Plate Ryobi

Cutting Metal with a Wood Bandsaw?

NOT WITH A WOOD CUTTING BLADE. Would I be able to cut aluminium plate up to 1/2" with a RYOBI 9Inch Bandsaw? If I lubricated the blade, fed the metal through slower than normal, used a metal cutting blade, and let the blade rest and cool after each cut, would I be able to cut aluminium?

Thanks

Andrew,

If you employ a metal-cutting bandsaw blade, then using a "wood"bandsaw should not pose a problem. There is really no difference, as far as the bandsaw is concerned, between metal and wood. The key is the saw blade. If you're using a metal saw cutting blade, you'll be fine, up to the limits imposed on a metal-cutting blade. I don't even think there's such a thing as a "metal" bandsaw. The metal-cutting blade should have instructions and guidelines on the reverse of the package to help guide you on what limitations may exist for the blade.
To better explain, my jigsaw cuts wood when I use wood-cutting blades. It will cut metal when I use metal-cutting blades. There's no such thing as wood-cutting jigsaws or metal cutting jigsaws, per se.
I wouldn't lubricate the blade, unless you're instructed to do so. Usually when one cuts metal, the blade isn't lubricated. Also, feed your metal according to any special instructions, and the blade will be able to cut aluminum metal in thicknesses indicated on the saw blade packaging.

good luck

Okay, an edit: yes there specialty saws designed for metal vs wood, but within the context of the question asked, I don't think such a distinction was necessary. One can find a metal bandsaw designed to cut or work with tough metals (for example) and a host of other situations. But cutting a soft metal like aluminum using a typical Delta or Craftsman bandsaw (off the shelf) with a metal saw blade shouldn't be a difficult problem. Half inch aluminum cuts easily, maybe heating a bit too much if fed slowly, but one could spray wd-40 or even an over-cleaner like Off,during the process.
If one is planning to cut a 40-foot ship hull four inches off at the bottom, then yes, it's more involved.