large
flat single cut file will be handy for cleaning up burrs in any case.

Gerald J.