What is the best tool to use for cutting diamond plate?

Is it possible to use a Dremel and one of the small cutting wheels? Im assuming diamond plate is prett sturdy metal and not sure if this will do the job.

 

plasma cutter and a good grinder

 

Dang it. I had a feeling after I posted this that is what was goign to be said.

 

Dremel with the cutting wheel!! What kinda diamond plate
are you talkin about?! What thinkness?

Those little cutoff disks are too fragile for all but the simplest
of cutting. Even the fiber reinforced ones are only good for
mild metals.

If you don't have heavy toolds like mentioned above,
you could use a Jig Saw with a fine toothed Bi-Metal blade
and then take down the burrs with a random orbital and some
elbo grease.

 

or an air grinder w/a cutting wheel....that's what they use alot here(working on Locomotives).....but no dremel.......

 

if you get a relatively thin sheet, would metal cutters work? (you know, like bolt cutter type deals, or even lower duty ones?) wouldn't be the cleanest cut, but u could sand that down...

right? (just ideas off the top of my head)

 

cutoff and grinding wheels are not made to work with aluminum. They will clog up and make a nasty cut. You need to use a band saw, or if one is not available a jigsaw, or even a circular saw with a carbide tipped blade. Then sand the edges on a belt or disk sander.

 

it would be really hard and if you got in farther than the blades your gonna end up twisting the sheet to get the rest of the head of the cutters through
the best bet would to just take the sheet to a local metal shop and have them cut it...if you give them all the dimensions or even draw what you want on the sheet it will only cost a few bucks and save alot of aggrevation

 

just do it Scarface style with the chain saw.

 

Fujiz, you are such a post *****! LOL

 

Who am I? "Bump" J/k Fujiz

 

i am top 11th poster.

 

I used an industrial band saw. It cut like butta.

 

thats what im saying..they dont work that well with aluminum NEITHER does a plasma...best be is a band saw or a jig saw with a good Bi-metal blade.

 

hmm I got a jigsaw but it just doesn't seem powerful enough to cut it. A bansaw I can see working but I don't have one of those sitting around my house

 

It depends on how thick the diamond plate is. I think you can usually get it in 1/16th or 1/8th inch. I made some stuff for my old car out of 1/16th and used a jigsaw to cut it. Just get a fine toothed blade and it should work fine. I used a vibrating sander with a fairly rough grit sand paper to smooth the edges. worked great!

 

wouldnt a press work well. Measure it and take your measurements to a machine shop.

 

I agree.

Depending on the thickness and hardness of the aluminum diamond plate, a band saw, hack saw, or sawzall with a coarse tooth metal cutting blade will work fine. I have made many skid plates from aluminum diamond plate using an industrial band saw with a coarse tooth sheet metal blade and it works fine. Be careful not to cut to fast or you'll melt the edge of the aluminum.

 

You should put what tools/options you have access to first. I work in a machine shop and there are many different ways to cut it... depending on type, thickness, finish desired, shape/design. If you take it to a machine shop w/ a water jet, they will be able to make any shape and design. Maybe "xB" cut out or something.
Just my opinion.