Ask DS about aluminum pirogue manufacturing?

[Barq's]

Ok guys....I want to make my own pirogue out of aluminum....What would be the prefered method used to cut, say 1/8" aluminum once I have my template laid out on the sheet?

Is there anywhere that you know of that would cut it out once I have it laid out?
Thanks,
Barq's

[Barq's]

and check out "ambush" skiffs......you will see why I am inquiring about this topic....

http://www.pelicanflatsboats.com/#!ambush/ca4p

[fireplug]

Aluminum is a soft metal and can be cut easiest with a course cutting blades. If you had an old skill saw you didn't
mind taking the chance of messing the bearings up in, you can cut aluminum with a skill saw blade. Small tooth blades will gall up on you
fast. Jig saw with a wood cutting blade would work good for any turns or radius cuts. If you have access to a
shear, that would be your safest option for straight cuts. Skill saw will throw some chips so wear glasses.

[DuckBoat]

1/8" is way overkill.

[teul2]

Sheet metal shears.
http://www.harborfreight.com/14-gauge-s ... 68199.html

[jdbuckshot]

you'll never cut 1/8" with sheet metal shears.

set your skill saw to cut a fraction thicker than the material and you can cut curves - nothing to it.

buy a new carbide blade and get some ear plugs and safety glasses and a safety shield

set the aluminum on a piece of plywood and it will cut better.

I'm not a boat builder but I have a lot of fabrication experience and have built two boats from aluminum.

[teul2]

Yea, I didn't do the 1/4in to .250 conversion in my head. That's like 2 gauge sheets. Most tough mud boats are .125 (8 gauge).
1/4in seems like it would be WAY over kill and heavy.

[MudHog]

[slayem]

[southernfire97]

I always cut my 1/8" aluminum with a jig saw. I just finished the floor in my boat and it was all cut with it. It's easy to do.

[Barq's]

what blade works best in the jigsaw?

[southernfire97]

I use the "thick metal" ( thats how they are labeled, thin or thick metal) blades in mine. It will cut good and smooth untill the blade starts getting dull, then the aluminum will start bouncing. That means its time to change the blade. Make sure that as your cutting, you hold the plate as close to the cut as safely possible.