im going to attemp this myself, b-cuzz my local machine shop are being little bitches... wel, after work yesterday, i stopped at my freindly local Harborfreight and picked up a High speed Air cutter and a 3" Cut off wheel for cutting metal...
Now here's my questions:

Can i use a High speed air cutter and a cut-off wheel to do this?

After cutting this manifold with the tools i got, will it be able to be welded back together??

Looks very easy and i know i can cut this myself, but should i really do it??

Has anyone ever attemp to do this very same thing with a High speed Air cutter?

please inform me if i can be done or cannot/should not be done...

Regards,
Kevin

 

Can i use a High speed air cutter and a cut-off wheel to do this?

sure you can.


After cutting this manifold with the tools i got, will it be able to be welded back together??

yes but don't use cutting oil/grease on the manifold and disk when cutting... also 1. clean 2. pre-heat 3. clean again before welding.


Looks very easy and i know i can cut this myself, but should i really do it??

wear leather gloves and eye protection and go for it.


Has anyone ever attemp to do this very same thing with a High speed Air cutter?

Ive used air/electric die-grinders, chop-saw, band-saw, plasma cutter even a hacksaw to do this but the air die-grinder has been my least favorite due to the droning sound of the compressor.

 

yeah it will work. Air tools are annoying get some cut off wheels for your grinder.

 

i found cutting aluminum on a air cutt off with a 3" wheel takes for ever and it almost clogs the wheel up, i had better success with a 4.5" electric cutter. but then it was still slow so i break out either my porta band or saw zaw. then fine cut it on the bridge port if i cut it way crooked.

 

Use a sawzall

 

thanks for all the great answers!! HAHAHA it's gonna be done!!

 

make sure you get a cutoff wheel specifically made for cutting aluminum. The "all purpose" wheels will just clog up and get you nowhere.

 

I have used the HF portable band saw to open up cast manis several times and it works fine. Use that - you will be much happier when it it time to put it back together.

 

I've used a table saw before... Using wood tools for aluminum ftw

In my experience using saws with teeth as opposed to abrasive cut off wheels works better. Carbide toothed saw blades leave a beautiful edge and blazing speed haha

 

Band saw or Sawzall. The little air saw won't be strong enough.

 

i have used a sawzall before. it worked really well.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by k24em2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've used a table saw before... Using wood tools for aluminum ftw

In my experience using saws with teeth as opposed to abrasive cut off wheels works better. Carbide toothed saw blades leave a beautiful edge and blazing speed haha</TD></TR></TABLE>

Gotta be careful with that one! Table saw works awesome, but can get ugly if you're not careful!

My bandsaw cuts through manifolds like butter.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tony1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Gotta be careful with that one! Table saw works awesome, but can get ugly if you're not careful!

My bandsaw cuts through manifolds like butter.</TD></TR></TABLE>


Haha, yea gotta watch the fingers....lol

 

Hey guys,

I work for a radiator shop in New Zealand (Where men are men and sheep are scared).. I work/run the aluminium department there..

We have 2 blades that we use, both teethed, one is 1 or 1.5mm and the other is 3mm..

The 1/1.5mm blade RIPS through tanks/alloy so easily (good for doing intercooler recores or cutting off bosses)

The 3mm is for removing large amounts of materials (i.e cutting off intercooler tank welds)

I suggest goign to see your local boat building store and asking what they use.. we use these ones that boat builders swear by..

Thanks,
Scott R

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tony1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Gotta be careful with that one! Table saw works awesome, but can get ugly if you're not careful!

My bandsaw cuts through manifolds like butter.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Wood tools work awesome...with negative rake blades. I wouldnt recomend cutting such in irregular shape though. Could get a little bloody.