Cutting diamond plate

[Tom Sawyer]

I cut my first set of diamond plate floormats with a jigsaw and a metal blade. The edges are a little bit rough and was wondering if there is a better and more efficient way to cut this diamond plate material for my second incarnation. If anyone has experience with this please enlighten me. Thanks.

Tom

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

Some kind of air grinder with a cutting bit then a polishing wheel.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Could you be more specific as to which tool(s) I should buy? I just got my own house after living in the dorm for 2 years and want to start amassing tools...this is just a good excuse to buy something nice.

Tom

 

[echo]

you could cut it with jigsaw, but cut if big, then smooth it out with a grinder and a polishing wheel.

 

[HATED1]

put some grease on that mofo.

 

[ClutchTSI/AWD]

You'll have to use a hand file to smooth out the rough edges on the plate . The aluminum is real soft , and will gum up on a grinding wheel or disc . After fieling use corse then fine sand paper ,and then you can polish the edges if you want . I use a cheap buffing wheel (6''), I got at a sears hardware for like $7.oo bucks . Its mounted on a pedistal grinder.

 

[quwhees99]

Originally posted by HATED1
put some grease on that mofo.

what

 

[eclipserst]

You could always buy a plasma cutter

 

[cucumber]

Tom, hit us up with some pictures when you're done.

 

[Dsmed]

We just got a plasma cutter. Man those things are nice. Talk about cutting through anything...and I mean anything. Expensive though, so make sure you have lots of things to cut before you purchase one.

 

[dave99gst]

of course you can still have a nasty edge with a plasma cutter, depending on how steady your hand is - and the tip quality. if it is a really jacked up edge id use some course grinding disks (24-60grit) if its not to bad then filing sould be easy enough on aluminium.